Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

Lifted lifts Biscayne Bay Etchells Winter Series Trophy

by Etchells Class 26 Feb 2023 23:56 PST February 24-26, 2023

In keeping with the theme of the 2022/2023 Biscayne Bay Etchells Winter Series, Mid-Winters Championships was a weekend of challenging weather among stiff competition with yet another skipper stepping onto the top of the podium. Yet it was the most consistent team of the season, who had been a bridesmaid on the podium all year, who earned the overall series trophy for the second year in a row: Jim Cunningham's Lifted (USA 1404).

Over the course of three days, six races were completed in no more than 8 knots. Etchells veteran Marvin Beckmann and his crew on The Martian (USA1378), Tommy Dietrich, Arantxa Agribay, and Joachim Aschenbrenner consistently stayed in the lead for the entire light air regatta - a welcomed change for Beckmann, a former World Champion, who had yet to even break into the top ten all season.

"Tommy and Joachim got us great starts and coarse management," said the Texan. "Jud Smith also helped with boat set up and confidence in boat speed."

Two onshore postponements on Saturday and Sunday forced sailors to wait for the sea breeze to overcome an onshore high-pressure. This could be good preparation for April when the 2023 AON Etchells World Championships will occur at the same venue. However, according to class meteorologist, Chelsea Carlson "winds should typically be a bit stronger then."

While waiting ashore, the fleet spent time discussing the factors of the sea breeze each day and learning nuances of Biscayne Bay winds with Chelsea - a unique opportunity for the fleet to have a weather specialist at their disposal. Also, the amount of experience and years sailing against one another creates a palpable camaraderie among the fleet - "a master class in Etchells" remarked one young sailor.

Not only is the competition strong at these pre-worlds regattas, with at least 12 past World Champions amongst the fleet of 56 boats, this has also been a challenging winter series weather-wise for the Etchells sailors. A lack of wind in December resulted in no races for the Piana Cup. That event was then rescheduled for the day before Florida States in February where too much wind canceled racing on Saturday. Then there was a Floridan cold snap in January that brought not just freezing temperatures, but very shifty conditions testing the sailors' tenacity and adaptability.

The champions from last season, Jim Cunningham, Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, and Serena Vilage on Lifted were able to overcome the demanding conditions all winter to not only stand on the podium for three of the four regattas - a feat no other Etchells crews accomplished this year - but lift that trophy once again.

"I feel very fortunate that our team has sailed together for a number of years which really helped us to be consistent especially when things got chaotic and tight," says Cunningham who hails from San Francisco. "We knew it would be difficult with so many talented teams here. We got a new boat and teamed up with A-Mac as tuning partners with Dave Ullman as our coach.

We have been working together and learning a lot and are super happy to have pulled this one off again. Our main focus is the Worlds in April and we feel we still have a lot to learn. "

Joining Cunningham on the podium for the Overall Series was another West Coast team, Louise (USA 1481) with Thomas Carruthers, Bill Hardesty, & Jeff Reynolds USA 1481) in 2nd place and Oatmeal (USA 1453) with Peter Duncan, Andrew Palfrey, & Mark Mandelblet) in 3rd.

The Etchells class also recognizes those teams comprised of Group 1 sailors with a Corinthian Trophy for the series. Andy Cumming's crew, all hailing from Toronto, Ontario, on Blackadder II (CAN 1451) John Millen, Chloe Congourdeau, and Erin Sauder took home this half-model trophy.

"The commitment to Corinthian sailing by the Etchells fleet is paramount to keeping the grassroots, local-fleet sailing healthy and vibrant," says Cummings." This is what makes a fleet long-lasting and strong. It is an honor to sail Corinthian in this class against so many spectacular teams."

Cummings adds: "I encourage more teams to take up the mantle of the Corinthian spirit of this sport and in this Class. I think both options (professional or corinthian) should be seen as credible and viable options for any and all Etchells sailors."

These strong contenders are only a few among the 300 sailors expected to descend on Miami from around the World for the Championships April 16 - 21, 2023 but not before the next Miami event, North Americans, hosted by the Coral Reef Yacht Club and Etchells Fleet 20 March 15-19th.

"Our Race Committee is world class and we know sailors appreciate our efforts in challenging conditions over the last three months," says race chair Dave Brennan. "We have used the Winter Series to prepare to administer the best racing possible for Worlds."

Etchells Class Overall Results: (top ten, 56 boats)

1. The Martian, USA1378, Marvin Beckmann / Tommy Dietrich / Arantxa Agribay / Joachim Aschenbrenner - 2 - 2 - [19] - 7 - 8 - 6; 25
2. Lifted, USA1504, Jim Cunningham / Steve Hunt / Erik Shampain / Serena Vilage - [45] - 4 - 11 - 1 - 6 - 7; 29
3. Big Dawg, USA926, Malcolm Lamphere / Greiner Hobbs / Key Becker / Louisa Nordstrom - 5 - 12 - [34] - 3 - 14 - 5; 39
4. Louise, USA1481, Thomas Carruthers / Bill Hardesty / Jeff Reynolds - 9 - 7 - [28] - 18 - 13 - 2; 49
5. STELLA BLUE, USA1427, Stephen Benjamin / Michael Buckley / Ian Liberty / Dave Hughes - 6 - 18 - [36] - 2 - 10 - 14; 50
6. Tquila, IRL1425, Carlos Morales / Luis Doreste / David Vera / Leonor Ramia - 10 - 31 - [52] - 15 - 1 - 1; 58
7. Oatmeal, USA1453, Peter Duncan / Mark Mendledel / Andrew Palfrey - 12 - 16 - 4 - 17 - [23] - 10; 59
8. Odd Ball, USA1513, Jack Franco / Richard Clarke / Ben Lamb - [42] - 6 - 24 - 13 - 11 - 8; 62
9. Lydia, USA969, Josh Powell / Chris Busch / Patrick Powell - 29 - 1 - [32] - 25 - 4 - 4; 63
10. Veracity, USA1477, John Sommi / Victor Diaz de Leon / Will Ryan / Beccy Anderson - 3 - 22 - [40] - 4 - 17 - 17; 63

Mid-Winter Championships Results available here.

Related Articles

Jura Scottish Series runners and riders
Fleet are mustered in Tarbert Habour, Loch Fyne, ready to race Competitors at the Jura Scottish Series may not be assured of continued sunshine, the like of which has blessed the north of Britain for the last few weeks, but they should be blessed with breezes which seem set to build progressively. Posted on 23 May
Scottish Series champions will be back to defend
Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne starts soon Last year's overall winners of the Jura Scottish Series, Allan Manuel's Etchells 22 Bounce Back, are returning to Tarbert, Loch Fyne over the coming days looking to defend the class title which they won with a convincing scoreline. Posted on 20 May
Etchells North American Championship overall
Luke Lawrence and team win at San Diego Yacht Club The competitors for the Etchells North American Championship in San Diego left the dock Sunday morning for the final two races of the regatta with a lot of work still in front of them to determine the winner. Posted on 19 May
Etchells North American Championship day 2
Three more races held on Saturday The 2025 Etchells North American Championship continued with 3 more races on Saturday. Conditions were more favorable for racing today with wind in the 8 - 12 kt range. Posted on 18 May
Etchells North American Championship day 1
A strong day for Masfen, Cooke and Wilkinson give the NZL team top position Day one of the Etchells North American Championship started off under an AP flag with mostly cloudy skies. After an almost 90 minute delay, Race 1 got under way at 12:55 with a course bearing of 235 with 1.2 nm legs. Posted on 17 May
2025 Etchells North American Championship Preview
Racing set to Kick Off Friday May 16th in San Diego San Diego Yacht Club welcomes 39 teams competing in the 2025 Etchells North American Championships - a 3-day regatta May 16-18. Posted on 15 May
BMW Spring Regatta 2025 at RHKYC
Attracting 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture The BMW Spring Regatta attracted 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture - across four Big Boat divisions & eight one-design classes including Dragons, Etchells, Flying Fifteens, Impalas, J/80s, Pandoras, Ruffians, and Sportsboats. Posted on 13 May
Tomes Cup 2025 at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
Sixty-seven boats enjoyed fair wind in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour The finale of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025 took place in Hong Kong on Saturday 3 May, completing the series of four pursuit races to determine the top-performing boat for the season. Posted on 6 May
Jesberg Wins Etchells Orca Bowl
Busch/Madden Win Etchells West Coast Spring Series The Orca Bowl wrapped up the 2025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series on April 26-27 with a 5-race regatta sailed by 33 teams on the ocean course off of Point Loma in San Diego, CA. Posted on 29 Apr
It's So Easy to Shop for Winning Sails Online
Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery Shop North One Design sails online anytime for fast delivery, in-stock availability, and podium-ready results. Don't wait, your next win starts here. Posted on 28 Apr
Zhik 2024 DecemberVaikobi 2024 DecemberSelden 2020 - FOOTER