If you are one of the unlucky members who chose to sit out the 1996 Challenge, I feel sorry for you. From the start to the finish, the only thing we could have asked for would be a few less flies on the way to Goderich. The rest of the time, conditions were as near perfect as the fleet could have. The winds held right up until noon Monday, after which there was some light air at times. Inspite of this, most boats set personal best times and three of our members set new Class records. Cornwall 2000 with Jim Otten set a new course record for a monohull with a time of 39:46:22, Thrasher with Bob Johnson set a Michigan Class record and On-Beat with Harold Beaton smashed the old Ontario Class record by over four hours. After reviewing the results and having witnessed the smiling faces of the skippers on the Island, I would have to say that the sail up this year was as near-perfect as we could hope for. I think given the conditions, this was probably the year for Jan to make it in less than 24 hours - oh well, guess we'll wait another eleven years and see if it is possible.

Our pre-race skipper's meeting was held this year at the newly constructed Port Huron Yacht Club. This is one of the nicest facilities I have been to, and the membership there has a right to be proud of the work done by, as I understand, mostly volunteers. We started off with a Social Hour and our host Jean Webb did an outstanding job of making everyone feel welcome. The Skippers, committee persons, family and friends, ate a nice spaghetti dinner and a great deal of conversation took place over the meal and during the skipper's sign-in period. Then Joe Vallee gave his weather report which was as accurate a report as we have ever had. I know Joe has been right on before, but this time he was near perfect. I wrote it down, and it happened when and where he he had said. Maybe the networks and NOAA could get some training from our man "JOE" - he deserves our applause and thanks.

On Saturday morning, the fleet took part in our first start-line documentary - our friend and committee boat host George Lyon videotaped the entire start. There are, as you will imagine, some of the usual special moments that only a GLSS event can produce. We also have from our press boat (Curt Nixon, George Bergh, and Wayne Gould) more photos and video tape. This boat also served as radio boat and generally did their best to catch the fleet with their spinnakers in the water, hourglassed, or ten feet off the mast as was my case.

The boats started with ideal winds blowing dead up the rhumb line and each class had a good start. The fleets stayed pretty close and the only thing preventing good observation was the haze on the water caused by the cool water temps and the warm day. Black Magic with Big Al Merrithew was first around Goderich at 1620 hours followed closely by a parade of others. By this time the winds had freshened a bit and the rhumb line was a close reach with a chute. Most boats doused their spinnakers and went to headsails at this time. Just before dark, I saw the only double-handed boat that came near me - it was a Trimaran, and those guys were really cooking. Despite the windspeed, water temperature, and the sea spray, it was still very comfortable on deck. Even though I had been hand steering for more than 12 hours, I was enjoying the sail so much there was no reason to let the autohelm take over. By daybreak, the fog was as heavy as it gets and it seemed as though I couldn't even see the bow pulpit. But I wasn't complaining - I was near the wreck, and still doing over six knots, close to the rhumb line. The next wind shift came in almost exactly like Joe Vallee had predicted and we started beating our way to the finish line. Basically, the winds held on the nose the rest of the way with a few exceptions - the 30 degree wind shifts were fun to play with, and kept the ride interesting, and the Skipper on deck. Most of the fleet out in the middle experienced huge temperature variations - within seconds, I estimate a 25 degree rise and fall, back to back, up and down. Sunday night was probably as good a sail as I have had in a Mac Solo - the moon was as bright as I have ever seen and the seas were calm with a fresh breeze. The lighthouses were all visible, and it was warm.

Monday morning north of Bob-lo, I spent a few minutes trying to figure out if Kathy and Barb really needed a race chairman, and if they would give me permission to extend this sail on to St. Joe. But alas, I quit dreaming and got back to chasing Thrasher to the finish.

The Mackinac Island Crew was again top-notch and made every one of our skippers feel real welcome. I wish I could say the same for the DNR bunch that runs the dock.

This year, the Island celebration included another excellent Turtle Bay Lodge party and was finished off with an awards banquet at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club. The awards for 1996 are as follows:

Peter Fisher Memorial Trophy - Jim Ratliff, Sgt. Pepper
President's Challenge Cup - Eric Johnson, Passage II
Huron - Michigan Challenge - Artur Zebrowski, Albatross
Course Record - Monohull - Jim Otten, Cornwall 2000
Superior Class Record - Jim Otten, Cornwall 2000
Michigan Class Record - Bob Johnson, Thrasher
Ontario Class Record - Harold Beaton, On-Beat
Ten-Year Finishes:
    Tom Munson, Black Diamond
    Jim Ratliff, Sgt. Pepper
New Members:
    Eric Johnson, Passage II
    Dennis Kwasny, Syntony
    Ron Picard, 100 Proof