The 25^th MORC (Midget Ocean Racing Club) Internationals will be held on Lake Minnetonka September 16-19, 1999. Wayzata Yacht Club (WYC), MORC Station 40, located on the southwest edge of Minneapolis, is sponsoring the event. Sailors will compete in Grand Prix, Racer/Cruiser, and Classic Divisions, complemented with separate J22, J24 and Capri 25 one-design fleets having level ratings. All boats (60 to 80 expected) will have a MORC certified rating and be eligible for overall and individual fleet trophies. This regatta which is generally held in ocean bays or on the Great Lakes may be the largest invitational keelboat race ever held on Lake Minnetonka.

In the past, WYC sailors participating in the MORC Internationals have done quite well. In 1977 in the Upper Chesapeake Bay, Finlandia a Lindenberg 26 skippered by Dick Wisti, placed 1^st in Class B. John Gjerde in Oz a J/24, won 1^st in Class C.

Ten years later, (1987), in Milwaukee, Rodney Wallace with Thunderbolt a G&S 27 won the Internationals, Grand Prix Division and Class B. Jerry Wintheiser with Tuesday, a S2 7.9 won the Racer Cruiser Division and Class C.

Duluth Keel Club and WYC MORC Station 40 jointly sponsored the MORC Internationals in 1990. Many WYC Sailors participated and this time Dick Wisti won 1^st Place in Class A.

The 1998 MORC Internationals were held at the Sarnia Yacht Club on Lake Huron. The "No Chaser" (S2-7.9) team consisting of Paul Daggett, Tom Clark, Kim Jenson and Tom Elsen represented WYC MORC Station 40 and took third in their class.

MORC99 should be one of the best with 60 to 80 keelboats attending, ranging from 22 to 33 feet. Excitement will be enhanced by inviting one-design classes (a first for the MORC Internationals) to compete for the overall (Rudder Trophy) and individual fleet trophies.

Seven races are scheduled with course lengths ranging from 5 to 7 miles except for one longer race of approximately 13.5 miles with buoys set in Wayzata, Excelsior and Lafayette Bays. This will be complemented with an awards banquet and several special social events.

Registration has already begun – as of January 1, 1999, 35 Sailors have committed. Check out the MORC99 Internet Page, http://www.wyc.org/morc99/ for more information or to obtain an entry form. Additional information may be obtained at the Wayzata Yacht Club or by contacting Pat Maloney, Registration Chair at 612 938-3601, email: maloney8pm@aol.com or Jack Christofersen, MORC Station 40 Commodore, 612 473-0690, email: chris143@tc.umn.edu.