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Top Talent on Display at International Masters Regatta

San Diego Yacht Club

October 24, 2023

At San Diego Yacht Club’s 2023 International Masters Regatta, one thing was clear: every Master sailor who took to the course was meant to be there. One look at the daily firsts over three days of racing in South San Diego Bay would prove our invited skippers are truly masters of this sport. The regatta was held October 20-22, with 12 invited skippers racing over three days in J/105s. By the time the second day of racing had concluded, nine races were completed, each won by a different skipper.

Six of the 12 skippers competing were from ICOYC Clubs—Nigel Cochrane of Royal Vancouver Yacht Club , Rick Goebel of San Diego Yacht Club , Tad Lacey and Don Jesberg of San Francisco Yacht Club , Wolfgang Schaefer of Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Tracy Usher of St. Francis Yacht Club. Earning an invitation to the International Masters Regatta is a feat in itself, but this year’s skippers proved to be perhaps the most equally matched and skillful ever to attend the event. The caliber of sailing on the course was unparalleled—each race brought new excitement and spectators waited to see who would seize the coveted bullet. Several teams had the potential to seize the title, but no one was more determined than this year’s overall winner, Scott Harris of Coronado Yacht Club.

The third day of racing saw major shake ups from one mark rounding to the next while skippers moved wildly through the standings. Tad Lacey, Cory Sertl, and Gary Jobson were not about to go down without a fight.

A one-hour postponement at the onset of the day only heightened the anticipation as sailors and spectators alike waited for the wind to fill in. Skippers were aggressive at the start and Yon Belausteguigoitia captured his first win of the regatta. Belausteguigoitia went on to secure another bullet in race 12, winning the day.

Race 11 showed just how eager the skippers were with a general recall at the first attempted start. Race Committee responded by displaying the “U” flag and everyone played it safe. Jobson, while hopeful to win the boat end, got squeezed out and started several boat lengths behind the fleet. Undeterred, he fell off to the right side of the course early and sought out fresh air. Jobson took his own advice about resiliency, shared earlier in the day: “When you are out on the racecourse, just keep plugging and looking at things. It’s pretty shifty out there and everybody has the same problems. So, chip away at it and hopefully we can do better.” This served him well as he coasted to his second first-place finish of the regatta.

Everything hinged on the last race of the day. Harris had held onto his lead, but Lacey and Sertl were hot on his heels. Lacey rounded the first weather mark in second and Harris was bringing up the rear in tenth. Harris dominated the downwind leg and by the time he returned for the second weather mark rounding he had gained seven boats. It was clear at that point that Harris’s tenacity was enough to secure him the championship if he could just maintain his position.

As Harris crossed the finish line, he was met with horns blasting and spectators cheering. It was a hard-fought win, down to the very last race for Harris and his team. They finished the regatta with 54 points overall followed by Lacey in second with 61, and Sertl in third with 64.

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Sailor’s Dozen: International Masters Regatta to host 12 sailors

International regatta will take place at San Diego Yacht Club, Oct. 19-21.

SAN DIEGO — Some of the biggest names in sailing will be in San Diego, late October, as the International Masters Regatta comes to Southern California.

Bill Peterson, Tad Lacey, Don Trask, Jon Andron, Andy Roy and Richard du Moulin are among those participating in this year’s regatta, hosted by San Diego Yacht Club, Oct. 19-21. Roy will be coming to San Diego from Canada.

There will be 12 sailors competing against each other, in all, with teams navigating San Diego Bay aboard J/105s. Bill Campbell (San Diego Yacht Club) defeated Andron (St. Francis Yacht Club) for first place honors last year, followed by Lacey (San Francisco Yacht Club) and Bill Menninger (Newport Harbor Yacht Club) in third and fourth places.

Registration and weigh in for this year’s regatta will begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18, followed by a practice race that afternoon on San Diego Bay. San Diego YC will host a “Taste of Point Loma” event for participants at 5 p.m. on Oct. 18.

Racing begins at noon – after breakfast and a competitors meeting – on San Diego Bay, Oct. 19. A dockside social will be held at San Diego YC’s guest dock after racing.

Teams hit the water again on Oct. 20 and 21. An awards ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. on Oct. 21, after racing.

The full roster of competitors for this year’s regatta is as follows:

• Jon Andron, St. Francis Yacht Club
• Julian Bingham, Mobile Yacht Club
• Chuck Driscoll, San Diego Yacht Club
• Richard du Moulin, Larchmant/Storm Trysail Yacht Club
• Tad Lacey, San Francisco Yacht Club
• Bill Menninger, Newport Harbor Yacht Club
• Ted Moore, New York Yacht Club
• Dave Perry, Pequot Yacht Club
• Bill Petersen, California Yacht Club
• Andy Roy, Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Alan Clark of Richmond Yacht Club won the first International Masters Regatta in 1979. He defended his championship with a repeat win in 1980. Kaneohoe Bay Club Yacht Club’s Cy Gillette won the regatta in 1981, only to see Clark win it again in 1981.

Clark would win his fourth and final International Masters Regatta in 1987; Gillette won it again in 1988.

The regatta was not raced in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

San Diego Yacht Club has won the International Masters Regatta for times since 2012.

Don Trask, a member of St. Francis Yacht Club, originally established the International Masters Regatta in 1975.

The race coordinators are Chair Alli Bell ([email protected]) and San Diego YC Waterfront Director Jeff Johnson ([email protected], 619-758-6310).

Visit sdyc.org/masters/the-race for more information.

Photo: Cynthia Sinclair

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Published on September 27th, 2023 | by Editor

Twelve skippers for Masters Regatta

Published on September 27th, 2023 by Editor -->

The 41st running of the International Masters Regatta returns to San Diego Yacht Club October 20-22, 2023. This year’s slate of twelve skippers come from Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the United States to compete in a round-robin format using J/105s in South San Diego Bay.

This invitation-only regatta has attracted some of the world’s best master sailors including Elvstrom, Buchan, Burnham, Tillman, Trask, Irish, Harken, North, and Holland. Here is the 2023 roster:

• William Abbott (CAN) • Yon Belausteguigoitia (MEX) • Nigel Cochrane (CAN) • Alan Field (USA) • Rick Goebel (USA) • Scott Harris (USA) • Don Jesberg (USA) • Gary Jobson (USA) • Tad Lacey (USA) • Wolfgang Schaefer (GER) • Cory Sertl (USA) • Tracy Usher (USA)

Returning to the regatta are William Abbott, Nigel Cochrane, Alan Field, Scott Harris, Don Jesberg, Gary Jobson, and Tad Lacey. Jobson has participated in the regatta three times over the past decade, earning two 4th place and a 5th place finish, with his last run at the 2019 edition.

“The Masters Regatta is a good test of how my skill level is these days,” said Jobson. “It’s challenging to change boats every race and adapt to San Diego’s tricky sailing. While preparing I’m thinking back to past experiences racing in this regatta, recruiting good crew, and actively sailing through the summer.”

Brand new to the Masters is Wolfgang Schaefer, traveling to San Diego from Germany. Schaefer has sailed at SDYC’s venue twice before for the Farr 40 Worlds and another SDYC signature regatta, the Yachting Cup. While not experienced in the J/105, his team remains confident. “We have 2-3 hours on Thursday before the regatta to create a friendship with this boat. That is a handicap and not too easy, but we will do our very best,” said Schaefer.

Some of Schaefer’s biggest accomplishments include Silver at the 2019 Farr 40 Worlds, Gold at the 2018 Farr 40 Worlds, 4th place in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart (Class One), Gold at the 2010 Sardinia Cup, Gold at the 1983 Admirals Cup, and 1st place at the 1983 Fastnet Race (Class One).

In addition to his on-the-water success, Schaefer has served for over 30 years as the German Sailing Federation’s Chairman of the Offshore Committee, 25 years as Vice Chairman of the ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) and is a founding member of the Offshore Committee (20 years) inside ISAF, later World Sailing.

Also familiar with the Farr 40s is new Masters skipper, Yon Belausteguigoitia. Belausteguigoitia has been sailing and training on the Farr 40 and J/70 with his crew consisting of wife Eliane Belausteguigoitia, Hector Guzman, Tomas Rosenberg, and Marc Rosenberg.

Belausteguigoitia’s biggest accomplishments include Silver in the Laser at the Central American Games, and 15th at the J/24 Worlds in San Francisco. Eliane brings to the boat Olympic experience, from the 1988 Games where she raced in the 420.

Speaking of successful women in sailing, the only female skipper on the list is Cory Sertl who first sailed in the Masters as crew in 2019, and this year as a skipper. Sertl is sailing with her husband, Mark Sertl, along with Jody Starck, Meg Myles, Suzy Leech, Chris Snow, and John Rudderham. Recently, she has been sailing her Farr 30 in Jamestown, RI, as well as team racing in Sonars, Lightnings, and racing in the Pan Am Trials this past May.

“I am looking forward to a chance to go sailing with some friends who are awesome sailors in a fun format,” said Sertl.

Sertl comes with an accomplished sailing background including 1st place for Team NYYC at the Grandmasters Team Racing 2023, 1st place at the IC37 North American Championships in 2021, and is a two-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

Tracy Usher joins the International Masters Regatta for the first time this year. Usher is best known as an ILCA (Laser) sailor having first started in 1974. Besides the ILCA, he has spent time in the last decade sailing a J/70 with his wife, sailing Grandmaster Team Race events (primarily club Sonars), and having lots of time as crew on an Etchells.

Usher’s team includes Jon Andron, Shawn Bennett, Tom Ducharme, Mike Bishop, and Steve Marsh. “We have a great team with lots of experience on J/105s here in San Francisco, and we also have access to a good boat to practice on.

“Given the team’s experience with the boats and with the IMR itself, we will likely focus on crew practices just to get everyone plugged into their positions on the boat, since we have not all sailed together as one group before.”

A few of Usher’s biggest sailing successes through his career were 1st place at the Intercollegiate Sloop North American Championship 1980, 2nd place at the ILCA Masters World Championship 2006 and 2011, overall winner of the ILCA Masters US Championship 2006 and 2009, 1st place at the NYYC Grandmasters Team Race (overall season champ), and 1st in Class with a record time at Transpac 1987.

Finally, SDYC’s very own Rick Goebel is new to skippering in the event, but has experience supporting local teams practicing with the J/105 and as an Owners Rep in the regatta. Goebel is sailing with J/105 and Farr 40 regulars Greg Tawaststjerna, Alan Nakanishi (Buddha), Shawn Burke, Steve Burke, and Rob Lindley. Goebel’s biggest sailing accomplishments include the 1987 Canada II America’s Cup Team, 2015 Farr 40 Corinthian Season Champion, and winning the 2014 and 2017 Yachting Cup.

The organization for the International Masters Regatta is utilized for the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup which is held on the following weekend.

“These two signature events are huge undertakings with lots of moving parts,” notes Regatta Chair JR Young. “It takes a small army of dedicated volunteers to make them successful. Boat prep, registration/check-in, change docks, on-the-water umpires, the Race Committee — all of these include teams of volunteers who give hundreds of hours over 2+ weeks to make this happen.

“And we can’t overlook our J/105 owners who graciously charter their boats to us. We could not have this awesome format without their support.”

A full rotation is anticipated so competitors can expect to sail in 3-5 races each day.

Event information – Team rosters – Results

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International Masters Regatta Starts this Weekend

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The San Diego Yacht Club welcomes the International Masters Regatta back to the city Friday for the start of a three-day sailing competition.

The SDYC is in its seventh year of hosting the regatta after a multi-year gap during which it was held in San Francisco. The event features sailors from around the country racing in J/105 sailboats.

“Too often the skipper tries to do too many jobs on the boat other than his own,” said 2017 regatta winning skipper Bill Campbell, a member of the yacht club. “As a result, the skipper’s job suffers and the results suffer as well. I was able to handle positioning at the starts, steer fast, after which the crew got us around the course.”

Roughly a dozen sailing teams are confirmed to compete in the weekend of events, including the Pequot Yacht Club skippered by five-time U.S. match racing champion Dave Perry. Racing is scheduled during most of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Residents can watch races throughout the weekend in the San Diego Bay.

“I enjoy these kinds of events that are among my friends and counterparts in the sport,” Perry said. “The Masters hosted by the SDYC is a class event, the racing is fun, and I get the chance to spend time with old friends while making some new ones as well.”

—  City News Service

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