Burgee goes to Bayfield Raceweek

We arrived in Bayfield, Wisconsin the week of July 4^th  at our beautiful condo anticipating the excitement of Bayfield Race Week on a Saturday.  Amy and I checked out our home away from home and found a jewel.  We stayed at Port Superior Rentals and had this 2 bedroom/2 bath townhouse with kitchen, dining area, family room, deck and its own dock.  The amenities were numerous with even over 800 cataloged movies.  Amy and I quickly unloaded the bags and then headed into downtown Bayfield to put the boat together.  We were expecting Bayfield to be a large city since it was hosting a race week.  To our surprise, it is a town of 614 people.  For those who don’t know, Bayfield, WI is the gateway to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. 

Well, we found the launch area in this big town and started getting the boat ready to launch when we got a call from Bob and Cathy Sample which were racing with me for the week.  They were delayed a bit due to a small oversight but they were on their way.  Just as we were about to launch, Bob and Cathy arrived just in time to help.  Bob and I took the boat to Port Superior while the girls went to get some provisions for the week.  Amy made chicken enchiladas for dinner, yum.  That evening we went to the Bayfield in on the porch to watch the boats finish the Around the Islands Race while we had a few cocktails.  I particularly liked the Naked Beer!

Sunday was a nice lazy start as we got to relax in the morning.  We left the dock on Goombay Smash to meet up with a couple of other Ultimate 20’s and do a little practice.  The weather was a little cool but a nice breeze and truly the only real breeze we would see all week.  We got up to Bayfield harbor and waited for our friends, but it seemed that after a few cocktails they were a little slow getting going.  We decided to have our own impromptu race around Basswood Island after they finally got out of the harbor about an hour and a half later.  Goombay and crew proceeded to leave the others in the two U20’s, Zipper and Semper Gumby in the dust upwind.  Semper Gumby realized the wind was just too much and turned back.  As we got to the top of the island, we started to head downwind.  Zipper with their super light crew caught us and zoomed right on by.  It was a fun outing.  We returned to our condo to warm up and clean up a little, and then on to a local establishment.  That evening we went to a party at the local UK sail loft.  There was Goombay Smashes served as well as some local favorites.  A local pizza place donated pizzas of all flavors, from chicken alfredo pizza, to BBQ apple pizza.  All which were wonderful.  We then stopped at a place called the Groove Haus.  We got there a little late and closed the place.  Good food and we got free dessert for being there that late.

Monday, the first day of racing was postponed at the dock.  We did not even have to leave the comfort of our condo.  We actually got in one race that day but the winds were very light.  The lead changed hands multiple times during the race as would be the pattern all week.  That night we had dinner at the condo and then on to the Big Top Chautauqua to see “Riding the Wind”.  This was a local band that sang and as pictures of the history of Bayfield flashed on the big screen behind the band.  This was very interesting and fun.

Tuesday, we did leave the dock on time, but ended up in postponement again.  However this was the first time in my sailing career that as I went by someone that they told me that I had a leach on my waterline.  I leaned over the side and pulled off a 10” leach.  Racing did get underway after the wind settled in, but still light and shifty.

Wednesday started in postponement where we ended up with a large group of boats rafting together.  One of the boats had a tapper in the boat so the Keg ran dry pretty quickly.  So a powerboat was sent in to refill the keg.  What a way to Race!  This was a wash of a day were no racing took place.  This was the Fourth of July, so we grilled steaks at our condo and then went to a party with the rest of the racers where it proceeded to rain on us lightly.  But with enough cocktails, this did not make much of a difference.

            Thursday is traditionally a long distance race around an island, but since we had not gotten enough races in we continued buoy racing.  We were able to get two races in and then head back in.  Racing still continued to be fluky and crazy.  In the evening, we went over to Madeline Island and went to The Pub and Wine Bar.  What fantastic food, wine and view.  For entertainment, we went to the Tom’s Burnt Down Café.  It was $4 dollars per person to get in to a place that was an open tent.  We elected to stay outside and listen to the music for free for a little and then went on to a local pub for an after dinner drink until the ferry could take us back.

            Friday, we were able to sneak in one more race to finish out the week. Light wind like the rest of the week....  We headed back to the harbor to pack up the boat and attend the awards presentation.  We finished 2^nd overall.  Special thanks to my crew, Bob and Cathy Sample and my wife for her support on shore.  This was a great week.  Bob and Cathy took off to attend a wedding later that afternoon.  Amy and I went to a local restaurant called the Wild Rice.  We sat at the bar and had some appetizers and a bottle of wine and met some very interesting people.  Then we proceeded off to the local sailmakers home for an end of the race week party.  His home was out in the middle of nowhere where the grass was 5 feet tall except for the paths that he had cut to his house, to the hot tub and the fire pit.  Great times.

            All in all a great week, great friends and beautiful surroundings, so I can’t wait until next year!