Notably, sailors did get rained on for the third week in a row — but this time, not until the end of the race.

Wednesday’s event was the third of the Escanaba Yacht Club (EYC)’s June series. The club hosts Wednesday night races every week in June and August; the weeklies pause in July so that other events can take place.

The EYC and other participants hope that perhaps time and sun will bring forth more competition as the season progresses. This week, only four boats participated, two in each class.

Hoopla, skippered by Mark Meyer, took first place in the spinnaker-flying category, while Good N Windy — the O’Day 27 that Jim Hansen teaches Scouts to sail on — secured first in the cruising class with Steve Harris as skipper. Dolce (Bob Yin) came in just 13 seconds later than Hoopla on corrected time to take second place in spinnaker class, and Manitu (Dave and Josh Anthony) finished second in the cruising class.

Sailing on Little Bay de Noc used to be more popular, as evidenced by this Daily Press clipping from 1981 about the Stoll Race. June 27, 2026 brings another annual Stoll Race from Escanaba to Gladstone, open to all area sailboats. The number of participants won't be known until Saturday morning's skippers' meeting. (File)

Though Manitu does possess a spinnaker that could be raised, the captain usually chooses to do without on race nights — largely because the hodge-podge crew tends to include some relatively-inexperienced newbies.

Sailing, like some other skills, is fading from public consciousness. A smaller percentage of the populace engages in the hobby than years past — though some people are working to pass on the craft.

One way that today’s local sailors are sharing the tradition is by welcoming interested individuals onto their boats. First-timers as well as sailors without vessels of their own have been able to climb aboard and participate in a race if there are room and willing skippers. Recent guests at the EYC have included Paul Rose, Murad “Ernie” Abel, Lydia Tembreull, a father and son who were in the area for a construction contract, and a couple who recently relocated from Indiana.

Additionally, through efforts headed by Troy Drebenstedt of Gladstone and various volunteers, people of all ages may learn to sail at the Gladstone Sail School. Students learn the basic principles of sailing and are able to get a feel for tacking and other maneuvers on small crafts in shallow water.

This weekend is the first larger sailing event of the year for the EYC, which is cooperating with the Gladstone Yacht Club to put on the C.W. Stoll Regatta, named in honor of early Escanaba sailor Charlie Stoll. Any sailboat on the bay is welcome to participate; to sign up, skippers should attend the pre-race meeting at the clubhouse (21 Baumier Way, Escanaba) at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. The course will take participants from Escanaba to Gladstone beginning at 11:15 a.m.

On Wednesday, race boats were challenged with two different routes, based on class. As always for the Wednesday series, the start and finish line was at Sand Point. Cruising boats went from the start to the number eight buoy, then the number 10 buoy, then to the finish. Spinnaker class went to buoy eight, buoy 10, the lighthouse and then to the finish.

Following Saturday’s Stoll Regatta, the EYC’s next racing event will be on July 1, beginning at 7 p.m. The pre-race skippers’ meetings take place at 6 p.m. at the EYC — found near the intersection of Ludington Street, Water Plant Road and Loren Jenkins Memorial Drive — and the races are open for public entries and participation. Spectators are always invited and encouraged to watch the action from the end of Sand Point.

A new music series has been added this year, filling Wednesday evenings in July with performances by the House Band from 8 to 10 p.m. at the EYC beginning July 8.