Thriving GL52 fleet roll call: Sweet 16 and counting

GL52 Racing season © GL 52 Racing

Thanks to strong fleet building in the Great Lakes, as many as 16 GL52s will participate in the 2024 season; sailing in both the Great Lakes and Newport, RI.

The season opener on the Great Lakes is the Big Red Regatta organized by Macatawa Bay Yacht Club from May 31-June 2. Veteran fleet favorites Robert & Laura Hughes’ (Macatawa Bay, MI) HEARTBREAKER; Chris Duhon’s (Key Largo, FL) MOCKINGBIRD; Phil & Sharon O’Niel’s (Muskegon, MI) NATALIE J and Doug DeVos & Dalton DeVos’ (Holland, MI) WINDQUEST; will face new GL52 teams KATANA, raced by John Huhn (St. Louis, MO) and WIZARD, raced by David Askew & Peter Askew. The Jolly Madison Sailing Club, a GL52 Fleet Community Partner, will host an on-the-water watch party to introduce their aspiring young sailors to our high-level competition.

After the Big Red Regatta, the GL52 fleet heads offshore to race in three iconic distance events: the 85th Queens Cup (June 28), 115th Race to Mackinac (July 12) and the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race (July 20). Later this season, 11 GL52s will be on the starting line at the Little Traverse Yacht Club‘s Ugotta Regatta (July 26-28). Here, three additional new teams including Steve Dannecker & Michael Dannecker’s (Chicago, IL) ENTOURAGE; Trey Sheehan’s (Fort Lauderdale, FL) HOOLIGAN and Jack Kitrenos’ (Buffalo, NY) NIMBUS will be welcomed to the fleet.

Meanwhile in Newport, RI, four GL52s will start their racing season at the New York Yacht Club’s 170th Annual Regatta (June 14-16). Victor Wild’s (San Diego, CA) FOX; Larry Landry & Paul McDowell’s (Newport, RI), PROSPECTOR and David Team’s (Newport Beach, CA) VESPER will meet fleet newcomer Andrew Berdon’s (Newport, RI) SUMMER STORM 52. These four will remain in Newport for the season racing at the 40th Anniversary Newport Regatta (July 12-14), NYYC Race Week presented by Rolex (July 16-20), and the Safe Harbor Regatta (August 9-11). Wrapping up the season, David Askew & Peter Askew’s WIZARD team will join the GL52s in Newport for the ORC World Championship, also hosted by the NYYC (September 25-October 6).

The GL52 Great Lakes Series is comprised of seven events; four buoy and three distance races– these include the Big Red Regatta, Queens Cup, Race to Mackinac, Bayview Mackinac Race, Ugotta Regatta, Little Traverse Cup and the Macatawa Championship. The Series will be scored on several levels, best described by the official Notice of Series.

View the Notice of GL52 Series here.