Prodigy Class Association
The Higgins Lake Regatta is a regional event in mid-Michigan, held the weekend after Labor Day. The venue is a beautiful inland lake, with usually light but sometimes strong, variable breezes--perfect Prodigy conditions. In 2003 there was a Prodigy Class A fleet, plus several Prodigys in the Novice fleet. Chris Barry took first; Rod Clevenger 2nd and Nat Siddall 3rd. Wind was from 10-12 knots, gusting to 14-18. Prodigy strategy was to head upwind with the centerboards down and the mast track nearly or all the way forward...and to try to pick the best side of the course. No matter how far you fell behind on the upwind leg, you still had a chance to get back in the race, if you could pick up a gust and ride it down on the broad reach, with the track back, on a full plane. After all the big gains and losses and changes in the lead, it usually worked out that two or more of the top finishers would converge at the line to finish within seconds of each other....very exciting racing, with the top 4 totals within a three point spread.
Novice racer Tom Burean, with George Konapka behind, at Higgins Lake. Photo by Marguerite Donahue
Pepi Gerald Takes Third in Blowout
Pepi sailed a Prodigy with the 8.5 Comp sail in the infamous downwinder, on July 12. The course runs from Cascade Locks to Hood River, in the Columbia River Gorge, typically including a huge range of wind conditions, fearsome wind gusts, and big swells where the river narrows and the current is strong. Top finishers were Dale Cook and Bruce Peterson, using Formula boards and 11.0 and 10.4 sails. Pepi came in 10 minutes after them, third in a fleet of around 60--nice job!