What a privilege it is to sing praises about 15-year old Andre Patin who saw a fellow competitor in distress and immediately stopped to offer aid despite the challenging high winds, 18-29 mph, chop and 68⁰F water temperatures.

This happened in Springfield, IL, at the Sunfish North American Championship, on June 11, 2023. Andre attended this fun weekend with his Dad, Paul-Jon Patin, who is a former Sunfish World Champion. Andre comes from a line of Sunfish champions. Brother Nicholas has won several Sunfish competitions. And Mom, Anne Patin, is a former Women’s Sunfish champion.

Returning from the racecourse early because of the challenging conditions, Andre spotted a sailor who also left the racecourse early and was waving his arms and shouting near a capsized Sunfish. Exhausted and cold, Bob Findlay was having difficulty righting his boat due to a chest injury and fatigue. Bob’s life jacket was torn and losing buoyancy. The cold water temperatures were also beginning to zap Bob’s strength. Bob needed help.

Andre knew what he had to do and was in the process of helping Bob when an event official, Judge John Porter, saw from shore what was happening and jumped aboard a 26’ club boat and raced to the scene to offer assistance. Together, Andre and John Porter managed to get Bob onto the now-righted Sunfish.

Everyone got to shore safely. Bob, treated for mild hypothermia, attended that evening’s Award Ceremony where Andre was awarded the coveted Sunfish Class Sportsmanship Award for his above and beyond efforts in rescuing a fellow sailor while ignoring the potential danger to himself.

To view this story by US Sailing: Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Awarded to Andre Patin - US Sailing

Amanda Callahan Tops the Fleet at the 2023 Women’s North American Championship

August 19-20, 2023 – Lewes Yacht Club, Lewes, DE

Winning the coveted Linda Tillman Women’s North American Championship Perpetual Trophy, Amanda Callahan, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, once again proved she’s hard to beat.

This perpetual trophy was named for Linda Tillman to honor her memory as a first place finisher on the racecourse as well as in our hearts. She was a mentor and friend and one of the most special people we've had the privilege of sailing with.

With the challenging breeze and 1-3 foot Delaware Bay waves on Day One, these were good conditions for what Amanda might face at the Pan American Games in Chile in October. This Pan American Games will be the first time a Women’s Division will be sailing in the Sunfish Class. Amanda qualified to represent the USA in July! Are those cheers we can already hear?!

Amanda Callahan of the Bristol Yacht Club in Rhode Island wins the 2023 Women’s Sunfish North American Championship … Photo Courtesy of Ron MacArthur Photos

On a separate racecourse, this event was held in conjunction with the T. Rowland Marshall Mobjack Championship, a memorial event to honor Connie Miller’s Dad who recently passed away. For years, Connie crewed with her Dad on a Mobjack. One story Connie tells is when her Dad finished second at a championship, someone asked him why he didn’t finish first. His response was, “What do you expect with a Grandma for crew!” But he couldn’t hide his affection and pride as he said it.

Any event held at the Lewes Yacht Club and chaired by Connie Miller is an event to remember. The 45 women competitors from 14 states had a grand time. Great accommodations, beautifully crafted trophies, excellent food and an almost magical camaraderie shared by everyone there. Connie was recovering from a difficult bout of COVID-19, and while ill, still had the energy to create "Connie Art," about 30 pieces of shell and paper art which were given away by drawing at the Saturday evening dinner. Sailors will treasure these forever!

Photo of Connie Miller

Even the winds this year provided something for everyone with challenging winds and moderate waves on Saturday and lighter, patchy and unstable air on Sunday that flat-out died before a third race could be sailed. Happily, the ocean water was warm as there were two capsizes and one sailor fell out of her boat. Both days were sunny with temperatures around 80 degrees, just beautiful. Sunday concluded with an outdoor barbecue and the prize giving.

A Facebook comment from Gretchen Seymour, “Huge thanks to Connie Miller and Lewes Yacht Club for a fabulous regatta. Beautiful locale, gracious hosts and wonderful competition! Amanda Callahan sailed smart and fast in all conditions while making it look effortless. Congratulations!”

There was also a group of launching and retrieving helpers who made leaving and coming back to shore a more pleasant and safe experience. Oh, how competitors appreciate this luxurious service! Reports are the Lewes beachfront is scheduled to be replenished in the near future. Three nor'easters in the last year have severely washed the beach out.

Lined up and ready to launch.

Strong and challenging winds on Saturday.

A crowd at the mark as Connie Miller (4067), Gail Turluck (4859) of the Gull Lake Sailing Club, MI, and Lisa Brown Ehrhart (10164) of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron fight for position.

Beautiful and creative trophies were awarded at this Women’s North American Championship.

2023 Women's NA Results - Lewes YC

	Sail #	Skipper	Club	6 Races	TOT
1	82481	Amanda Callahan	Roger Williams Univ/Bristol YC	1-1-1-1-5*-2	6
2	60858	Gail Murphy-Heausler	Davis Island YC	2-2-3-4-9-13*	20
3	81339	Susan Tillman-Berg	Wawasee YC	13*-4-5-12-3-1	25T
4	81743	Kerry Gendron	One 15-Brooklyn SC	4-6-2-3-10-11*	25T
5	80361	Gretchen Seymour	Lake Bluff YC	5-5-4-5-13*-8	27
6	81135	Mary Ellen Brown	Rochester Canoe Club/SSS	6-3-9-8-4-10*	30
7	37630	Betsy Davis	Lavallette YC	3-7-10-2-11-19*	33T
8	10164	Lisa Brown-Ehrhart	SSS/NEH Fleet	14*-12-6-6-6-3	33T
9	2311	Elaine Parshall	Columbia SC	8*-8-7-7-7-4	33T
10	4860	Marta Chlus	Bantam Lake YC	9-11-8-11-8-12*	47
11	4872	Kimmy Jackman	Bantam Lake YC	7-13-17-9-23*-6	52
12	640	Annie Lancaster	Austin YC	10-9-13-22*-14-9	55
13	4859	Gail Turluck	Gull Lake SC	16-10-11-10-19-23*	66
14	77897	Susan Mallows	HSC/LYC/SSS	15-17-28-15-1-30*	76T
15	348	Christine Kelly	Dunedin Boat Club	11-15-16-19-28*-15	76T
16	81712	Kellee Johnson	SSS/Lake Bluff YC	20-22-25*-17-17-5	81T
17	1025	Sonya Dean	Harkers Island SC	26*-19-22-21-12-7	81T
18	3041	Linda Leader	Sarasota SS	21-24*-18-14-15-17	85
19	5785	Lee Parks	SSS/Newport YC	DNC*-18-14-24-20-14	90
20	81568	Carrie Slavinski	Lavallette YC	17-14-19-32*-21-28	99
21	81817	Hollin Calloway	Manhattan YC	25-28*-15-27-18-18	103
22	2454	Jenny Hopkins	Lewes YC	19-16-21-18-32*-31	105
23	53100	Ursula Olson	Sarasota SS	18-23-23-28*-24-20	108
24	4067	Connie Miller	Lewes YC	12-DNC*-12-20-38-27	109
25	81498	Joy Sheets	Dunedin Boat Club	28*-20-27-16-26-26	115T
26	3377	Mia Brandt	Sebago Canoe Club	27-25-24-23-16-33*	115T
27	80858	Linda Schwartz	Sarasota SS	22-27-20-25-22-35*	116
28	3727	Pamela Treloar	Davis Island YC	24-21-30-13-30-32*	118
29	81479	Jennifer Means	Sarasota SS	23-26-29-29-35*-22	129
30	79181	Janet Murphy-Ryan	Lake Bluff YC	34*-29-32-26-34-24	145
31	54321	Dee Gill	SPCY	29-31-26-33-31-36*	150
32	141	Ali Claypoole	Sarasota SS	31-30-31-DNC*-25-37	154
33	4830	Nancy Jaywork	Rehoboth Bay Sailing Assoc'n	DNC*-46-46-46-2-16	156
34	81611	Debbie Dietrick	Davis Island YC	36*-33-33-30-36-34	166
35	42162	Penny Ruark	Davis Island YC	35-32-DNF*-RET-29-25	167
36	4345	Anne Goetz	Sarasota SS	33-36-34-31-37-38*	171
37	99	Martha Cochran	St. Pete YC/Rehoboth Bay SA	32-35-DNC*-DNC-27-39	179T
38	81419	Jennifer Holmberg	Davis Island YC	30-34-35-34-DNC*-DN	179T
39	4300	Achareeya Gaston	Lewes YC	37-37-36/TLE-35-40*-40	185
40	77733	Connie Meeks	Cooper River YC	DNF*-DNC-DNC-DNC-39-21	198
41	5090	Rosemary McMullen	Sarasota SS	DNC*-DNC-DNC-DNC-33-29	200
42	4866	Henriette van Eck	Sarasota SS	All DNC's /46	230T
42	75022	Beth Fleisher	Southold YC	All DNC's /46	230T
42	1	Michelle Eidson	Hyannis YC	All DNC's /46	230T
42	81940	Caroline Young	Davis Island YC	All DNC's /46	230T

EIGHT BELLS … Don Bergman (1/25/31 – 8/12/23)

A Tribute from Vicki Palmer … The moments in life that we shared with Don Bergman have left us with a different kind of sunshine filled with a long journey of wonderful memories. He’s left our world but never our hearts.

Inducted into the Lake Michigan Hall of Fame in 2020, Don and Jean, have impacted the sailing world with more accolades than we can count as a couple and as individuals.

Don won several International Sunfish Masters competitions – 1989, at Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa, FL; 1990, at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron in Sarasota, FL, and 1993, in Key West, FL. In 1982 in New Orleans, LA, Don won the U.S. Midwinters. He was a champion both on the racecourse and in life.

For Don’s above and beyond contributions to the Sunfish Class, he was awarded an honorary life membership by the World Council of the International Sunfish Class, a distinguished and meritorious award.

So many deserving accolades to someone who has touched our hearts in so many meaningful ways.

When we lose someone who has impacted our lives the way Don did, it’s difficult to say good-bye. But what stays with us are the memories that bring a smile, remembering the twinkle in his eye while he told a good story or remembering how we now rig our boat because of the great tip Don shared with us back then. Or how Don made us feel less embarrassed about not sailing a good race by offering encouragement to sail a better race next time.

These kinds of memories are what helps us say good-bye to someone we were fortunate to spend time with both on and off the racecourse. Don was a champion who will be greatly missed.

Sunfish Youth North American Championship

September 23-24, 2023 – Lake Norman Yacht Club, NC

Board Bash

Seven different classes of boats (all ages)– Club 420, Laser (ILCA 4, 6, 7), MC Scow, Melges 15, Opti (all classes), O’pen Skif and Sunfish will join in the racing and fun on Lake Norman the weekend of Sept. 23-24.

To register: https://theclubspot.com/register/regatta/virYDCZNJX/class

The Sunfish competitors will sail in their own event with a different start and must meet the following requirements:

Cannot have turned 19 years of age as of January 1, 2023.
Must have a valid Sunfish Class Membership.
Boats must be fully Class legal including:
1. Class-approved hull builder, sails, spars and blades,
2. Due to parts shortages, sailors may compete using third party parts at Regional world-qualifying events until Dec. 31, 2024. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the measurer or their delegate. No exceptions shall be made for hulls which must be Class legal.
3. To be eligible for 2023 Sunfish Junior U.S. NA Championship awards or Worlds qualification, all parts must be Class legal.

There is still time to apply for a Youth Scholarship for this event. Go to: Sunfish Class Association - Youth Scholarship

Shelter Islander finishes first in the World’s Longest Sunfish Race … Peter Beardsley takes the crown in this legendary race around the Island

July 15, 2023 – Southold Yacht Club, NY

By Robert Harris

The 52nd World’s Longest Sunfish Race, (WLSR) Around Shelter Island, NY was sailed on July 15. The race is hosted by Southold Yacht Club, home of Sunfish Fleet #307. This year’s registration was originally limited to 52 sailors, one for each year of the race. However, when Beth Fleisher, RC of Southold Yacht Club and PRO for the race, saw the waiting list was over 25 boats, she petitioned SYC’s board to expand registration. Permission was granted, if an appropriate number of safety boats could be found. Safety first! Volunteers rallied to the request, with safety boats volunteering from Southold Yacht Club, Menantic Yacht Club, and the Peconic Bay Sailing Association. In all, 75 boats registered for the event, 62 finished the course within the finishing window/time limit. There were 14 safety boats on the water with the fleet for the entire race, over 30 volunteers on the water, and 10 on land made this unique nautical marathon a safe — and fun — event.

The race circumnavigates Shelter Island and the actual sailing distance is estimated to be about 26 miles, the length of a marathon. It’s a race of endurance — just finishing is an accomplishment.

Peter Beardsley has competed in the WLSR four times, the first time 21 years ago when he placed 47th out of 50; last year he placed 8th.

Peter Beardsley, a member of the Menantic Yacht Club, became the first Shelter Islander to win the World’s Longest Sunfish Race, crossing the finish line on Saturday, July 15, during the 52nd annual running of the race that circumnavigates the Island. (Credit: James Gilmore)

Obviously the fourth time was the charm for Peter, who placed 1st in Saturday’s race, making him the first Menantic Yacht Club sailor and the first Shelter Islander to do so in the half-century history of the WLSR. Peter, who was deservedly jubilant at his win, said, “Yesterday was the culmination of what seemed like an impossible dream.”

The Menantic Yacht Club (MYC) was well represented with 18 current and former sailors registered. They included: Will Lehr, Griffin Sisk, Peter Beardsley, Eric Ryan, Paul Zinger, George Zinger, Alicia Rojas, Peter Due, Ruth Hakanson, John Modica, Charlie Modica, Rich Prieto, Jim Koehler, Lee Montes, Joe Sullivan and yours truly in the singles class, and Doug Rose and his daughter, Elsie, in the doubles class.

At 8:30 Saturday morning, Charlie, John, Will and I met at the North Silver Beach town landing where we all store our boats to make sure we would make it to the 10:30 skippers’ meeting in Southold. We made it off the beach by 9:30 and reached the Southold Yacht Club in plenty of time for the skippers’ meeting.

I met up with some sailors I hadn’t seen in a while, including Jim Koehler, Lee Montes and Joe Sullivan. We all enjoyed the breakfast provided prior to the meeting.

As it turns out, Charlie’s boat was used by the Race Committee.

Joe Sullivan founded the WLSR in 1971, and this was his 50th WLSR race. At 86 he claimed that this year would be his last. We shall see.

Lee Montes, a stalwart in the Sunfish world, sailed the course, but took a DNS because he started the race well past the official cutoff time due to a dagger board problem. Even starting an hour late, he passed the last boat in the fleet rounding Hay Beach. As Lee has said: “Nothing that happens in the first 90 minutes of the race matters.”

There’s always next year, Lee.

The all-important question, and the last bit of information which was disseminated at the skippers’ meeting, was which way around the Island the Race Committee was going to send us. It turned out to be counterclockwise through South Ferry.

After the meeting, all the sailors and volunteers headed to their boats and the race was on. The pin end of the line was favored as was the left side of the course. Even though one end of the start line is favored, it sometimes doesn’t matter. John Modica started at the boat end of the line, by the time he reached Hay Beach he had caught up to the leaders, finishing 17th.

As in most endurance races, just as you think — and hope — you’re getting close to the finish line, there’s another point to round. At the start, the wind was blowing between 5 and 8 knots, with dead spots and slow going in some areas.

By the time we rounded Hay Beach, the wind picked up to maybe 14 knots blowing straight at us. Between the wakes from big boats and the stronger wind, it was a battle to the finish. I kept saying to myself, since there wasn’t anyone else to talk to in the last stretch, that I just didn’t want to finish last, a position I know all too well.

During the race I talked to several sailors in passing (for the most part, they were passing me). Near Coecles Harbor, I asked a sailor if he was enjoying his lunch. He generously offered me some, but I’d already eaten.

When he told me his name I recognized it, not as a celebrity, but because he had raced with the MYC the previous week, the first time he had raced a Sunfish in 35 years. Peter Due is a Dane, now living in New York and working at the UN. We chatted for a while and then parted ways, Peter taking the lead.

On the way back to West Neck Harbor after the race, Will was keeping an eye on the four Sunfish being towed when he saw something pop out of his boat. We turned around and discovered it was a bag of trail mix he’d been looking for all day. What he didn’t notice until we got back was that his portable VHF radio must had also popped out, and unfortunately, it did not pop back up.

Congratulations to Peter for his unprecedented victory and to all the sailors who competed in this nautical marathon.

A Peter Beardsley Facebook Post -- 7/17/2023

So this crazy thing happened on Saturday where I won a race called The World's Longest Sunfish Race (a circumnavigation of Shelter Island). I first did the race 21 years ago and finished 47th out of 50, stopped sailing for 3 months afterward, and almost quit the sport entirely out of frustration. I'm glad I stuck with it, though after nearly 5 hours of racing and 6 hours in the boat pre-start/post-race, I'm ok if I don't sail a Sunfish around the Island again for another 51.5 weeks.

NY State Sunfish Sailing – Don Vechten Memorial

Don VanVechten Memorial Regatta 2023! Mike Ingham topped the 21 boat fleet to take first overall and top Master, Adam Gesner was 2nd, Doug Kaukeinen 3nd, Dom Simonetti 4th and Mark Wieder 5th. Top family scoring went to the Inghams (Mike and Roy) and top Lady Master was Deirdre Santos-Kaukeinen.

Final Scores https://docs.google.com/.../1XSPoBc6y23JeSSwxd3Tm.../edit...

Huge thanks to our race management team of Joy Martin (PRO) Jackie Ingham, John Baker, Mary Ellen Brown, Sarah Silverstone, Chris Connelly and Andy Heyer!!

	Sail #	Skipper	8 Races	TOT
1	81559	Mike Ingham	1-2-2-1-4*-2-3-2	13
2	7	Adam Gesner	3-4-4-7*-3-3-2-3	22
3	11	Doug Kaukeinen	8*-1-3-8-5-1-1-4	23
4	6	Dom Simonetti	2-3-8-10*-8-7-7-1	36
5	60673	Mark Weider	4-8-5-5-1-12*-10-7	40
6	81618	Kira Munger	5-14-1-6-6-15*-5-5	42
7	81607	Roy Ingham	10*-10-6-2-10-4-4-6	42
8	77731	Jimmy Gindling	11-12-7-14*-2-8-6-8	54
9	79187	Steve Powers	7-7-10-4-11*-10-9-10	57
10	81264	Chip Toth	18*-5-9-11-7-5-8-13	58
11	80788	Alex Eiffert	6-6-22*-12-9-9-11-9	62
12	65	Kevin Loftus	9-9-13-3-13-19*-13-11	71
13	80766	Deirdre Santos-Kaukeinen	15-15-14-9-15-17*-14-12	94
14	55897	Jeff Scott	17-13-18*-15-16-14-12-16	103
15	81456	Dan Apfel	12-22*-22-13-12-6-22-22	109
16	81697	Amy Adkins	14-18*-15-17-17-18-15-15	111
17	8	Peter Gregory	20*-20-12-16-18-16-16-14	112
18	81707	Steve Adkins	16-19*-16-19-19-13-17-17	117
19	40445	Scott Cramer	19-17-19-18-14-11-22*-22	120
20	81642	Graham Leonard	13-11-22*-22-22-22-22-22	134
21	79064	Chip Bayer	16-17-22*-22-22-22-22-22	142

For publication in the Windward Leg, submit articles and photos to WindwardLegEditor@gmail.com

2023 Michigan Open Championship

Gull Lake Sailing Club, Richland, Michigan

August 5-6, 2023

By Gail Turluck

This year’s regatta was sailed out of Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station property, the former summer residence of W.K. Kellogg of cereal fame. It is a beautiful setting with plenty of room for launch, storage and parking. Saturday featured visitor’s bureau perfection – 82 degrees, sunny, and ExSE winds of 8-14, slightly puffy, and shifty. It was so nice out likely every powerboat in the county was on the lake … waterski, pontoon, fishing, wake … making for some powerful chop.

Playing the shifts and getting on the right side of the puffs was the key to success. After Saturday’s four races, sailors enjoyed the traditional steak dinner with baked potatoes and fresh salad at the Turluck residence, this year on the patio in these beautiful conditions.

Overnight Saturday a cold front came through, bringing cooler temperatures in the upper 60’s, clouds, and off and on drizzle, with similar winds of ExSE 7-15, puffy and shifty. The change in weather left the whole lake to the regatta sailors!

Everyone enjoyed the nearly flat water and didn’t mind the occasional moisture. All courses were windward-leeward twice around. Mark Kastel, though challenged in nearly every race, found a way to be consistently at or near the top and claimed this championship for the third time of the 12 times the event has been held. Matt Glover sure kept him on his toes. Top Junior was Colin Pruyne. Huge thanks to our Race Committee of Greg Mulliett, Rick Kohl and Steve Falberg.

	Skipper	Home Port	7 Races	TOT
1	Mark Kastel	LaFarge, WI	1-2*-2-1-1-1-1	7
2	Matthew Glover	Lake Bluff, IL	2-1-3*-2-3-2-2	12
3	Larry Carter	Richland, MI	3-3-4-3-6*-5-5	23
4	Gail Turluck	Richland, MI	7-8-1-DF*-2-3-3	24
5	Donald Fritz	Maumee, OH	4-7-9*-7-4-4-4	30
6	Colin Pruyne	Portage, MI	6-4-6-5-5-6-7*	32
7	Chuck Connors	Galesburg, MI	9*-6-5-6-7-7-6	37
8	Tom Katterheinrich	New Knoxville, OH	5-5-7-4-DC*-DC-DC	45
9	Daniel Fritz Jr.	Deep River, CT	8-9-8-DF*-8-8-8	49
10	Karen Pacella	Battle Creek, MI	10-DF*-DC'S	70
11	Cara Brown	Cleveland Heights, OH	All DC's	72

The podium from 2023 Michigan Open Championship: 1^st Junior – Colin Pruyne, 5^th – Donald Fritz, 4^th – Gail Turluck, 3^rd – Larry Carter, 2^nd – Matthew Glover, 1^st – Mark Kastel. Photo by Susie Pruyne.

USSCA World Qualifier Events

Feb 11-12: FL Regional #1 RESULTS

May 6-7 : Midwest Regional #1 OH RESULTS

May 20-21: Southeast Regional Champs NC RESULTS

May 20-21: Mid-Atlantic Regional #1, NJ RESULTS

May 27-28: Upstate New York Regionals #1 NY RESULTS

June 3-4: New England Regional #1 RI RESULTS

June 17-18: Southwest Regional #1 TX RESULTS

July 22-23: NE Regional #2, Wequaquet Lake YC, MA RESULTS

July 29-30: Down State NY Regional #2, Wet Pants Sailing Assoc. NY RESULTS

Sept 16-17: Midwest Regional #2, Bruce Goldsmith Regatta, Devils Lake YC, MI

Sept. 23-24: Gulf Coast Regional Championship Grand Lagoon YC, Pensacola, FL

Sept 30-Oct 1: Southwest Regional #2, Dinghy Fest, Rush Creek YC, TX

Sept 30-Oct 1: Mid-Atlantic Regional #2, Normandy Beach YC, NJ

Oct 13-15: US Masters National Championship, Niantic, CT

Oct 14-15: Midwest Regional #3, Great Pumpkin, Louisville SC, KY

Oct 28-29: FL Regional #2, Halifax SA, FL

Nov 18-19: West Regional, Mission Bay, CA

Qualifying for 2024 Worlds October 13-19 at Rush Creek YC, Texas

Class Notice with Qualification details

UPCOMING EVENTS

2023 Calendar Submissions

The 2023 calendar of events is ready to be loaded. Please email your regional events to your Regional Representative or the Scheduling Coordinator sunfishschedule@gmail.com. Full calendar of events can be found at the 2023 Schedule.