Rock Lake Sailing Regatta

Once again, its sailing time on Rock Lake. CRAW (Catamaran Racing Association of Wisconsin) is hosting the annual Rock Lake Regatta on September 19-20, 2009. Nothing will change from previous year's activities. The competitors will be camping near their boats on Sandy Beach, although no cars will be permitted on the park property overnight.

The schedule of events will be:
1. Friday afternoon/evening. Competetors will be arriving and setting up their race boats.
2. Saturday- 10am. First race, weather and winds permitting. Races will continue all day until approximately 5pm.
3. 6:30pm- Dinner catered at Hering's Sand Bar for race competetors. Sand Bar will also be open to the public.
4. Sunday, 10am. First race. 1pm last race starts.
5. During the entire weekend, volunteers will be available for kids wanting to participate in CRAW's "Intro to Sailing" activities.

In addition to our normal race schedule, during the entire weekend, CRAW will be conducting an "intro to sailing" clinic for kids. CRAW has recently purchased several small O'Pen BIC training boats that are extremely simple to sail, require no previous experience, cannot be damaged, and are loads of fun. Kids as young as 8, have been able to sail these boats without assistance with minimal instruction. We will provide the necessary instruction, and the boats. Anyone under 125 lbs, wanting to participate need only show up at Sandy Beach with a personal flotation device (life preserver) and ask for regatta organizer JJ Johnson, or CRAW youth membership director Daniel Hearn danielhearn@tds.net.

CRAW''s membership consists of catamaran racers from all over the midwest ranging in experience from novice to National Champions. They travel to 8 different racing venues each year, and Rock Lake has become a perennial favorite of the group because of the beautiful beach, proximity to Hering's Sand Bar, and a high level of spectator participation. This year, they can expect 10-20 high speed catamarans, most crewed by 2 sailors. During their exciting downwind runs, spectators will see speeds approaching 20 mph under sail, and photographers will be treated to a kaleidoscope of brightly colored spinnakers.