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4th Annual AYC Fleet Challenge Wrap-Up

We did it!  With what seemed like participation from the majority of the AYC Membership, we easily surpassed our goal of raising $25,000 for the AYC Fund.  In fact, we blew past last years record with over $30,000 raised, with still more pledges coming in daily.  What a great day for AYC and the AYC Fund!

In fact, on the heels of such a successful fundraising effort, the AYC Fund Board of Directors have agreed to co-fund the purchase of new racing sails for the FJ Fleet with the UT Sailing Team.  With this purchase, we will be able to retire the current racing sails for use as practice sails for the UT Team and sails that will be used for our Sunday morning FJ doubles racing program, which has been a huge hit, thanks to the promotion of AYC Fund Board members, Debbie Rackley and Bonnie Lackey!  In fact, when the fall schedule is announced, you better book your boat early.  We had 16 out racing on the Sunday before the Fleet Challenge.

A-Fleet was the top fundraiser with over $6,000 raised.  They also finished 3rd in the race for greatest number of donations.  Once the racing got out on the water, Matt Romberg and his able bodied crew, Jamie Brock, dominated the racing.

The Catalina 22 Fleet finished 2nd in fund raising with over $3,000 raised and the Sunfish topped the fleets in the most number of donations with 25, squeaking by the Ensign Fleet with 23 donations.

When factoring in the donation levels, donation number and the results from 10 highly competitive races, A-Fleet had the lowest total score of 23 points.  The Laser’s fielded two highly competitive boats with Doug and Madison Kern alternating races with Ravi Subramanian and his crew Brian Gouthues along with Dave Grogono with his all-star crew of Sophia Grogono and Millie Rackley sailing the Laser fleets to 2nd and 3rd overall with 53 and 71 total points.  The Catalina 22 Fleet led by Johannes Brinkman and teammate Ted Owens finished a strong 4th with 72 points.

Over the first 4 years of the Fleet Challenge, we have had four different winners of the prestigious BernsteinBrinkmann AYC Fleet Challenge trophy.  Which fleet will have their named engraved on the trophy next year?

A big thanks to our race committee team of Bill Hawk, Kelly Hawk Barry Bowden and Richard Branscomb and a huge thanks to AYC Fund Board members Bonnie and spouse Keith Lackey, JoAnn Welles, Debbie Rackley, Dan Hollenbeck and Rene Ruais for their assistance in helping organize this event.  Also, a big thanks to Pat and Vick Manning on the coordination of the Summer Bash, Pirates of Lake Travis Party that was held immediately after the Fleet Challenge.  Also, a big thanks goes out to our All-Star club manager Jackie Wheeless for all of the little things that she does to be a really big help!

Finally, special mention goes out to Gail and David Bernstein for their vision and dedication to helping support the AYC Fund from its inception.  Gail and David are permanently moving to their home in Florida but will forever be a big part of the Austin Yacht Club and are a big reason we are where we are today.  We will miss you but expect you to be back for next year’s Fleet Challenge.

Here are the final results:

 

1 A-Fleet 23
2 Laser 53
3 Laser 71
4 Cat 22 72
5 Ensign 77
6 SC 21 78
7 A-Fleet 79
8 Sunfish 84
9 420s 84
10 C-Fleet 88
11 RR 117
12 UT 136
13 RR 137
14 J24 139
15 J22 141
16 Cat 22 157
17 MH 160
18 J22 178

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