BACK AT THE HELM
Brad Van Liew, shown aboard his yacht Le Pingouin, is a lifelong sailor and a self-described adrenaline junkie whose career spans an impressive range of extreme sports and offshore racing. Van Liew had long set his sights on the BOC Challenge — the singlehanded around-the-world race that would be renamed the VELUX 5 OCEANS in 2005 — and in 1998 he achieved a major milestone by competing in the Around Alone, where he finished third in Class Two. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Van Liew continues to be an influential figure in the offshore sailing community, known for his skill, tenacity and passion for big-boat competition.
Van Liew’s experience and competitive drive keep him active on the race circuit, where he remains a familiar presence to sailors and race organizers alike. His offshore accomplishments and willingness to tackle difficult events have made him both a respected competitor and a source of inspiration for sailors aiming to step up to long-distance and solo ocean racing.
New Yorker second at big-boat series
Pieter Taselaar traveled to San Francisco to compete among the fleet in the 46th running of the St. Francis Yacht Club series in September and earned a notable runner-up finish in the Melges 32 class. Taselaar sailed Bliksem, representing Scarsdale, New York, and his team led the class for two days before dropping to third on the third day. They rallied on day four to reclaim second place in a highly competitive one-design fleet of 27 boats.
The Melges 32 class was won by the Italian entry B-lin Sailing, owned by Luca Lalli. Lalli reflected on the event’s intensity, noting that the level of competition in San Francisco is exceptionally high: “With Star, Bliksem, Red and Full Throttle, it is impossible to do what I did and come back; the level is very high,” he said. Event chairman Norman Davant highlighted the international draw of the regatta: “People come from all over the world to sail in this event, because it’s one of the most challenging sailing venues on the planet.”
Races at the St. Francis series were affected by wind variations: strong breezes dominated the opening day and gradually eased through the rest of the regatta, creating tactical shifts that tested crews’ boat handling and strategic decision-making.
R.I. boat wins Farr 30 North Americans
As Hurricane Earl moved along the East Coast, Jim Richardson and his team on Barking Mad dominated the Farr 30 class during Annapolis Race Week, claiming the class’ North American championship. Thirteen Farr 30s competed as one of 18 classes on the Labor Day weekend regatta, which marked the second straight year the Farr 30 North American championship was held in conjunction with Annapolis Race Week.
Farr 30 International Class president Deneen Demourkas of Santa Barbara, California, praised the conditions, saying, “Earl gave us beautiful weather. It was the four most beautiful days I’ve ever seen in Annapolis. We were afraid the first day would be cancelled, but the humidity went away and it was gorgeous.” The Farr 30s were the only class scheduled to race on Sept. 3, and Barking Mad, skippered by Richardson of Newport, Rhode Island, with ace tactician Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis — the 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year — quickly established control with race finishes of 1-2-2-1 across four races.
Although Richardson had not campaigned in the Farr 30 class for the two seasons prior, he had continued racing his Farr 40 with much of the same crew, preserving a high level of teamwork and performance. Bodo von der Wense of Wayne, Pennsylvania, skipper of Turbo Duck and the 2009 Farr 30 North American champion, acknowledged Barking Mad’s early dominance and said that Turbo Duck, which had only recently reunited its crew, found itself significantly behind after the first day — a deficit that ultimately reduced the chances of defending the title.
Nominations sought for top American sailors
As the North American sailing season winds down, US Sailing members have the opportunity to nominate the top American male and female sailors of the year. These awards honor individual sailors for outstanding achievements at national and international events during the calendar year. Submitting a nomination is a simple way for members to recognize excellence in competitive sailing and help celebrate the athletes who advance the sport.
In addition to supporting the selection process, members who submit a nomination are automatically entered into a drawing to win two tickets to the awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Feb. 25 at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. Travel and accommodations for the winners are provided by Rolex and US Sailing.
This article originally appeared in the Mid-Atlantic Home Waters section of the December 2010 issue.