If you look at the sails of these boats, you will notice a "Y". That identifies them as Yngling class boats, which is an international classification. You might also notice the "USA" on the sails. If this photo had been taken in Switzerland, you would see "SUI" instead. Or in Sweden "SWE". And so on. Additionally, the number on the sail indicates the hull number. My boat (which is a Catalina 250) has the number 639 on the sail, which means that it was the 639th Catalina 250 to be built.I'm sure you're thrilled by this information, but being an educator, I feel obligated. . .What you are looking at in this photo isn't just any Saturday Yngling class regatta. You are looking at one of the races in the North American Yngling Regatta, which was being hosted by the Okoboji Yacht Club on Lake Okoboji in Iowa. They had a brisk NW wind to sail in and we just happened to be cruising the lake in a powerboat when the regatta started. I wasn't planning on taking photos of a sailboat race and if I had known this was happening, I would have brought my good telephoto lens with me. :-)
Okoboji
Captain & Crew
in people
The captain is Scott, who is standing in the back of this photo. The driver and driver's supervisor are the famous BZ and CZ. We are cruising on Okoboji in Iowa and though BZ looks confident at the helm, I think it had been a while since he had driven a boat.
Sunset Cruise
in Photography
This photo was no accident, though I had no idea what I'd get when I starting taking photos of the water contrail behind my brother-in-law Scott's boat last night on Lake Okoboji in Iowa. I like the glow of the sunset still visible in the background but I especially like the creamy, dark blue look of the water rushing under the boat.Everything is blurred in this photo but I knew it would be since I was shooting with a pretty slow shutter speed and the boat was bouncing a bit.I'm not sure I would have tried taking this photo a year ago because sharpness and a solidly held camera are part of my photographic process. But lately I've decided that it's worth trying to take photos even if you meet with failure. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.Canon 5DII 1/6s f/4.0 ISO1250 24mm
Cloud Study ( iPhonography)
in Nature
Deb and I spent part of our weekend at my in-laws' new lake home at Lake Okoboji in Iowa. While the weather was atrocious (windy and cold), the clouds produced by the bad weather were worth enjoying.
This shot was taken shortly after sunrise and, as has been the case lately, edited with Instagram on my iPhone.