The Santana Nationals were held July 8 & 9, 2006 on beautiful Johnson Lake in Nebraska. Saturday the 8th dawned as a overcast and windless day which is odd for Nebraska. The Nationals Regatta wind limits state that the lower limit for starting any race is 3 mph with the upper limit being 25 mph. The first race started in marginal 3 mph winds which faded on the first of five legs. This race was abandoned due to the time limit of 30 minutes per leg.

The afternoon gave us winds of 6 to 12 mph with clearing sky. Three races were sailed on windward-leeward courses.

Sunday morning presented ground fog and light winds. Mid morning the haze burned through and again we had winds from 5 to 11 mph. The final three races of the series were sailed in shifting and challenging winds.

Ernie French and his crew sailed to their third Nationals Championship with great tactics and flawless crew work. Doug Deterding was second and Eric Kennedy third.