ESCANABA — Wednesday night brought north winds around 12 mph to the bay, making for some more thrilling racing for the seven sailboats on the starting line for the penultimate race of the Escanaba Yacht Club (EYC)’s annual August series.

For both the cruising and spinnaker classes, the course took participants from Sand Point to Little Bay de Noc Shoal Buoy 10, back to Sand Point, to the Shoal Buoy again, and to Escanaba Buoy 1 (near the Municipal Dock) before finishing at Sand Point.

Short out-and-back legs kept all skippers’ eyes on the other boats as well as the next buoy. With such close racing, there were some close calls, resulting in a penalty for one boat.  The spinnaker class got in a long broad reach from the 10 buoy down to the Municipal Dock, which some crews did seize on to jump up a place or two.

Finishing first in the spinnaker race was Hoopla, skippered by Mark Meyer, followed by Lucille with skipper Steve Harris in second. Third place went to Dolce, skippered by Bob Yin.

Of the boats not flying spinnakers, Manitu, skippered by David Anthony, secured the win. Amber Waves, skippered by Amber Lippold, claimed second place. Gallivant, skippered by Jim Hansen, took third in the cruising class.

Upcoming races hosted by the EYC include the final August series race on the 27th at 7 p.m. and the Frostbite Race on Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m. Spectators are always invited and encouraged to watch the action from the end of Sand Point, past the City of Escanaba Water Plant.