A late September sunny, cool & breezy Saturday was the perfect setting for the US Sailing Championships in Cleveland. Held near Edgewater Beach, the event features teams of 6 competing together in 3 boats.
The headquarters for the event was the Old Coast Guard Station at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River.
We had visited this location before, but never had the chance to go inside. The boathouse was fantastic, and on this day actually being used as a boathouse.
The action took place inside the breakwater.
As they would sail around the harbor, the boats would tip steeply, forcing the crew to quickly jump to the other side to balance them out.
There were a variety of great backgrounds to shoot. From this view the Edgewater Marina sailboat masts framed the small crafts.
A freighter was offloading coal nearby.
The apartment buildings along the Gold Coast in Lakewood is directly across the lake from the Coast Guard Station vantage point.
While we watched the Nautica Queen passed by.
At times it appeared to be more like roller derby than sailing.
Their routes around the harbor took them near one of the lighthouses at the mouth of the river.
Clearly having the boats pitched side to side was the fastest way around the course.
They race identical boats provided by a local sailing group known as the Foundry. Most had sails with a giant Cleveland logo on them.
The Chamber of Commerce moment number 1 – Sailboats with Cleveland sails going past the art deco Coast Guard building.
Most of the teams were male/female, which is apparently how you get to the ideal maximum weight of 290 pounds for the crew.
The Chamber of Commerce moment number 2 – Sailboat with a Cleveland sail going past the lighthouse.
The racing was continuous with numerous heats constantly coming and going.
More close action. Amazingly nobody went into the water, but these are some of the best sailors in the country, as the teams came from all over for this event.
This event was one of the best photography moments I have had in some time.
RDZ Photography 