Lettenmaier Wins Thistle Midwinters West Championship

Southern California weather was “picture perfect” for the 29 teams that attended the Thistle Midwinters Wes Championship, held February 4-6 in San Diego, CA. All nine races of the regatta were sailed in brilliant sunshine in the Pacific Ocean with winds varying from 4 to 14 knots.

Only 1.5 points separated the top 2 teams prior to the last race of the regatta, but Terry Lettenmaier, with his wife Laurie Weitkamp and Marissa Balough as crew, clinched the regatta victory with a second place finish in that race versus the fifth place finish of Mike Gillum, the defending champion, who was also sailing with his wife, Mardi Gillum and Gus Worth. In the end, only 4.5 points separated Lettenmaier and Gillum. Third place went to Chris Gedrose, fourth place to Phillip Gordon, and fifth place to Hans Williams.

The Presidents division was won by Tim Elfenbein with his wife Dawn as crew. George Samuels finished in second place and Kristofer Vogelsong in third. The 2nd and 5th place boats in the Championship Division are historic wooden boats, both built before 1960. The second place boat, hull #1010, was once owned by Buddy Ebsen, the television star of the “Beverly Hillbillies”.

The 29 competing teams is the second highest level of participation in this regatta since 2008. Full results.