Top J/105 Team Wins Caribbean Championship Berth at 2019 Helly Hansen NOOD Chicago

              Gyt Petkus, skipper of the J/105 Vytis, accepts his NOOD Caribbean Championship entry alongside his crew                          Michael Brown, Steve Druzbicki, Keith Krause and daughter Julija Petkus.    Paul Todd/Outside Images/NOOD

Morning rain and fog saw the remaining scheduled races cancelled on the third day of the 2019 Helly Hansen NOOD Regatta Chicago. Spirits were high, however, as competitors gathered at Chicago Yacht Club for the evening's awards party. At each NOOD Regatta, individual fleet winners earn a chance to be selected for one berth at the Caribbean Championship in November in the British Virgin Islands. Today, Gyt Petkus (La Grange, IL), winner of the J/105 fleet, had the luck of the draw, winning his second Caribbean Championship appearance since 2007.

“We’ve owned our J/105 Vytis for 25 years,” says Petkus, who’s nephew Keith Krause trims the boat’s mainsail. Steve Druzbicki calls tactics, Mike Brown trims jib, and Petkus’ daughter Julija is the team’s foredeck crew. The team started the regatta with two third-place finishes on Saturday, before winning the next two and taking the lead. “Friday was a bit frustrating with the fog coming through,” says Petkus of the first day’s cancelled races. “But yesterday was awesome. The conditions were great. The J/105s are tweaky boats, so the little details made a big difference as far as point and speed.”

Petkus finished the shortened series tied with rival skipper Clark Pellet (Chicago, IL) aboard Sealark. The tiebreaker went to Pytkus and his crew. Petkus says he’s looking forward to returning to the Virgin Islands, this time with his daughter, Julija. “All I’ve heard growing up was how much fun sailing in the Caribbean is,” says Julija Petkus. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally have the chance to go down there and sail with my dad.”

CONGRATULATIONS!