FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Fleet Manager, Linda Lindquist
2024 GL52 Racing: Elevated Performance from 24.54° N to 45.85° N
Closely Contested Regattas Distribute Trophies Throughout the Fleet
HOLLAND, MI (November 26, 2024) – Between January and September, the dynamic GL52 Racing Fleet competed in thirteen (13) regattas from Key West (FL) to Newport (RI) to the Great Lakes comprised of 62 races. The wide-raging schedule, variety and quality of events combined with the GL52 fleet’s ethos of continuous improvement produced some of the most closely contested racing the United States.
On the familiar home-waters of the Great Lakes, ten (10) GL52s raced at seven (7) diverse events—(4 buoy + 3 distance) for bragging rights in the GL52 Great Lakes Series. John Huhn’s KATANA (13pts) claimed the 2024 Series Championship after racking-up wins at the Big Red, Little Traverse and Ugotta Regattas. KATANA also took line honors at the Chicago-Mac Race.
Regatta trophies were well-distributed throughout the fleet where participation in a majority of the series events paid dividends for several teams. Finishing second overall in the series, Robert and Laura Hughes’ HEARTBREAKER (15 pts.) won both the Queen’s Cup and the Macatawa Challenge. Third place series finisher, Philip and Sharon O’Niel III’s NATALIE J. took home the 2024 Mackinac Trophy, where the top six (6) GL52s finished within minutes after a 289 nm race. Chris Duhon’s MOCKINGBIRD topped the podium at the 100th Anniversary Bayview-Mac Race.
HEARTBREAKER owners Laura & Robert Hughes receive the first place 2024 MACATAWA CHALLENGE trophy created by Jon Easley
All of these accomplishments are elevated by the level of competition among the GL52s where, after 25 races just 1 point separated the 3rd, 4th and 5th place series finishers: NATALIE J. (17 pts), Doug Devos’ WINDQUEST (18 pts.) and MOCKINGBIRD (19pts.).
Looking back at the 2024 Winter Series, five (5) GL52s warmed up at the Southernmost Regatta and Key West Race Week. Victor Wild’s FOX dominated both, winning 13 of the 20 races sailed over the course of 2 events.
Throughout the summer, five (5) GL52s participated at four (4) events (alongside the 52 Super Series) at Newport in the run-up to the 2024 ORC World Championship. After 17 races sailed on Narragansett Bay organized by the New York Yacht Club and Safe Harbor Race Weekend David Team’s VESPER and Victor Wild’s FOX claimed two (2) titles each. While these two split 1st and 2nd place finishes; Larry Landry & Paul McDowell’s PROSPECTOR and Andrew Berdon’s SUMMER STORM 52 swapped 3rd and 4th positions throughout the season.
Looking Ahead:
2025 SEASON PREVIEW
2025 WINTER SERIES: TWO EVENTS IN NEW LOCATION: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA!
From March 20-23 and April 10-13, the GL-52 Fleet is headed to a new regatta location in Pensacola, Florida for the 2025 GL52 Southern Series. In keeping with the support of sailing that helped launch Team American Magic for AC37, the City of Pensacola is eager to welcome our fleet. This racing venue features an area of 20nm of flat water with great breeze. Partnering with Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) will bring local expertise and interest to these two exciting new events in our 2025 calendar.
Additional event registration links and racing documents including Southern Series, Notices of Race and Results (when available) will be found here.
2025 SUMMER SERIES: GREAT LAKES
Next summer the fleet will consolidate back on the Great Lakes where we will have a dozen (12) or more GL52s racing in the Great Lakes Series at the following perennial favorite events:
- June 13-15: BIG RED REGATTA
- June 27: QUEEN’S CUP
- July 12: BAYVIEW-MACKINAC
- July 19: RACE TO MACKINAC
- July 25-27: UGOTTA REGATTA
- August 14-16: LITTLE TRAVERSE CUP
- October 3-5: MACATAWA CHALLENGE
Additional event registration links and racing documents including the Great Lakes Series, Notices of Race and Results (when available) will be found here.
For more information, contact Linda Lindquist, GL52 Fleet Manager at +1 (312)-560-1168
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ABOUT US:
In 2019, five (5) owners came together to initiate TP52 racing in the Great Lakes which has evolved into our sixteen (16) boat GL52 fleet. We remain grateful for the vision and commitment of these early pioneers– Doug Devos, WINDQUEST; Chris Duhon, MOCKINGBIRD; Austin Fragomen, INTERLODGE; Robert Hughes, HEARTBREAKER and Phil O’Niel, NATALIE J. The GL52 North American fleet is member of the TP52 Class Association which incorporates TP52 Class Global, the 52 Super Series and TP52 Australia.
The GL52 Winter Series, is intended to encourage like-minded TP52 type boat owners, with a healthy mix of amateur and pro sailor crews, to compete in similarly configured boats under the ORC on a Time-on-Time basis in a group of buoy races that form a Winter series.
The GL52 Summer Series is intended to encourage like-minded TP52 type boat owners, with a healthy mix of amateur and pro sailor crews to compete in similarity configured boats under the ORC. This Great Lakes Series consists of 3 iconic long-distance races and 4 buoy racing events.
The TP52 Class Association was started in 2001 by owners who wanted to race a Grand Prix sailboat that is fun, safe and reliable. TP52’s are flat-out racing platforms, fully crewed, high- performance monohulls capable of racing in both buoy regattas and offshore races.
TAGS:
#GL52Racing, #GL52SummerSeries2024
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