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The Big Inland regatta comes to Geneva Lake

Buddy Melges, "The Wizard of Zenda," and John Anderson will race the Eagle in the Inland Lake Yachting Association Championship this week on Geneva Lake. Dan Plutchak/file photo.

GENEVA LAKE -- The majestic sight of colorful spinnakers and sleek racing scows will be on full display for 11 days when The Big Inland, the Inland Lake Yachting Association Championship, comes to Geneva Lake.

The regatta runs Aug. 11-21 and is hosted by the Lake Geneva Yacht Club.

"This is our main regatta of the year," said race co-chairman Jim Smith of Fontana.

The regatta features four classes, highlighted by the impressive A scows, a 38- foot flat bottomed racing boat, along with the 28-foot E scows, 20-foot C scows and single sailor MCs.

Smith says they expect about 20 A scows, including several high profile teams.

Buddy Melges, "The Wizard of Zenda," and John Anderson will race the I1 Eagle.

Tom Freytag and his crew, who won the A Scow National Championship on Madison's Lake Mendota in June, will race under the I7 sail.

Smith says the race course will be set on the west end of Geneva Lake, and encourages boaters to keep a comfortable distance from the course. Wakes from powerboats can affect the sailboats, making it difficult to race, Smith said.

Racing begins Aug. 11-14 with the E and MC classes. A scows race Aug. 15-17 and C scows take to the water Aug. 18-21.

All classes are planning back to back racing. The MCs and As, weather permitting, will sail two races each day. The Es and Cs, will attempt seven races and may sail three back to back-to-back races on one or more days.

The Inland Lake Yachting Association was formed in 1897 and is comprised of about 50 yacht clubs throughout the Midwest.

Links

Lake Geneva Yacht Club

Inland Lake Yachting Association

ILYA Big Inland 2010 on Facebook