Bayview Yacht Club
Detroit, Michigan
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Race Chairperson: Jim Morphew
The North Channel Race was conceived after some good clean fun at the Bayview Yacht Club bar when Joe Matte and Irv Jorgenson, the owners of Cyrene (C‐50), challenged Jack Briner, the owner of Caprice (C‐64), to a match race from Bayview, up the North Channel, around Russell Island Buoy and back to finish in front of Bayview. An invitation to the other C boats was sent and two other boats participated, Ed Flintermann’s Deodar (C‐57) and Morrill Dunn’s Cayuse II (C‐59). The four competitors anchored at the starting line, off the Peche Island Range Front Light, with sails furled and crews waiting below deck. Shortly after midnight the morning of Saturday, June 15, 1940, the sound and flash of the starting cannon released the competitors to start the first North Channel Race.
Although the North Channel Race was the property of and managed by the C‐Class Association, eligible boats for the second race included L Boats, as well as C Boats. They raced without time allowance, as a fleet for prize flags in each class and also for the first boat to finish overall. In 1947, the Morrill Dunn Trophy was created and awarded to the first‐to‐finish in the starting fleet. By 1947, there were four classes of boats racing.
By 1951, the race had grown and the C‐Class Association realized that the Association was no longer equal to the task of sponsoring and managing the race. The Deed of Gift of the North Channel Race was offered to and accepted by Bayview Yacht Club. The intent of the race has been preserved. It remains primarily a contest of one‐design daysailing boats of 30 feet or less. The Race Committee has opened the race to PHRF rated boats of 30 feet or less, but they are not eligible for the Morrill Dunn or Richard C. Hill Trophies.
Should other classes wish to compete, they may do so by application to the Race Committee of Bayview Yacht Club. Such a request is subject to acceptance or rejection, and the decision rests entirely with the Race Committee of Bayview Yacht Club.
The 2024 North Channel race is dedicated to Fred W. Kreger.
Fred W. Kreger: Man and Boy
1929-2023
Sailing with Fred
Sailing – it’s what we do. But not many of us have sailed as much as Fred Kreger. Fred was sailing by the mid-1940’s. Fred sailed big boats in the Great Lakes, SORC, ocean racers and wherever they needed a foredeck animal. Roughly half of Bayview members have sailed with Fred. He also loved small boats, owning a Cal25, sailing Cals, Lightnings, Express 27’s, and Etchells among many, many boats.
Fred finished at Mackinac Island over 100 times. His first Mackinac race was 1952. Fred was an Old Goat (25 Bayview Macs), a Grand Ram (50 Bayview Macs), and Double Goat (25 each of Bayview and 25 Chicago Macs). Yes, a lot of us feel like amateurs.
His wife, Laura (of 47 years) has made many thousands of sandwiches, and recalls that the Bayview bill was often bigger than their mortgage. As it should be.
The Bayview North Channel
But Fred’s favorite race was the Bayview North Channel Regatta.
Fred began sailing the North Channel in the mid-1940’s. And he didn’t let up.
- 1987 North Channel: On an Etchells with John Harper & Kim Kelly, they won the race by ½ of a boat length over Peter Griffin’s Etchells, and set a new Elapsed Time record that lasted well into the 90’s. Fred flew the kite from the Old Club on the South Channel down past the Little Club, some 17 miles. Easy for him, not so much for us.
- 1995 North Channel was Fred’s 50th. Bobby Roadstrum wrote a poem for the occasion (see below).
- 2009 North Channel was the Fred Kreger Invitational, and his 61st North Channel, by then eclipsing anyone for North Channel history.
- 2017 North Channel was Fred’s last, his 66th, with Harold Kolter on Das Boot (Express 27).
Those of us who sailed with Fred were humbled by his drive and spirit, his energy, and his great attitude. We remember him, we will emulate him, and we sure all miss him.
Poem written by Bobby Roadstrum for Fred's 50th North Channel race:
Freddie Kreger
Man and Boy –
The North Channel Race –
Is his pride and joy.
Fifty years is a long, long time –
To count the ways to win this race.
To know the course…to set the pace –
Run aground…push off…and then –
“Starboard tack!”…you’re aground again.
In that swift current…drop your anchor fast –
They’re backing up…they’re flying past.
Things look great…you’re now ahead –
It’s the North Channel thing –
It can be said.
It takes it’s toll on any man –
Who wants to win as best he can.
At Decker’s Landing, the Ferry Piers, or Pointe du Chene –
Skinning the docks is part of the game.
Knocking down fish rods, in the dew or rain –
Beating the current…it’s all the same.
It’s that time of year when the weather’s fickle –
Could be burstin’ rain or just a trickle –
Blow hard, blow soft, you’ll freeze your tit –
But it’s in your blood…and you don’t care a bit.
Fred Kreger’s 50th North Channel Race
Saturday September 30, 1995
See You At The Finish !