US Flying Dutchman Class Secretary/Treasurer
WORLDS IN ALTEA/SPAIN POSTPONED
US Flying Dutchman Class Secretary/Treasurer
2019 North American Championships, Flying Dutchman Class
September 20 -22, Richmond Yacht Club
This year’s championships took place on the West Coast at Richmond Yacht Club in the San Francisco Bay Area, concurrently with the annual Totally Dinghy event.
The Competitors:
Five boats competed in the races:
• Buzz Ballenger with Evan Diola on USA 1453
• Doug Dommermuth with Michael Manning on USA 153
• Zhenya Kirueshkin-Stepanoff with Chris Wrenn on USA 1
• Mike Meszaros with Gerhard Panuschka on USA 88
• Gordon Doller with Michael Spranger on USA 1454
Flying Dutchman Bulletin Number 170 is now available on the international website. An archive of Flying Dutchman Bulletins is available here: FD Bulletin. An archive of Flying Dutchman Trapeze Newsletters is available here: FD Trapeze. Our archives are slightly incomplete. If you have old Bulletins or Trapezes that would complete our archives, please contact: Webmaster.
Flying Dutchman National Championships
By Tom Lewis
The Flying Dutchman Nationals were hosted by the Willow Bank Yacht Club on Lake Cazenovia on July 19-21, 2019. Nine Flying Dutchman competed in the 2019 National Championship/Cuspidor Regatta. Brothers Chris and Jeff Wrenn from Santa Cruz, CA were crowned 2019 National Champions after three days and 12 races of good winds and competitive racing. Following closely behind were Larry Schmitz and Jack Caires from San Diego, CA, and Doug Dommeruth and Michael Manning also of San Diego. The top WBYC finishers were Carl Boller and Jeff Barbero in fifth place. WBYC sailors Tom Lewis and Andy Mistur finished seventh. Canadian sailors Derrick and Cynthia Hiltz followed in eighth place and newcomers to the Cazenovia FD fleet the Brown family sailing a vintage wooden Mader finished in ninth place. Junior sailors John Henry and Willem Light-Olson finished sixth and won the Flying Dutchman Class Association Junior National Trophy.
By Paul Scoffin
After a number of false starts a small group of U.S.  Flying Dutchman sailors finally committed to doing the World Championships in Nelson, New Zealand. The initial indecision centered around only three teams being prepared to make the trip. Once USA 153 (Doug and Michael), USA 36 (Lin and Kim) and NZL 145 (Paul and Brendan) finally committed to shipping their boats, all the necessary arrangements were quickly made. USA 87 (Jim Algert and Bruce Barrett) became a last minute addition.
By Tom Lewis
Willow Bank Yacht Club (WBYC) will host the 2019 FD National Championships on 19, 20, 21 July 2019. We plan to train local sailors as qualified FD crews, should traveling skippers need a competent crew. Please register early so we can have trained crews available. Old FDs are welcome and will be awarded trophies. We have camping on the grounds plus local hotels, B&Bs and inns in the village.
By Tom Lewis
Willow Bank Yacht Club is a small club located on a small lake in the village of Cazenovia in Central New York. Camping is available on the club grounds. The club has a ramp launch as well as a hoist. Club races are held Sundays throughout the summer. We have three FDs in the local fleet. Two FDs race
By Douglas Dommermuth
The United States National Championship was sailed in San Diego, California at Mission Bay Yacht Club on August 17-19, 2018. Six FDs sailed eight races in winds between 8-12 knots in the ocean. Boats traveled from Canada and Florida to sail in the Nationals. Paul Scoffin and Brendan Heussler won the National Championship, winning 5 of 8 races. Three teams, Paul Scoffin and Brendan Heussler, Lin Robson and Kim McDonald, and Douglas
By Tom Lewis
Three FDs competed in ideal sailing conditions Saturday. Temperature 78 F with reasonably steady southerly winds 8 to 12. Carl Boller and Jeff Barbero took 4 straight firsts to win the 2018 Cuspidor trophy. Willem and John Henry Light-Olson turned in an amazing performance in their first FD regatta, finishing a very close third place in 3 races as well as capsizing 4 times. Capsizing 4 times enabled them to capture the gremlin trophy that migrated to Cazenovia Lake from Monomomac Lake. This was Willem’s second time sailing their FD. Tom
By Jonathan and Anna Gorbold
This was an amazing regatta from many aspects. Thank you to CYC for enabling us to hold this regatta, thank you to the efficient Racing Committee chaired by Keith Calkins, and thank you for the awesome hospitality provided by Bruce McGinnis, our Club Manager, and his wonderful staff.
The US FD National Championships have been held continuously since 1955 and attracted 60- 70 boats in the early 60s, 70s & 80s with many of the top US sailors and