Digging into the waves

The Helly Hansen NOOD (National Offshore One Design) Regattas series concluded on Lake Michigan in Chicago. Competitors were pelted with rain and hot sun, but that didn't stop Ron Basile and his crew aboard the Beneteau First 40.7 that took the top prize of the competition - although the competitors did adopt the "battle paint" as we can see in this photo from the last day of the regattas. The NOOD Regattas racing series has been held since 1988 across the country. It is the largest national sailing regatta, with about 2,000 monohulls from 20 to 70 feet long and 30,000 people participating each year.