2010 Laser North American Championship

The 2010 Laser North American Championship, for Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs, was hosted by the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in Kemah, Texas, on June 24-27, featuring sailing on Galveston Bay. The final summary is:

It’s all over now with racing in the sweltering Texas summer heat for the 182 contestants at the 2010 Laser North American Championships on Galveston Bay.

The RC did a fine job in squeezing in as many races as possible after the first day was lost to calm. Three more races were added sunday in all classes with the following final standings: Laser Standard (67 boats), the top three were cast in stone on Friday with Juan Ignacio Maegli GUA (11 pts.) crushed the fleet with only top three finishes to count. In second followed College Sailor of the Year (Yale) Thomas Barrows USVI (19) who was only slightly less impressive, a whopping 29 points ahead of third place finisher Raul Aguayo DOM (48). No changes also in the podium spots of the Laser Radial where Alec Anderson USVI (21 pts.) calmly closed it out with a big cushion on Mateo Vargas USA (37) and Cameron Pimentel BER (40). In the Laser 4.7 it was a seesaw battle between winner Brendan Shanahan USA (29) and third place finisher Juanky Perdomo PUR (40 pts.) who was called for a BFD in the seventh race, which allowed Madison Gates USA (31) to slip into second.

Written by Tracy Usher

2010 McNulty Cup held in Milwaukee

2010 McNulty Cup

The Milwaukee Yacht Club hosted the 2010 McNulty Cup on June 19. The event is held concurrently with the Summer Sailstice 2010 and the Milwaukee Bay Challenge Regatta.
The collaboration is also a food drive and benefit for Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin.

Feeding America is a national hunger relief organization that is made up of more than 200 member food banks and food rescue organizations across the United States including Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger relief organization.
The McNulty Cup is a five race series on the waters of Lake Michigan, approximately two miles off the Milwaukee Shoreline.

Celebrity Sailor on the Waters of San Diego Bay

West Marine/Challenged America Regatta

Competitive sailor, radio talk show host, and author, Dr. Laura Schlessinger spoke at the second annual West Marine/Challenged America Regatta held June 11-12. The regatta is a fundraising event launched by Cortez Racing Association and supported by West Marine to help support the Challenged America adaptive sailing program for disabled veterans, children and adults with disabilities.

With the help and support of skilled sailing enthusiasts and passionate volunteers such as Dr. Laura, Challenged America helps people with disabilities of all kind learn to sail in specially modified boats.

Three-time America's Cup Champion Dennis Conner, a personal supporter of the organization, introduced the keynote speaker, Dr. Laura on Friday, June 11, at a reception after the local Commordore's Challenge race.

Dr. Laura charmed the audience of the more than 150 with a recollection of how she fell in love with sailing. She also encouraged support for Challenged America so that all people can enjoy sailing.

“I was very proud to be apart of all those events to benefits such a worthy operation,” said Dr. Laura.

Saturday, June 12, the regatta officially began with the noon start of the first race.

More than 50 boats raced on the San Diego Bay course. Two exciting races were sailed with many sailors with disabilities competing.

2010 Laser Pacific Coast Championship

Racing for the 2010 Laser Pacific Coast Championship began Friday, June 4 on the waters of beautiful Monterey Bay.

On day one 19 Standard and 21 Radial rigs saw a classic Santa Cruz day with big wind, big waves and lots of sun and three races were sailed with the breeze starting in the mid-teens and reach to the mid-twenties by the second race.
Day two saw four races in very interesting conditions - the first race the breeze built from 8-10 into the upper teens, the second race was solid upper teens, the third race was puffs to twenty with giant holes and saw a drifter on the short beat to the finish, the last race saw upper teens the first beat which was then replaced by a light easterly!

Santa Cruz has hosted this event several times over the past 10 years or so and its always a big draw from all over the West Coast with lots of good sailing.
by Tracy Usher and the International Laser Class Association

2010 Flying Dutchman Nationals pictures

The 2010 Flying Dutchman Nationals were held at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club May 28-30. The SCYC celebrated two great days of sailing. Take a look at some of the pictures.

Photos provided by: SmugMug

Lakewood Yacht Club 2010 Shoe Regatta

LYC’s McMahan takes Shoe Regatta trophy

Lakewood Yacht Club racer Robert McMahan, left, was the overall winner of the Sea Lake Yacht Sales Shoe Regatta held May 15-16. LYC Commodore Don Rauscher presents the Shoe Trophy.
Lakewood Yacht Club racer Robert McMahan captured the top award on his J/80 “Kaos” at this year’s Sea Lake Yacht Sales Shoe Regatta held over May 15-16 on Galveston Bay.

This is given annually to the best racing boat in the most competitive class which was the J/80 fleet of seven boats.
Over 65 boats from all over the Gulf Coast, including the Viper Class for the first time, raced three races on Sunday, May 16. Races on Saturday, May 15, were called due to inclement weather.

McMahan reported that winds on Sunday were light and spotty.

“I think we did well in the race because we were so consistent, had a lot of patience, and worked well together as a crew,” McMahan said. “I must say that Forbes Durdin, another club member, on ‘Mojito’ sailed a really good regatta and kept us on our toes as did Bill Rose and his crew on ‘KICKS’ from the Galveston Bay Cruising Association.”

Crewing for McMahan were his sister Carter Wimberly and her husband Layne, Terry Flynn, and McMahan’s fiance’ Laura Broeker.

McMahan’s name will go on the perpetual Shoe Race ships wheel which is on display in the club’s main lobby.

The awards ceremony was held in the ballroom of Lakewood Yacht Club late Sunday afternoon with an attendance of over 100 racers. Past Commodore and sponsor coordinator Tony Wessendorff passed out complimentary Mount Gay Rum shirts and hats as they were the Silver Sponsor of the race. Additional sponsors included Banks Sails and Bay Access, a local not-for-profit organization that fosters amateur sailing on Galveston Bay.

Article and photo from The Bay Area Citizen