Bud Daly with his wife Sue won in a highly competitive series that wasn't determined until the very last leg! Jonathan with his daughter Annie as crew was second. North Sails were 1,2,3,4,5 and all but one boat in the entire fleet had North!

For more information, photos and results click here.

For details on the North Penguin sails contact
John MacCausland, Greg Fisher or Ched Proctor.

Oxford, Maryland is one of my favorite places to sail, so when I heard that the Internationals would be held there this year I knew I would not miss this event.

During the three day event we had a wide range of conditions ranging from a race in 15 to 18 knots to a drifter and everything in between. Nine races were sailed over the three days which at times could be hard to do on the Chesapeake Bay in the summer. But, the wind gods gave us their blessings.

Racing was very close throughout the event, with many boats doing well in individual races. As the regatta went on Bud Dailey & Harry Scott sailed very consistent at the top of the fleet. John & Allie MacCausland never gave Bud & Harry any room to make a mistake. Going into the last race it was all tied and whoever beat who would win the championship.

The last race was sailed in light puffy conditions, difficult at best. At the first mark team MacCausland was in control of the championship. But Bud & Harry had a great run and got themselves back in the race. On the second beat Bud & Harry sailed very well and rounded second with John & Allie in sixth. Bud & Harry turned on the after burners on the final run to lead at the leeward mark. With only a short beat to the finish the championship was theirs.

The atmosphere was great as usual at this event. The yacht club did a great job. There were many events held a Penguin sailor’s homes. Along with the sailing it was a great way to spend time with my daughter.

For more information, photos and results click here.

For details on the North Penguin sails contact
John MacCausland, Greg Fisher or Ched Proctor.

This year’s event was held on Lake Michigan. Twenty three boats, nine from the East Coast were on hand to sail for the International Championship. This event has been held annually since 1941, needless to say there is plenty of history behind this trophy.

Day one got off without a hitch. During the morning we measured all the boats and checked their sails. After a quick lunch it was out to the lake for the first two races of the regatta. The conditions were light, four to sic knots but pretty steady. After the two races that were sailed many boats had good scores to start the regatta off with.

Day two dawned very hot, humid and no wind. We all stayed ashore to wait for the wind and had lunch and an afternoon snack. Then late in the day a little wind appeared on the lake and off we went out to the lake. The committee was able to run one race before what little wind there was finally died.

Day three was much the same as day two, hot, humid and no wind. Just after lunch out to the lake we went to try for some more races. Again the committee was only able to run one race before the wind shut down for the day. With only four races completed we did not have a throw out and had to count all our races.

John & Erin MacCausland came out on top to win the 2003 International Championship. Defending champions Steve Lavender and Jory Hanselman finished second. Past International Champion Sandy Rapp & Margaret rounded out the top three.
Along with the racing there were parties each night with the kids and adults having a great time. A job well done to all that were involved in running this event.

TOP 5:

1 - John & Erin MacCausland 1-2-1-1 = 5 Pts. 2 - Steve Lavender & Jory Hanselman 4-1-3-3 = 11 Pts. 3 - Sandy Rapp & Margaret 2-4-4-7 = 17 Pts. 4 - Charlie & Martin Kraft 7-8-2-4 = 21 Pts. 5 - Jonathan & Annie Bartlett 5-9-6-2 = 22 Pts.

Also North Sails were 6th through 12th place. This was not a bad place for the boys in blue.

For once this spring the weather man was wrong. They said it would rain but somehow it was sunny and nice all day. This was a welcome change from the past weeks. We raced five races during the day, It looked like John and Erin MacCausland would run away with the event winning the first two races. As sail boat racing goes this was not the case, Paul Hull came on strong winning the next two races. All the time Sandy Mc Allister was posting good results without much fanfare. In the final race John and Erin came through with the bullet to win the regatta. Sandy McAllister crossed the line second and also wrapped up second for the event. Rounding out the top three was Paul Hull. Next stop the Penguin Internationals in Chicago, IL. hope to see you all there.

1- John & Erin MacCausland North Sails
2- Sandy Mc Allister North Sails
3- Paul Hull North Sails

1st John & Erin MacCausland 2nd Sandy Mc Allister 3rd Paul Hull

This event is the wrap up of the Penguin sailing season. It is a very unique and special day. The Lane family opens their home to the Penguin Fleet. Their home is located on the Upper Miles River in Maryland. It is a wonderful location to hold an event like this. It has great access to the water with a nice size dock to start and finish the races from. Another great idea they have is how they handle the entry fee for the event. Each boat brings some kind of food for the party after sailing. So needless to say we have a great party with many homemade treats.

This year, as in many of the past years, the weather was fantastic, fall weather at its best. The next great idea they have is that the third race of the five race regatta the skippers and crews change positions. With many of the crews being children this becomes quite a challenge. Also this is a great way to get the kids started racing.
As you see, what I have been talking about is not about who had the best start or who was going the fastest. It is about having a good time with your family and friends. If I remember correctly, this is why we all got involved in sailing in the first place.

I have to give the Lane family a lot of credit for putting on a great event each year. And by the way North Sails dominated this event. With 27 boats entered the results were:

1st John & Erin MacCausland 1-1-2-7-3 = 14 Pts. 2nd Jonathan & Annie Bartlett 2-10-4-4-1 = 21 Pts. 3rd Charlie & Martin Krafft 4-2-8-6-5 = 25 Pts. 4th Bud & Sue Dailey 5-8-7-5-6 = 31 Pts. 5th Ross Dierdorff & Chandlee Taylor 7-15-5-8-12 = 47 Pts. 6th John White & Jugs 8-4-14-1-21 = 48 Pts.

After a hard fought nine race series Steve Lavander and North Sails came out on top. Throughout the series Steve Lavander and Jonathan Bartlett traded the lead of the championship back and forth. It came down to the last race and whoever beat who would win the series. Even during this race Steve and Jonathan traded the lead back and forth with Steve coming out on top in the end.

North Facts:
North Sails dominated the top ten in the event with nine out of the first ten.
Throughout the 27 boat fleet about 75% of the boats used North Sails.

Top 5:
1st. Steve Lavander North
2nd. Jonathan Bartlett North
3rd. John MacCausland North
4th. Susan Taylor North
5th. Skip Moorhouse

Tred Avon Yacht Club was the host of the championship this year. A great club for this event. Tred Avon has a long history supporting Penguin sailing throughout the years. We had 30 teams show for this year's championship.

The weather conditions made it very difficult to be consistent. Many boats had large scores to count in their final total. By the end of the series there were three boats going into the last race that could win, John & Erin MacCausland, Jonathan & Emily Bartlett and Steve Lavender. The last race was much like the others, light and shifty wind with some big holes. The leaders of the regatta all got out to the left and the right came in good. Clawing their way from the back of the fleet the three boats made it back from the dead. All three ending up counting their scores in the championship.

Defending champions John & Erin MacCausland were able to keep their crown for another year. Jonathan & Emily Bartlett second with Steve Lavender third.

North Sails - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 14 and so on.