2025 Texas Sailing Association Bob Gough Race of Champions

Lakewood Yacht Club proudly hosted the 2025 Texas Sailing Association Bob Gough Race of Champions March 8-9.  

This exceptional event brings together multiple generations of top Texas sailors for competitive racing as well as connection, education, and inspiration.

Eight competing youth sailors qualified for the event with top finishes across the TSA Youth Circuit and top national youth events.  At the morning briefing, these youth Champions are paired with a Texas Legend, a sailor with high-level national experience and years of wisdom about the sport to share.  Sailors ranged in age from age 9, the TSA Champion from the Optimist White Fleet, sailing with the elders of our sport and all ages in-between.

Sailors—Champions, Legends, and crew alike—had the opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another with a debrief and dinner together that did far more than replay the day on the water.  Legends were asked to share their own experiences on overcoming adversity, communicating with crew, and the true meaning of a Corinthian spirit in our sport.

The 2025 Race of Champions was raced on Lakewood Yacht Club’s club-owned fleet of matched RS21 keelboats.  With seven races total, the overall points were in play throughout the weekend.  Milou Van Kuilenburg, Champion of the Optimist Red Fleet sailing for Lakewood Yacht Club, took first place overall with Legend crew of Chris Lewis on Saturday and Jeff Brock on Sunday.

Named in honor of Bob Gough, the Race of Champions, honors Bob’s years of dedication to the sport and championship level race management.  Through this event, future generations of Texas sailors see firsthand how much we appreciate, and can learn from, those who compete at the highest levels and continue to give back to sailboat racing.