Cross-post: Montana - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Hey all -

Just want to let you all know that the Flathead Laser Championship is on, and will be hosted and organized by the North Flathead Yacht Club in Somers, Montana, at the far north end of the lake. The date is August 29-30, and the wind starts early so it may be wise to arrive Friday night the 28th. For those who don't know about it, this is a spectacular lake in northwest Montana, the largest freshwater lake west of the great lakes, and the cleanest big lake in the world.

Last year we had 17 boats from four states and Alberta, with some very skilled sailors, some brand new sailors, and everyone had a good time and learned to be a better sailor. It's a beautiful setting, in the shadow of the Swan Range and Glacier National Park. Clear, clean water and a beautiful place to sail.

We hope to grow our Laser squadron gradually and get a bigger turnout each year. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged. All ages of boats welcome - perhaps a prize for the oldest confirmed serial number. Our intent is to provide competition and a learning environment for all sailors. This sport is about fun and challenge.

The NFYC will be providing the Notice of Race and will be handling the registration. Please contact Tim Sauer at tjasauer (at) msn.com. I can also provide information if you have questions.

Lodging is available in the nearby resort towns of Bigfork and Lakeside, as well as Kalispell to the north 12 miles. Camping is permitted on the lawn of the YC - please write to confirm.

Come, sail, enjoy the perfect water, visit Glacier National Park, miss the Labor Day crowds!

Thanks for your time
Mike Gilbert
District 22

Attended this regatta last year and it was lots of fun. Big Beautiful lake with a very interesting thermal system and fun locals. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it this year Mike...I'm in Kingston for the summer.

Tulk

Re: Montana - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Hey Eric! Too bad, you cleaned up last year. We'll miss you and your skilz.

Send some friends!
Thanks-

Weekly bump......bump...

Who all is coming? You'll have fun!

Bumpity bump.


Just for fun, here is a satellite composite of the area around Flathead Lake. The upper left is Glacier National Park, with Lake McDonald at the Western entrance. In the upper center is The Great Bear Wilderness. In the upper right is the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The two ranges closest to Flathead Lake are the Swan and the Mission Ranges, north-south, parallel to the lake. On the far left center is Whitefish Lake and the Big Mountain ski resort.

To the north (upper left) of Flathead Lake, you can see the Flathead River meandering into the lake between Bigfork Bay and Somers bay. At the bottom (lower right) of the lake is Polson Bay - not much wind, mostly tourists and speed boats. To the west (lower left) is Big Arm Bay, Dayton Bay, and Wild Horse Island (pubic land).

This lake and the mountains make their own weather and is something everyone should see at least once.

Montana - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Have you all written about registering yet? Hmm?

You'll need to email Tim Sauer at the North Flathead Yacht Club.... tjasauer (at) msn.com

It's easy, its inexpensive, it's fun!

Montana - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Have you had your weekly Flathead bump?

I was up in Glacier Park camping this weekend, no sailing sadly. I took some shots of Lake McDonald at the West entrance, forty-some miles from Somers and the races.

It was glassy smooth when we arrived, and I said to myself, "Well, no sailing today!"
That's the first photo.

In 5 minutes, the lake was rough in spots, second shot.

Within 10 minutes, it was blowing over 20 knots with rolling whitecaps. But we never got rained on, and had a beautiful week, with sun at the top of the pass on 'Going to the Sun Road.'

This lake is 12 miles long and 470 feet deep. The Kootenai Indians called it "The Sacred Dancing Place." The lake elevation is about 3200 feet, and the peaks in the distance are in the 8-9000 foot range. The lake is an amazing combination of crystal clear, turquoise, deep blue-green, then dark blue depending on the light and depth. The color comes from the minerals melting out of the glacial ice which feeds the lake as well as Flathead Lake.

Come sail with us!

NOR available - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Hi all -

I have attached the NOR and Registration forms for the Flathead Championship. This will be the de-facto District 22 Championship.

Another little thing - the air.

I recently drove (yes) across the country from western Montana to Washington DC with my son, to deliver a car, deliver luggage for friends, and move him to a new campus. (We flew back, thank gawd).

We saw many things in 2500 miles, spent time on the shore of that beautiful ocean of a Lake you call Michigan at the Northwestern campus, and managed to get to the mecca of Annapolis and meet the good people of APS (Very helpful).

As we descended down into the lush and humid air of the coast, we realized what a treasure our little part of the world is. Stepping off the plane here into cool dry air was astounding.

So, if you come out to sail in our happy event, you will be treated to air temps in the 80's, cool clean water at about 70, and almost no humidity.

Some beautiful places you all live, though - I completely enjoyed all of it.
Mike

Contact:
Tim Sauer - NFYC
(406) 661-3513
[email protected]

What incredible scenery, water and conditions!!!! How could you concentrate on the course in a place like that! Hope to see some pics of the startline and race after the event.

Best of luck,

Eric

Time to start packing up those boats and head (west / east / north / south) to Western Montana!

The weather should be perfect, clear and dry, close to 90 degrees. New local Lasers are coming out of the woodwork and we hope to have a great turnout.

Montana - Flathead Lake Championship, D22

Hi all -

Oh!, did we have a good time! Good racing and everyone learned a lot.

Not a big turnout (12) due to changing weekends too late and conflicts with other events and schedules. But almost all local boats which is real progress, and several spectators who are actively shopping for boats now. Our list is growing and the enthusiasm is exciting - Lasers are alive again in Montana!

We had great weather and a variety of interesting winds, from the whitecaps and gusts to 20 in the early morning to mind-game light wind strategy races. There's a traditional 180 degree shift mid-day, which this year happened in the middle of a race - upwind to the leward mark, weird! Then we shifted the course and sailed out towards the horizon to the south - didn't feel like a lake.

There was a no-score fun race Friday night as a warm-up, held in conjunction with a big boat series. Towed to the course in glassy conditions at almost sunset. Sun dips below the mountains. A NW thermal comes down a drainage north of the town of Lakeside and WHAM, we're hiking out and dodging 30 big boats at the starting area - what a hoot! We ran a few laps, headed home in the dark with a nice moon, then someone flipped the switch off and it was calm again. At sunrise it's blowing again from the north. Very interesting.

Top four placings were:

Doug Seeman from Portland OR
Tim Sauer from Billings MT
Mike Gilbert from Missoula MT
Peter Aronsson from Whitefish MT

Pictures when I get them!

Here are some pics of the event. We maybe should win some award for oldest sail numbers in a regatta.

Next year the Flathead Laser Championship / District 22 Championship will be held in the middle of August 2010.

Thanks,
Mike

...more pics -

Doug S hanging at the start line and showing a nice roll tack.

6 boats hitting the leeward mark together (including a vintage rainbow), with the upwind finish decided by 2 feet.

John the Pirate wins Relaxed Sailor of the Weekend Award.

And misc images.

Thanks for watching -