Sometimes it is hard putting together these regatta reports, trying to figure out what to write about in the report. Usually there is one or two things that stand out such as the competitive racing, well-coordinated after sailing events, catching up with old friends, or even the weather. In the case of Cumberland Cup this year we had everything. 

The Cumberland Cup is the top team race event held every other year in England. This event brings together the best team racers from across Europe and the United States. The Cumberland Cup is a two vs two team race which is the exact same format as Gene Schenck where to win the race just don’t let one of your boats get last. The event was hosted by Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, England in the brand-new sonar sailboats. By doing it this way it allowed for four people in a boat and incorporated the use of spinnakers while racing. 

Thank you for your incredible support over the last few years., which enabled Scott Rasmussen and I to participate in the 2023 U.S. Adult Championship in Macatawa, Michigan. Your support was vital to our participation and success, and I want to share a recap of the event with you.The regatta featured seven teams from six US Sailing Regional Sailing Associations competing for the Clifford D. Mallory Trophy. Adding our names alongside previous winners such as Bruce Ullman and Buddy Melges is an honor.

Thank you once again for your continued support of us at the C420 Midwinters this year. This year I had the opportunity to sail with Grace Hunt. We had a great time and worked hard to perform well at this regatta. We flew to Florida a few days prior to the regatta to practice at the venue, and got some great conditions that previewed the regatta. On the first day of the regatta, we had light conditions on the course, so we were postponed on land for a couple hours before heading out. After being light for some time, the wind shifted and picked up dramatically. We completed two races before ending the day.

In February Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation supported my first trip to the C420 Midwinters. This was the biggest regatta I had ever taken part in. I was crewing for Noah Stapleton and we competed against 147 other boats. The US Sailing Center Martin County did such a great job hosting this event, everyone there was so kind and helpful.

Our Bacardi Cup began on the West Coast. Chas and I set off on a four-day road trip spanning 2,600 miles from Newport Harbour Yacht Club to Coral Reef Yacht Club in Miami, star boat in tow. On the first night of the trip, we found ourselves cruising through El Paso, Texas. The next night, we spent time in New Orleans, Louisiana, followed by Gainesville, Florida.

Last October, I was given the unique opportunity to compete alongside ten other accomplished local sailors in the Lee Family Trophy. The Lee Family Trophy is hosted each year by  Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Long Island, New York, and is a 3 x 3 team race regatta sailed in Sonars. In addition to having a blast sailing alongside our talented team and against teams from around the world and contending with the wide range of wind and weather conditions, we certainly held our own – finishing in second place over all (missing first place by just one foot at the finish of our last race). Thank you to the Foundation for your support – you make competing in these regattas and representing Newport possible for us.