A L O H A !
Welcome to Interlake Nationals 2009 from the Grand Traverse YC
Your Northern Hawaiian Paradise

Interlaking is about family & friends. Balancing this with serious sailing is the goal of this event. It is scheduled so that families with non-sailing members can spend time together in this beautiful area, in town and at the club, while taking maximum advantage of a great sailing venue. It is our plan and hope that Interlake Nationals will be a fun experience both on and off the water for competitors and families alike. Traverse City , MI., is a national vacation destination with incredible natural landscape, dunes, rivers, lakes, trails and tons of golf. Some of the best road biking you will ever do is found in Leelanau County while the VASSA trail is tops for mountain bikers to add to the extensive Rails-to-trails network. There are approximately 20 wineries (one was purchased by Madonna for her father) in the area along with cherry, apple and peach orchards to add to the landscape and over 38 area beaches!. (alas; no coconuts or pineapples) TC is also a regional hub so you will find many more shops, restaurants and art galleries than you would expect in a city of 40,000 within a greater area population of 100,000. Plus there is Interlochen Arts Academy , the internationally renowned music school that has the biggest names in entertainment on stage all summer long. You can easily see why so many retired artists, musicians, astronauts, and nature lovers make Travers City their home, or at least their summer home. A short name-dropping list of current homeowners would include Bob James, Chuck Mangionie, Harry Goldson, Tom Selik, Tim Allen, and the FORD family. And, oh yes, Demmi Moore & Bruce Willis send their kid to Interlochen. These folks come to the Grand Traverse Area because they don't get mobbed. The residents here are true Mid-westerners who don't hound them for autographs but treat them as people. The historical tip of the iceberg reveals that this area has been the playground of Thomas Edison, Firestone, and Earnest Hemmingway. In other words, those of you who choose to come on up have good taste!

For some great aerial photos check out:

www.photography-plus.com/image_pages/TraverseCity.htm

And no—those aren't Caribbean photos you're looking at!

Your hosts, the GTYC & the ISCA are working hard on every detail so you can enjoy your trip. If you have any questions please ask so we can make all of our “Visitors Welcome.”

Part of the plan is to keep the weekend format but put it at the beginning of the week. We did this in 2001 and people really liked it. This beginning of week schedule (sat-tues) permits you to relax after the event and take the rest of the week exploring the Grand Traverse Bay Area (like camping at Sleeping Bear Sand dunes) or head up North to Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Mackinac. Then come on back and pick you boat up on your way home. Even if you head straight home, you won't need any extra days off of work, ya just need to take them at the beginning of the week instead of the end. Trust me, this weekend/beginning of the week is a very good twist for the TC area. (Also, Sunday-Mon & Tuesday hotel rates tend to be lower as well!)

Sailing conditions : Quantum Sails Corporate Headquarters just moved to TC with the opening of the largest sail loft in North America in June 2007. There are many professional sailors who live in TC and travel the world doing Far 40, TP 52 and other Grand Prix events. They all say that the sailing in TC is as good as it gets. Why? Because, the sailing area is at the protected end of a deep bay. The sailing area is totally sheltered from Lake Michigan with three sides of the sailing area having a windward shore so waves seldom have the opportunity to build. The water is clear, deep, with no currents, shallows or weeds. The shores are sandy.. There is a dependable sea breeze. In a word, PERFECT (usually?!)

Another key part of the “PLAN” is to sail in that dependable afternoon sea breeze. {Some of the locals call it the “West Bay Doctor.” (see ‘wind & other stuff” tab at the website).} That means we plan to start racing at 1:pm on Sat-Sun-Mon (earlier on Tues) so that everyone can enjoy the area, heck even golf 9 holes in the morning then grab some lunch and head to the race area which is right in front of the club. {Note: the NOR provides for earlier start times which may be used depending on the weather forecast. The race notice board will be updated daily with regards to the next days racing schedule) Dinner will immediately follow racing with the biggest party being that of a LUAU under the direction of widely noted Chief Jim Milliman with Margaritas sponsored by Customflex.

To put it simply: Traverse City has World Class Sailing and incredible food. We hope to share lots of both with you.

Many in the Traverse & ISCA communities are sponsoring Nationals in order to raise the quality of the event while lowering the cost to the participants. Please make an effort to thank our sponsors.

The GTYC event chairman is Bob Sagan who is assisted by Jim Milliman. Jim Bradley chairs the ISCA's National Race Committee with members Bob Bradley, Jim Milliman, Steve Aspery, and Richard Freeland. Our US Sailing Senior & Principle Race officer is Eric Lind (GTYC) and our ISAF Judge is Bill Cheek ( Toronto ). The hosting Commodore is Mac Van Stratt. All of these gentlemen, fleet 38 and the GTYC members are volunteering much time for you. The best way you can thank them is to come to Traverse City , participate in Interlake Nationals and enjoy their efforts.

The event website is up and running. Aerial & Satellite photos of the area and new stuff is constantly being added. The site will be comprehensive. Check it out again and again at www.gtyc.org or through the ISCA website www.interlakesailing.org .

Courtesy Housing is available. Contact Bob Sagan: bsagan1411@charter.net or 231.929-3555. There will be no tents at the club for this event.

For hotels, reservations and free info and a great website regarding all there is to do check out TC Visitors Bureau: 1-800-TRAVERS (872-8377) or www.visittraversecity.com

This website is so AWESOME that even the locals use it. Lots of photos too!

Remember that TC is a major vacation destination so while there is lots to do you would be well advised to MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

See you in August!

ALOHA!