2021 Texas Challenge Cup

Ten yacht club teams from across Texas met on the water on December 11 at Lakewood Yacht Club (Seabrook, TX) for the reinstated Texas Challenge Cup. This invitational event brought together a wide range of top sailors, old friends, and next-generation competitors to face off in Lakewood’s matched club fleet of 12 RS21s.

The day started cold and windy thanks to a cold front passage just hours before launch, and the first two races were sailed in 22 to 26 knots with a non-spinnaker directive. The breeze laid down just enough for a practice set and douse before sailing the next two races with spinnakers.

The top position, with 5 points for 4 races, went to the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club team of Gary Ross at the helm along with Carter Perrin, Gerard Coleman, and Clark Thompson.

Both the second and third place boats included crew from Texas Sailing Association’s strong youth circuit. In second place, for Austin Yacht Club with Chris Lewis at the helm, were Ethan and Fiona Froelich and Spencer LeGrande all of whom are alumni of AYC youth sailing. The third place team for Rush Creek Yacht Club had Bill Draheim at the helm, with crew David Hoye, Justin Adams, and Ashleigh Hoye.

The Texas Challenge Cup dates back to 1986, first held at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club. That year, nine clubs competed on Solings. Lakewood Yacht Club and Houston Yacht Club held the event over the next three years but was not repeated until 2001, when it was resurrected. By 2005, the event included clubs throughout Texas. Sometime after, the tradition paused again until Lakewood rekindled the Texas tradition in 2021.

Final Results

Competitor List (as of 12/2/21)
AYC: Chris Lewis, Spencer LeGrande, Ethan Froelich, and Fiona Froelich
CCYC: Chris Corley, Scott Mears, Greg Turman
CSC: Tom Miller, Mark Babb, Paul Miller, and Rachel Mittman
FWBC: Bryan Dyer, Conner Fullerton, Jim Mitchell, Mike Schwinn
GBCA: Allie Cribbs, Kevin Orff, crew tba
HYC: Billy Richnow, Robert Williams, Pat Gibson
LCYC: Fred Soward, Chris Powers, Buddy Byington
LYC: Casey Lambert, Jesse Fulmer, Evan Smith, Giorgio Martelli
RCYC: Bill Draheim, David Hoye and Justin Adams
TCYC: Carter Perrin, Gary Ross, Henry May, Gerard Coleman, Clark Thompson