VOYLES CAPTURES SHOE RACE PERPETUAL TROPHY
“Must Go Faster” J/22 racer Richard Voyles won the Shoe Regatta perpetual trophy at the awards ceremony held on Sun., May 20. Hosted by Lakewood Yacht Club, Race Committee Chairman Gerhard Wittich explained to the crowded ballroom that this trophy goes to the winner of the most competitive class of spinnaker classes sailing windward/leeward courses with at least 5 entrants.
“On Sat. of the race, everything went so well,” remarked Voyles. “We always seemed to be going the right way – not sure why – but we were sure glad about that! All the pieces just came together perfectly.” He add that he and his foredeck crew member Scott Putnam really enjoyed the regatta this year as it was so well run; the Race Committee did an excellent job.
The Shoe Regatta was held on Galveston Bay on Sat., May 19 and Sun., May 20 with over 60 boats participating. Racers had good winds over the weekend and they were very pleased with the event. Beautiful weather enhanced the pool party on Sat. night with live music by Jeff Lopez’ “Cross Roads”.
Lakewood Yacht Club racers earned 10 trophies at the awards ceremony. This is believed to be a record in the 30 years since the regatta was founded. Originally, it was named for the regatta sponsors Foley (department store) and Sperry Top-Sider shoes, a popular boat shoe with racers. Winners of each fleet received pairs of Sperry shoes, hence the nickname The Shoe Race came into play. Rita Matthews and her late husband Ed were both instrumental in the founding of the race. Rita was thanked at the awards ceremony by Past Commodore Tony Wessendorff for her vision and hard work.
Lakewood Yacht Club racers who won trophies were David Whelan, 1st place in the J/80 fleet on “Gulf Coast Quantum Racing”; Bill Zartler on “Solaris, 2nd place in the J/105 fleet with “Infinity” owned by Uzi Ozeri in 1st place. Al Goethe on “Hamburg” placed 1st in the J/109 fleet. In the Cruising Non-Spinnaker Classic Canvas (Distance), John Broderick placed 3rd on his “French Kiss” while Jack Seitzinger placed 2nd on “Asylum. Earning 1st place in PHRF Non-Spinnaker (Distance) was Hans Knickrehm” on “Suite Deern”. For PHRF Spinnaker B, Tom Sutton took 2nd place on “Leading Edge”. Lakewood racers took third and first places in PHRF Spinnaker A: 3rd place went to Douglas Shaffer on “Gambler while Steve Rhyne came in 1st on “Mojo”.
Making The Shoe Race possible were Gold Sponsor Bay Access, a not for profit charitable organization that supports amateur racing on Galveston Bay. Silver Sponsors were Sea Lake Yacht Sales and Mount Gay Rum. West Marine was the Bronze Sponsor this year.
Photo 1: The Lakewood Yacht Club (LYC) Shoe Regatta Perpetual Trophy was earned by Richard Voyles (far left) on his J/22 named “Must Go Faster”. Pictured with him at the Awards Ceremony are LYC Commodore A. J. Ross, Race Committee Chairman Gerhard Wittich (behind podium), Past Commodore Tony Wessendorff and Voyle’s foredeck crew member Scott Putnam.
Photo 2: Steve Rhyne (right), 1st place on “Mojo” in the PHRF Spinnaker fleet, pictured with LYC Rear Commodore Tom Collier
Photo 3: Al Goethe (right), 1st place on his “Hamburg” in the J/109 fleet, pictured with LYC Vice Commodore Carl Drechsel
Photo 4: Uzi Ozeri (right), 1st place on his “Infinity” in the J/105 fleet, pictured with LYC Rear Commodore Tom Collier
Photo 5: David Whelan with daughter Victoria, 1st place on “Gulf Coast Quantum Racing” in the J/80 fleet, pictured with Vice Commodore Carl Drechsel (right)
Photo 6: Hans Knickrehm with wife Karen (right and center), 1st place on his “SeuteDeern” in the PHRF Non-Spinnaker Distance fleet, pictured with LYC Fleet Captain Joyce Maxwell (left)