 |
Hosting the US Sailing Championship of Champions Regatta!
In partnership with US Sailing, the national governing body for sailing, GMSC hosted the Championship of Champions regatta October 3-6. We welcomed 20 one-design national champions from fleets across the country to our club to determine the champion of the champions.
It was truly a shining moment for our club. As a volunteer-run organization, everything we accomplished was powered by our tremendous volunteer team of over 70 GMSC members! Our hospitality and special club were truly on display.
Additionally, we had generous local sponsors who helped make the event extra special. A big thank you to The O’Quin Group, Tazikis, Ben E Keith, Whole Hog, Smiley Technologies, Cadence Bank, Discount Trophies, Bank OZK, Peter Lane, Evolution Sails, WestRock, Superior Bath House, Stones Throw, and the Nigus Family.
Thank you to our CoC Committee:
Our CoC Committee, led by Drew Daugherty, did a phenomenal job planning the event. Given the sheer size of this team, all names and their roles are summarized at the end. Here are a few highlights:
-
Sponsorship Committee: Our sponsorship committee, with guidance from Kaki Mehlburger, successfully raised over $10,000 from local sponsors! This incredible support truly helped us put on a very special regatta.
-
Housing Committee – The Housing Committee, led by Nicole Class Moore, successfully found accommodations for 18 competitors with GMSC members! Our members graciously opened their homes, making these sailors feel truly welcome. We consistently heard that staying in our members' homes was a highlight for both the sailors and our members.
-
Harbor Crew – The Harbor Crew, led by Yates Phillips, did an outstanding job launching and retrieving all 20 y-Flyers every morning and afternoon. This mighty team added immense value to the event, even pulling boats out of the water in the dark one night! They were quick, efficient, and ensured that all borrowed boats were not damaged, making things easier for competitors.
-
Sourcing 20 Y-Flyers and preparing them for racing – The task of sourcing 20 Y-Flyers and getting them race-ready was a major undertaking. Volunteers made substantial efforts to pick up and transport borrowed Y-Flyers to Little Rock from clubs as distant as Kentucky, Atlanta, New York, and South Carolina. Additionally, all skippers who lent their boats purchased new sails from North Sails or Evolution, both of which kindly provided significant discounts.
-
Prepping Grounds, Equipment and Y-Flyers – Significant effort was dedicated to preparing our club, race committee boats, and Y-flyers for the event. A clean-up day was organized to maintain the decks and prepare the club. Additionally, Rich Freeman and Jeff Olm worked on getting the grounds and clubhouse ready.
-
First-Class Race Committee – A highlight of the regatta was our skilled race committee led by US Sailing-appointed PRO, Mark DeGuire, with support from GMSC members. Mark's clear communication and collaborative approach were both enjoyable and informative over the radio. I was also proud of our GMSC team supporting Mark. David Nigus shared valuable Lake Maumelle insights to help set the course.
- Delinda Simmons and Jan Storey served breakfast each morning. It was a wonderful way for the sailors to start the day.
- On the first evening, we hosted a Cajun supper welcome aboard at the clubhouse. Kevin McKee cooked jambalaya for the group. Many club members joined to greet and welcome the competitors to Little Rock
- On Thursday night, following the skippers meeting, we enjoyed a Southern Supper with catfish and music, sponsored by The O’Quin Group.
- On Friday night, Ben and Sherri Jo treated the racers to the famous peppercorn sauce, steak, twice baked potatoes, salad, and bread. Leland, John Easby and Marshall were the amazing grill experts, grilling about 80 ribeye steaks! The meal was delicious, as usual, and the competitors appreciated the effort and the special meal.
-
Saturday Night Party – Max and Kaki Mehlburger hosted a lovely party at their home for the competitors and US Sailing representatives. The theme was nautical / Caribbean, and everyone enjoyed a night out with delicious food, music, and company!
Racing took place Friday through Sunday. The wind was too light each morning to race, but thankfully “percolated” in the afternoons. The competitors joked that they had to eat twice before they could race! The race committee successfully ran three races both on Friday and Saturday, for a total of six races.
Dave Starck and Jenna Probst, Lightning Class Champions from Buffalo, NY, won three of the six races and ultimately won the Championship of Champions.
Arthur Blodgett and Caroline Atwood, from Annapolis, MD and representing the Snipe Class Champions, placed second. Ted Ferrarone and Meredith Killion, Interclub Champions from New Rochelle, NY, came in third place.
GMSC’s mission to promote competitive sailing was exemplified through our partnership with US Sailing on this regatta. Hosting national champions from across the country allowed us to create new friendships, learn about other fleets, and talk sailboat racing with top sailors. We also gained valuable insights into race management and racecourse technology from our professional PRO, Mark DeGuire.
The event also brought together over 70 GMSC members who worked tirelessly to create an outstanding event. The CoC participants and US Sailing staff were impressed with our club, members, volunteer spirit, and lake. Seeing our club through their eyes was a great reminder of how fortunate we are to have such a special club.
|  |  | |