by Bruce Sherman
Planning has begun in earnest for Sailing World's 2009 NOOD regatta in Seattle, following the inaugural event last May that drew nearly double the expected number of participants, brought high praise from sponsors and was blessed with unseasonably warm weather and fair wind.
Representatives of CYC, led by regatta co-chairman Steve Travis, met with officials of Sailing World, Seattle Yacht Club and the Port of Seattle on Oct. 21 at SYC to discuss the regatta. CYC and SYC will be co-hosts, as they were in 2008.
NOOD Executive Director George Brengle traveled to Seattle from Rhode Island for the meeting, and SYC was represented by Fleet Captain Race Roger Pawley.
The 2009 edition of the Seattle NOOD regatta will be held May 15 - 17 on Puget Sound and will be based at CYC, with sponsored post-race parties in a tent in the parking lot. The format will be similar to 2008's with a few possible exceptions.
photo by Bruce Sherman
Six-Meter sloops are on the line during pre-start maneuvers at the 2008 Seattle NOOD regatta. Planning already is underway for the 2009 event, to be held May 15 - 17 and based at CYC's Shilshole Clubhouse.
There was discussion of eliminating the Sunday night awards banquet at SYC and having an awards ceremony at Shilshole. The banquet proved difficult for sailors, following the long weekend of racing, and for sponsors, who had to move their displays and merchandise across town to the banquet.
Having a banquet at SYC Saturday night, while possibly preferable to sailors, would force sponsors to move twice -- once to SYC and then back to Shilshole for Sunday's activities.
NOOD also hopes to attract more fleets to the race course next year, at least partly because of the regatta's success in 2008, when 223 boats in 23 classes participated. The plan is to give any fleet with more than 10 boats its own start. Unlike last year, fleets with fewer boats will be welcome to race but their starts might be combined with another fleet's.
Dinghies, which raced only two of the three days in 2008, might be given the option to race all three days in 2009.
Regatta fees will increase to cover increasing costs, but the amount of the hike has not been determined. This year's race fees ranged from $75 for boats up to 19 feet to $135 for boats 36 feet and over. Bracelets for social events were $40 each for all three days.
Brengle said the Principal Race Officers did a "superlative job" in the inaugural event, but noted that he hoped scores could be posted faster next year.
As for sponsors, Brengle said, "Sperry Top-Sider was particularly happy with the event in Seattle as well as NOOD as a whole," and has signed up for two more years. "All the feedback from sponsors was high on the Seattle event."