Sailors navigate waves in Frostbite Race
Trimaran Lickety Split, owned by Jim and Eva Knape, sails on a broad reach behind John Lindberg's catamaran Cathexis in the Escanaba Yacht Club's Frostbite Race on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
Mike Growdon (left) and Paul Carne observe the rigging aboard Mark Meyer's sailboat Hoopla while competing in the EYC's Frostbite Race. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
Shown is the course on Little Bay de Noc followed by sailboats participating in the annual Frostbite Race hosted by the Escanaba Yacht Club on Saturday. (Image courtesy of Tyler Anthony)
Bob Yin's sailboat Dolce sails past the Escanaba crib lighthouse off Sand Point during the EYC's Frostbite Race on Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
The trimaran Lickety Split Knapp sails on a broad reach behind catamaran Cathexis in the EYC's Frostbite Race. (Courtesy photo)
Escanaba Yacht Club sailors (left to right) Vice Commodore of Sail John Anthony, Commodore Mark Meyer and Mike Growdon discuss racing particulars during the Frostbite Race skipper's meeting on Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Anthony)
Dolce, owned by Bob Yin, sails upwind on Little Bay de Noc. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
Trimaran Lickety Split, owned by Jim and Eva Knape, sails on a broad reach behind John Lindberg's catamaran Cathexis in the Escanaba Yacht Club's Frostbite Race on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
Mike Growdon (left) and Paul Carne observe the rigging aboard Mark Meyer's sailboat Hoopla while competing in the EYC's Frostbite Race. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
Shown is the course on Little Bay de Noc followed by sailboats participating in the annual Frostbite Race hosted by the Escanaba Yacht Club on Saturday. (Image courtesy of Tyler Anthony)
Bob Yin's sailboat Dolce sails past the Escanaba crib lighthouse off Sand Point during the EYC's Frostbite Race on Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
The trimaran Lickety Split Knapp sails on a broad reach behind catamaran Cathexis in the EYC's Frostbite Race. (Courtesy photo)
Escanaba Yacht Club sailors (left to right) Vice Commodore of Sail John Anthony, Commodore Mark Meyer and Mike Growdon discuss racing particulars during the Frostbite Race skipper's meeting on Sept. 12, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Anthony)
Dolce, owned by Bob Yin, sails upwind on Little Bay de Noc. (Photo courtesy of Mary Growdon)
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LITTLE BAY DE NOC -- Braving gales and swells on Little Bay de Noc, sailors took part in the Escanaba Yacht Club (EYC)’s annual Frostbite Race on Sept. 12.
Pushed up by strong overnight winds that continued into the race, waves of three to five feet littered the bay with whitecaps. One sailor mentioned observing a gust of 40 mph before the skipper’s meeting in the EYC’s clubhouse. Despite these conditions, eight boats threw their hats into the ring. Since the wind was too strong for spinnakers to be flown safely, the fleet sailed as one class rather than the two usual groupings of spinnaker and cruising.
The 11.6-mile course was made to keep upwind sailing to a minimum until after noon, when winds were expected to drop a bit. Starting at a gate made off Sand Point, boats had to negotiate their way to Little Bay de Noc Buoy #8 a few miles south off Sand Point, then turn around and head to Escanaba Buoy #1 near the municipal dock, taking care to go outside of the Escanaba Crib Light. The fleet would then make their way to Little Bay de Noc Buoy #10, just over one mile northeast. From there, a long downwind run took boats to Little Bay de Noc Buoy #11 -- also known as the Terrace buoy, since it’s located right offshore from the Terrace Bay Inn -- then back upwind to finish at Sand Point.
Two start times were set: one at 11:05 for boats under 30 feet long, and another at 11:10 for boats 30 feet and over. Right off the gun, sailors had a hard beat up to the #10 buoy. Although strong, winds were consistent and tested the mettle of sail-trimming crews. The run downwind to the municipal dock offered little respite until the lighthouse was reached, as the high following seas made steering boats a big task. Continuing on down to the #10 buoy, then to the Terrace buoy, winds began to let up a bit and gave each boat’s crew some time to breathe.
As the fleet neared the Terrace, inshore winds presented a unique challenge: what was once a downwind leg became an upwind one. Due to the steep bluff and shoreline near there, sailors often find that the wind becomes gusty and unpredictable, and Saturday was no exception. Once making it around the Terrace buoy and getting away from the strange winds, the fleet stayed relatively close to shore all the way back to Sand Point. The swells weren’t so bad inshore since Sand Point shelters the west side of the bay from southerly seas. On top of that, winds began to drop, which meant less power for cutting through choppy waves. Boats were met with sunshine and a small but enthusiastic crowd of spectators as they coasted across the finish line.
Results: Hoopla (Mark Meyer) took first place, followed by Lightning 15455 (Steve Harris) in second, and Lickety Split (Jim and Eva Knape) in third. Also racing were Wanderer (Tom Woodaz), Dolce (Bob Yin), Manitu (Tyler Anthony), Cathexis (John Lindberg), and Student Driver (Igor Kruhak).
The EYC’s race calendar is done for the year. There are no more races until June 2027. The pre-race skipper’s meeting takes place at 6 p.m. at the EYC 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.