TSA Race of Champions

by John Morran

The Texas Sailing Association’s first ever BOB GOUGH RACE OF CHAMPIONS was a huge success! Last season’s TSA Youth Circuit Champions gathered at Corinthian Sailing Club on Dallas’ White Rock Lake this past weekend to face off in a unique, multi-generational format. The competitors, representing all the Youth Circuit Fleets from Opti White to Double-handed, ranged in age from 10 to 17 years old. They brought one crew from their home club and were matched with a different Texas Legend each day of the event for some tight racing in the evenly matched Flying Scots - generously provided by CSC members.

Lance Covington, with crew Chase Shaw, from Lakewood Yacht Club, sailing consistently in the shifty conditions, to secure their place in TSA history as our first ROC winners. Spencer LeGrande (AYC) and the team of Lucy Brock/Julius Heitkoetter (AYC) finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, atop a group of very tight scores for all the remaining competitors.

This event was organized to provide a platform to promote sailing with mixed generations of Texas’ best sailors and we could not have dreamed of a better group of talent to represent our first class of Texas Legends – Bill Draheim, Kelson Elam, Paul Foerster, Kelly Gough, Rob Johnston, Doug Kern and Scott Young. They not only passed on some valuable racing tips on the water, but also entertained the whole group at dinner with stories of their sailing history and words of advice for the younger generation.

The main goal of the weekend was to honor Bob Gough for his years excellent championship level race management. By serving as PRO for this event, he showed everyone that he has no intention of slowing down and we are all so lucky to have participated in the hundreds of events he has helped run in the past and look forward to seeing him on the water for many more in the future.

A big THANK YOU to regatta chair, and TSA Commodore, Steve Comen and his team of CSC volunteers. They organized a great event on and off the water. CSC is a shining example of how a volunteer club can keep our sport, and one design sailing, thriving for future generations.

The weekend had lots of fun, sun, great wind and everyone, young and old, left with a big smile on their face.