2015 Championship of Champions to be decided on Mississippi Sound

by US Sailing on 8 Oct 2015 US Sailing’s Championship of Champions is recognized as one of the more unique adult racing events in the country. All helmsmen have qualified for this event by winning a one-design class National, North American, or World Championship in the qualifying year (2014 - 2015). Helmsmen and their crew will be tested in the VX One this year on the waters of Mississippi Sound to see if they can hold their own against a strong fleet of class titlists.

These skippers and their teams will race for the Jack Brown Trophy while representing their class at the 2015 Championship of Champions, hosted by the Gulfport Yacht Club this Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11. Racing will be preceded by a special VX One boat clinic and technical briefing on Thursday, October 8, led by Brian Bennett, designer of the VX One.

The competition will be challenging with many decorated sailors competing on the same course. Every year, US Sailing invites one special guest to join the competition. Invited helms have included winners of the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, Olympians, and other sailing luminaries. This year’s Championship of Champions special guest is John Dane III. Dane is a 2008 U.S. Olympian as a helm in the Star Class competition. He has also been a top four finisher at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the Soling and Finn classes. Dane will be sailing with his son, Schaeffer, and against his son, John F. Dane, who is crewing for 2014 VX One North American Champion, Christopher Alexander.

This championship is held in a different location and in a different class each year. Classes in which the event has been held run the gamut from conventional to cutting edge and have included Y-Flyers, Snipes, Hobie Cats, J-24s, Sunfish and Etchells, to name just a few. The championship is named in honor of Jack Brown who was noted for his service as a judge, regatta organizer and member of US Sailing Committees.

Several past winners of this championship have returned this year to take a shot at winning their second Jack Brown Trophy, including Brian Keane (2013), Andrew Eagan (2011), and Chris Raab (2010). Also in contention this week are Brad Funk and Trevor Burd, a 49er duo from the US Sailing Team Sperry.