84th Atlantic National Championship At Madison Beach Club, July 18-20

This was written by Sarah Davidson

The Madison Beach Club (MBC) in Madison, CT is proud to host the 2013 Atlantic National Sailing Championship regatta from Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20. More than thirty boats from South Carolina to Maine are competing for the 84th Atlantic Class Championship title. Sailors include past class champions, US Olympians, Collegiate all-Americans and legendary sailing rock stars.

Ken Legler, a renowned college sailing coach and former All-American sailor, will be the Primary Race Officer.  Ken is widely recognized as one of the finest principal race officers in the United States.  Bringing his on the water race management skills, along with daily briefings, will ensure the best possible scenario for the Atlantic Nationals.  After receiving US SAILING’s Harman Hawkins Trophy in 2011, Legler said, “I run races for the sake of sailors. I enjoy watching the competition and take pride in doing my part to help the participants have fun on the water.”

Currently there are 5 active Atlantic fleets sailing out of the Madison Beach Club; Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club in Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, CT; Niantic Bay Yacht Club in Niantic, CT; and Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club in Blue Hill, ME.  The battle on the water will be well fought, with many champions from previous years including Norm Peck, Jr. from Niantic Bay Yacht Club (winner of the 2010 Atlantic National Sailing Championship and a 15-time Atlantic National Champion), 2011 Champion Ian Evans from Kollegewidgwok YC, and defending 2012 champion Norm Peck III from Niantic Bay YC.

The event sponsor is Jamestown Distributors providing all Kattack Race Players, raffle prizes, and regatta support gear.  With Kattack Race Players on all boats, spectators will be able to watch each race in real time and track overall race results online.

The Atlantic Class Association will celebrate its 85th Anniversary in 2014. In anticipation of this milestone, John Rousmaniere, the author of 29 books on sailing and yachting history, has been commissioned to write a book on the history of the class and will be in attendance to interview legendary sailors of the Atlantic class and its traditions. For more information on the Atlantic Class visit the Atlantic Class Association website at www.atlanticclass.org

For more information:  Sarah Davidson, sarahdson@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Donna Pace