Class News

Day 2 dawned sunny and calm on Shelter Island for the Etchells ACCs Regatta. Light air and poor forecast greeted sailors as they prepared their boats and a postponement ashore ensued. At 11:30 the postponement flag was dropped and the fleet made its way back to Orient Bay in a light NW/W breeze that would oscillate back and forth on its way to the W/SW as the day went on.

The International Etchells Atlantic Coast Championships, graciously hosted by Shelter Island Yacht Club, Shelter Island, NY got off to a flying start on Saturday June 24th, after a short delay to allow for a band of heavy storms to cross the area. The fantastic RC team, led by John Storck took the fleet down to Orient Bay for the days racing, which turned out to be a great call, as the breeze rapidly built from 15kts into the 20’s from the SW.

The Lobster Bowl is all about Drinking, Eating Lobster, and Sailing Wicked Fast, and all three were accomplished with great fanfare at the event hosted in Falmouth, Maine by Portland Yacht Club and Etchells Fleet27.

Check out this great video from the 2016 World Championships in Cowes.

Jay Mills, Jamie Mills, Chris Constant and Luke Reich prevailed in 6 races over a very strong 26 boat fleet of Etchells competitors who were graciously hosted for the weekend by the Shelter Island Yacht club and their excellent volunteers and staff teams.

Longtime Etchells racer and former Class Governor Wade Edwards lost a fierce but brief battle with metastasized neuroendocrine tumors on Monday, July 4th evening, surrounded by his family. Wade touched many lives as a sailor, racer, friend, leader and family man. His colleagues have been effusive in their praise; the most common refrains include: wonderful man, amazing person, patient, kind, caring, giving, considerate, supportive, true friend, passionate, Corinthian, teacher, and mentor.

In memory of longtime Etchells class member and sailor Wade Edwards, we’ve created this page of memories to share with the class, his friends and family. If you have a story, anecdote or reflection to share, please email it to Class Secretary Pam at [email protected].

After 4 events and 26 races, Bruce Nelson secured wins in the WCSS (West Coast Spring Series) and the Orca Bowl in dramatic fashion on the last windward leg of the final race of the 4 regatta WCSS.

With four race wins, Steve Hunt (USA 873) was crowned the PCC champ. At the awards ceremony we learned that, even after a three bullet day on Saturday, the regatta was not necessarily in the bag since Steve was up all night with a case of the flu.