Day 2 of the 2023 Texas Challenge Cup Concludes
Fort Worth, Texas - December 10, 2023
The 2023 Texas Challenge Cup has come to a close, and what an incredible two days of sailing it has been! The weather was on our side - sunny yet chilly, with a high around 55°F and winds forecasted at a steady 5-10mph throughout for day two of racing. Perfect conditions for some exciting races.
After an action-packed first day with six races completed, we saw the team from Lakewood Yacht Club, skippered by the talented Casey Lambert and crewed by Evan Smith and Jesse Fullmer, lead the pack. However, Bill Draheim from Rush Creek Yacht Club was hot on their heels, trailing by only three points in second place. James Freedman of Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club and Bryan Dyer of Fort Worth Boat Club also showed strong potential, ready to seize any opportunity to move ahead.
On day two, another three races were sailed, shaking up the leaderboard. Bill Draheim, with his crew Mike Brown and Eric Hemker, ousted Lakewood Yacht Club to take first place, finishing with three straight wins today. Draheim's impressive performance on both days gave him a total of 18 points. Despite three fourth-place finishes on day two, Lambert's team from Lakewood Yacht Club ended up with a total score of 24, securing second place. Bryan Dyer, Jim Mitchell, and Ben Robbins from Fort Worth Boat Club managed to pull ahead of Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club, taking third place by a narrow margin of just one point.
We owe the success of this regatta to an army of volunteers who put in countless hours to ensure everything ran smoothly. Special mention goes to our Club Regatta Chair, Martin Peacey, and his amazing wife Alicia, who did a stellar job of recruiting and organizing volunteers regatta after regatta this year. The countless hours they devote as volunteers consistently contribute to the tremendous success of these events.
Our deepest appreciation goes to Jason Dyer, the Principal Race Officer (PRO) for the 2023 Texas Challenge Cup. His dedication to the J22 fleet and sailors at Fort Worth Boat Club is exceptional and invaluable. His commitment, particularly shown through his year-round volunterism for the J22 racing series, has made a lasting and significant impact on the FWBC sailing community.
A huge shout-out to Jonathan Witt for his fantastic photography skills that made us all look good out there. Thank you, Jonathan, for donating your time and talent.
While we can't list everyone here, know that your contributions and volunteerism are what keep sailing alive at Fort Worth Boat Club for future generations. To our judges, R/C volunteers handling scoring and signaling, and our mark set, line set, safety, and service boats - thank you. We were confident that every dynamic on the water was covered by our team of experienced volunteers.
We loved seeing all of our friends from across the state enjoying themselves in our wonderful new clubhouse, and we've made some new friends along the way. The 2023 Texas Challenge Cup was a true testament to the spirit of sailing and community at FWBC.
Until next year, fair winds!
Event Links:
Texas Challenge Cup - Regatta Page:
NOR, SI’s, Charter Agreement, Registration:
Texas Sailing Association Page:Â