A perfect weekend for sailing was capped off with the Harlan Challenge
long distance race. Six cruisers left the Patterson Harbor buoy in
reverse start and with the south wind ran down to the dam with
spinnakers, then a tight reach up the lake west to a turning mark and
then tacking up into Prairie Dog Bay. Another spinnaker run or reach to
the north shore buoy with the gradual building wind.

The Mellmans held a slim lead over Ockingas and the rapidly closing
Robinsons on the beat back up the lake to the finish at Pattersons.
Taking line honors were the Mellmans with Ockinga and Robinson in a
photo finish. The handicapping worked out well for these 3 boats as any
of the three could have been the winner but the hard sailing and
skillful spinnaker work of the Mellmans kept them ahead.

The next close finish was between Sawyer and Day where the final wind
lift was required for Sawyer to finish seconds before Day. Phelps had
lost his handicap lead in the light wind at the start and brought up
the rear. As the wind picked up during the race his Mac got up to speed
and he kept up with the fleet.

Joel and Luke Mellman are the ninth winner of the traveling cup trophy
in their Hunter 23 wing keel which was the inaugeral winning boat with
previous owner Bob Holden in 1997.

After the race another short windward leeward race was held with the
Ockingas taking first, Day second and Sawyer third. Some boats
continued to cruise the lake for the remainder of the afternoon and
other Husker fans cheered on the football team at the beach bar.

That evening a fabulous dinner was held at Burke and Kim Phelps cabin
topping off a perfect day at the lake.