2015 Inland 20 Nationals
The site for the 2015 Championship will be the Fond du lac YC. The anticipated date for the event is the 11th, 12th and 13th of September. As more information becomes available we will post that information here for all sailors.
Ben Herdrich wins 2015 I-20 Nationals
Fond du lac, Wisconsin Sept 11-13
Sailing in some of the most blustery winds of the season and also coldest of the late summer, Ben Herdrich sailing I-20 Wa 38 was able to hold on for his first National Championship title and win the event on a tiebreaker. Sailing in big rollers on Lake Winnebago, with a stiff North breeze Ben put together with his cousin Dave Herdrich almost the perfect regatta. This marks Bens first National Championship and the first ever scow championship for his home sailing club of Lake Wawasee Yacht Club, in Indiana.
The fleet was strong with 18 boats on the line, with a strong showing of past ILYA Champions and also previous national champions in attendance. The Fond du lac venue has always been a class favorite as the conditions can be the true test of scow sailing. It did not disappoint.
Team Black I, just sailed all the conditions better then everyone else. That was saying a lot when the waves got big on Friday and the wind hung in there all the way to late Saturday afternoon. After four races on Saturday and two on Friday, the six races sailed allowed for the throw out. Anyone who has sailed scows knows when Lake Winnebago is at its extreme with a strong North wind blowing down the entire lake. It almost becomes ocean like. The I-20’s survived it, though some sailors were a little dryer then others.
Rounding out the top three were multi time I-20 champion Aaron Lynn of Oshkosh J-11, and in third Stephen Catlin of Neenah on U-11.
WA38 Ben Herdrich and David Herdrich 2-1-2-2-1-1 7
J11 Aaron Lynn and Will Wyman 1-5-1-1-2-2 7
U11 Steve Catlin and Christie George 5-7-3-4-3-5 20
FD4 Jack Boatman and Tyrone 8-8-4-3-4-4 23
ID11 Brook Patten and Chris Miller 6-4-7-6-6-11 29