Eight Bells: Kurt Weisenfluh

Kurt Montgomery Weisenfluh, 58, of Larchmont, New York, died on September 24 during the first day of 2026 Shields Nationals in the waters off of Oxford, Maryland. He was owner of Rascal #23 and 2014 National Champion.

He grew up in Cohasset, Massachusetts, where he developed a passion for the water that served as the guiding principle for his entire life. In his younger years, he worked as a lobsterman, a sailing instructor, was an avid alpine skier, and served as the assistant harbormaster in Cohasset Harbor.

Kurt was a man of many passions, but sailing was perhaps the greatest of them all. He was an accomplished sailor and a longtime member of the Larchmont Yacht Club, which he joined in 1997. He was also a member of the New York Yacht Club since 1992. – Full report