2016 GTIYC Fun Regatta

[DN5358]

From Julie at GTIYC:

Elk Lake has sailable ice at Whitewater Township Park! The decision was made today to have our annual GTIYC Fun Regatta.

From Bob Gray: The Fun Regatta is on for Saturday and Sunday March 5&6. We were hoping to have the Centrals up here this weekend but Mother Nature wouldn't cooperate. We felt that to call a regional regatta we needed a big chunk of ice that was in decent shape and was basically CLEAR OF SNOW. We had everything but the snow factor. Our regatta will be held at White Water Township Park on Elk Lake. There is 6" of smooth black ice there. The ice is basically snow covered with an inch to an inch and a half of snow with 30% coverage of snow 2-3" deep. We had very little wind and couldn't sail too much of the sheet today but could sail in 7-8 mph winds. We hope the wind is up tomorrow for a better checkout.
The launch site is located off of Elk Lake Rd. To get there go west out of Kalkaska onM 72 and in Williamsburg , which is half way between Kalkaska and Traverse City turn right on Elk Lake Rd.. You go about 3 miles north on the road and turn right on Park Rd. which takes you to the lake.
As we have done in the past we'll have semi organized two fleet racing and lots of food and drink.
From Julie Richards:
No fee for racing this year. Donations to GTIYC for food expenses are appreciated. Registration will be on the ice Saturday morning.
If you know people coming from out of town:
The Park Shore Hotel has rooms on East Grand Traverse Bay for $89 a night 2 queen beds, or $99 a night on the beach side for 2 queens or one king. This hotel has a restaurant/bar. There are about 11 rooms available at this time. 1401 US-31 Traverse City, MI. 231-947-3800
There are a number of other motels along that stretch if you want something more basic and less expensive.
Wind is forecast to be light on Saturday, 10-20 on Sunday.
Hope to see you this weekend!

Julie