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New Format Hopes to Increase Chicago Beer Can Series Competition
Columbia Yacht Club has released the Notice of Race for the 2015 Chicago Beer Can Series with the official start date of May 27, 2015. The Wednesday night series is a time-honored tradition for the Chicago sailing community.

Columbia Yacht Club has released the Notice of Race for the 2015 Chicago Beer Can Series with the official start date of May 27, 2015. The Wednesday night series is a time-honored tradition for the Chicago sailing community.

 

The Series has casual roots laced with serious competition. Seventy-four boats registered for the 2014 Series across seven sections ranging from Newbie to Spinnaker. However, more than 100 boats would show up to the starting line on any given week.

 

“One of the biggest struggles for the Beer Cans in past years is knowing who the competition is. With five organizations represented and each with its own scoring, there would be eight boats in a start, but you end up being scored against only two or three,” explained Beer Can Chairmen, Steve Kindra.

In an effort to include all boats racing Wednesdays and increase the level of competition, Columbia decided early last fall that they would unite all fleets regardless of organization under one scoring program - Yacht Scoring. “It is for the benefit of each team that we race against as many boats as possible. The only way to get better is to race against the best,” remarked Thomas Barnes, Columbia Yacht Club Treasurer and Beer Can Racer of 35 years.


Another new development for the Chicago Beer Can Series is offering an inshore course for the daysailers or anyone looking for a shorter race. The inshore course will consist of half mile legs located directly outside the south outer breakwall and Adler Planetarium. “This distance and format is ideal for boats in the 20’-28’ range who prefer a shorter time commitment,” said Offshore Manager Morgan Kinney. “This is an idea that we’ve been discussing for several years, and we’re really excited to run the course for 2015.”

 

While weekly prizes will be awarded at Columbia Yacht Club regardless of which organization a boat is representing, other clubs may host their own weekly awards and social events. "The beauty of the Yacht Scoring system is that each organization can pull out their scores and use them to generate their own awards program," Kindra elated.

The registration fee for the 13-week racing series is a minimal $75. Columbia hopes that the low cost, addition of the inshore course, and universal scoring will encourage the next generation of racers to come to the starting line.


Click here for more information or to register for the 2015 Chicago Beer Can Series. Questions about the new Wednesday night racing format can be sent to [email protected]