If one were to ask which regatta this year had the most challenging conditions to sail in from day to day, by far it had to be the James Payton Memorial Fun Regatta. This regatta is sailed on Lake Mendota during the end of June. With 15 E Scows, 3 M-20 Scows, 10 I20 Scows anda host of keel-boats, this year's regatta was the largest yet.

The racing began Saturday morning with a light southern breeze, with the windward mark set off of the University of Wisconsin mooring field. At the start of the race the wind was patchy and by the time the first I20's were hitting the windward mark the wind had filled in and was now a solid 8-10. The first boat around was #569 with #659 and#499 close behind. After a quick downwind leg it was back upwind in even less air.  Since this was a modified Olympic course, we still had a triangle to complete. At this point the fleet condensed and the wind shut down. What started out as fun soon became a drifting match, which would end up being abandoned.

While enjoying a great dinner and festivities on Saturday night, everyone was hoping that the racing on Sunday would be an improvement. After a great overnight rain storm (and some soggy sleeping bags from the drenching rain), the good weather came through, and the wind was now out of the west, blowing about 12 to 15. Some good-sized waves rolling down the course made it just about perfect. After some intense sailing, Steve Yost in #632 ended up first with Grant Frautschi in #216 in second, and Paul Bates in #660 in third.