Bill Hardesty sips on sweet victory at 2024 Etchells Midwinters West
by San Diego Yacht Club 12 Apr 2024 16:50 PDT
The San Diego Yacht Club proudly commemorates the conclusion of the 2024 Etchells Midwinters West, highlighting not only the competitive spirit but also the educational and community-building aspects integral to the series. This year's regatta, marked by challenging weather conditions, showcased the resilience, skill, and camaraderie among participants.
The winners of the Midwinters West demonstrated exceptional prowess, adapting to the rigorous conditions:
- 1st Place: USA1372 - Bill Hardesty, River Paquin and Brock Paquin
- 2nd Place: USA1394 - Eric Doyle, Grant Janov and Payson Infelize
- 3rd Place: USA1404 - Jim Cunningham, Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain and Serena Vilage
A special shout-out goes to USA 1341 Richard Rinehart's Encore with Parker Shinn, Dick Roy and Hayden Scott for clinching the Corinthian Trophy!
After no racing due to squalls on Day 1, the commendable efforts of the Principal Race Officer (PRO) and the Race Committee enabled a robust schedule of four races on Saturday and three on Sunday, despite the large swells challenging the fleet.
A significant highlight of the weekend was the invaluable after-racing debriefs led by Steve Hunt and Coach Dave Ullman on Saturday. These sessions, a hallmark of West Coast Spring Series, offer unique learning opportunities, drawing on the expertise of world-class sailors committed to nurturing the sport. The debriefs serve as an educational platform, with distinguished sailors like Bill Hardesty, Parker Shinn, Chris Busch, and Bruce Nelson sharing their insights and strategies, facilitated by Steve Hunt's and Dave Ullmans' engaging approach.
The sailing community extends its gratitude to Steve Hunt Sailing for sponsoring these insightful debriefs as part of the West Coast Spring Series and providing a 20% discount on Steve's courses at www.stevehuntsailing.com using the code MIDWINTERS20. This opportunity allows sailors of all levels to access the strategic insights and experiences of the 2023 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Finalist.
Following the excitement of the Midwinters West, the Etchells West Coast Spring Series continues with more anticipated events:
2024 Etchells Midwinters West results available here.