Golison Wins 2010 North American Championship

Sailing Videos on Sailgroove

San Diego, CA (June 12, 2010)

Etchells sailors gave everyone a great show today, the last day with 2 races of the 2010 Etchells North American Championship. 41 boats were greeted with beautiful skies, decent seas, and a steady breeze of 12-15 knots all day. With tough and fluky conditions on days 1 and 2, today was a perfect ending, and the sailors provided great competition with the regatta winner not decided until the last race of the event.

The first race of the day, Race 7, started clear with beautiful skies and a steady 13 knots of breeze. The race was tight early on with packed mark roundings and exciting hoists. Bruce Nelson began to extend his lead, winning his first race of the regatta. With Race 7 in the books, competitors were able to drop their worst race from their scores, which really shook things up! With Golison dropping a 20th place finish and earning 3rd in the race, and Campbell dropping a 27th place finish but getting a 19th, Golison took the lead for the first time in the regatta.

Many times competitors on the water are not able to calculate finishes and scores after a drop is allowed, making for an even more exciting Race 8 which started in about 15 knots of breeze. Sailors again provided some great mark rounding action for spectators with the entire pack of boats close at the first mark rounding. Nelson again took the lead and kept it throughout the final race, being the only competitor of the regatta to win 2 races, and back to back at that.

Nelson's strong finish, though impressive, wasn’t enough to win the championship. Bruce Golison needed to finish the last race with a 13th or better in order to win. Cutting it close with a 12th, Golison took the 2010 Etchells North American Championship. We were the lucky ones to inform him and his crew of Jud Smith, Bill Lynn, and Dina Corsi shortly after he crossed the line.


The regatta proved to be great practice for the 2011 World Championship next summer, as competitors saw almost any condition that San Diego could throw at them. With the 2010 North American Championship in the books, qualifying racers can now set their sites on the World Championship next summer at San Diego Yacht Club.

http://www.etchellsna2010.com/