Raab takes his first victory at the Don Trask International Masters Regatta
by Michelle Slade 20 Oct 05:35 UTC
October 17-19, 2025
Don Trask International Masters Regatta 2025 © SDYC / Mark Albertazzi
By a narrow margin of just 3 points, the ever-colorful Chris Raab and his team won the 2025 Don Trask International Masters Regatta hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club, finishing with 59 points after three days of racing.
Heading into the final day, with breeze ranging from 5-10 knots and warm sunny skies, the top three boats led by the team from St Francis Yacht Club (California) and skippered by Tracy Usher were separated by just 3 points, and the top half of the fleet separated by just 10 points leaving the competition wide open. Lead changes were the order of the day at almost every mark; strategy was all in the starts and a team's ability to interpret the shifts in the variable breeze. In the end, it was newcomer Raab, representing Alamitos Bay Yacht Club/Newport Harbor Yacht Club (California) who cleverly navigated the talent-stacked fleet from 4th place at the end of Day 2 to take the grand prize. Raab's crew included Ed Feo, Erik Lidecis, Morgan Reeser, Marco Constant, KJ Paradise and Craig Leweck.
"Getting off the start line and keeping my head in the boat really helped us win," Raab laughed. "Morgan Reeser is a great tactician and I've known all the guys on my crew for some 30-40 years which makes a difference; I showed up with a lot of talent. The competition was as good as it gets especially with Hardesty and Doyle on [John] Dane's boat - it was hard to beat him. I think this and the Lipton Cup are the two biggest West Coast regattas we have and the San Diego Yacht Club does such an incredible job running both these events. It's an honor to be added to the Don Trask International Master Regatta trophy."
John Dane, also a Masters Regatta newbie and representing the Pass Christian YC (Mississippi), took 2nd, and behind Dane by just one point was event veteran Don Jesberg sailing with his team from the San Francisco Yacht Club (California).
"It feels great to finally be able to make this event and take second," Dane said. "When I was invited, the first thing I did was ask Bill Hardesty and Eric Doyle if they were available because we've been sailing Etchells together for a long while," Dane said. "We started with a very good crew who have sailed J/105s - I've never been on one before - and it's been a good regatta. Today we had a lot of things go right and then we were OCS in the last race which made it hard to make a comeback to pass five or six boats. The racing has been really tight and we've really enjoyed it; it's been a great fleet with a lot of fun parties and great hospitality."
This year marked Jesberg's fifth event - he's done it twice as crew and three times as skipper.
"This is my best finish for sure," Jesberg smiled. "We were 11 points out of 1st going into the last day, and had all the pieces fallen into place we could have won, but it was tough, in one race we went from 3rd to 9th which cost us 6 points and there was the differential. We're happy to finish so close to two very good teams. My crew is a great group to sail with; I love these guys."
Racing took place on San Diego's South Bay located south of the Coronado Bridge and a favorite location that is typically breeze favored. Friday's winds ranged from 6-15 knots, starting out light and increasing to a solid 15 by the start of Race 3. The breezy conditions allowed competitors to complete 5 races with Bill Menninger from Newport Harbor Yacht Club leading at the end of Day 1. It was a game of snakes and ladders on Saturday when racing got under way in 6 knots at 12:30pm with an incredibly variable breeze. Albeit light and shifty, the wind held up for J/105 sailing in flat water for Races 6-8, but following two general recalls and a dying breeze, Race 9 was abandoned halfway through. Competitors returned to their rotational boats from Race 9 on Sunday morning to pick up the series where it was left off Saturday afternoon.
12 teams including teams from Canada and Germany, were among this year's lineup including four new skippers: John Dane, Rob Ruhlman representing the Lakeside YC/Pymatuning YC (Ohio), Chris Raab, and Mark Foster representing Lake Canyon YC (Texas). The sole woman skipper, competing in the event for her third time, and second time with her own team, Cory Sertyl, Vice President World Sailing, and her crew finished sixth, and while not the third place finish she enjoyed in 2023, nonetheless Sertyl was thrilled to participate again.
"I enjoy sailing in an all-women's configuration but knowing these boats, you really do need some strength!" Sertyl smiled. "The format is really fun; I really enjoy one design sailing where all the equipment is essentially equal, and you're on a level playing field. The racing is really competitive; you are challenged in both the front and back of the fleet; it's just a privilege to be invited to this event."
It was particularly significant that this year's regatta, now in its 42nd year, was sailed under the new name recently bestowed upon the event - the Don Trask International Masters Regatta - honoring Trask, who passed away on September 29, 2025. Trask founded the International Masters Regatta at St. Francis Yacht Club in 1979 as a tribute to Master-level skippers who had made a name for themselves in the sport. The regatta moved from StFYC to San Diego Yacht Club in 2012 thanks largely to the efforts of Malin Burnham and with Don's blessings.
"Honoring Don Trask and his legacy, and for us to be able to continue it with Malin Burnham's support, the San Diego Yacht Club's support and the boat owners' support is just fantastic," Dave Veiregg, Regatta Chair, said. "Just as Don would have it, this event is about the sailors themselves and their accomplishments; at the Saturday night banquet we had the sailors stand up if they had won certain championship events and world championships; we had people in the room that had won America's Cup events, Olympic medals, and Championship of Champions events. For this group to be able to celebrate their lifetime sailing accomplishments with fellow sailors is what makes the event so special."
San Diego Yacht Club pulled off a fantastic event, starting with the Taste of Point Loma on Thursday night showcasing San Diego's best restaurants, an enjoyable evening for sailing friends to reunite and wind down into the casual Southern California groove. Saturday night's banquet was one filled with emotion and appreciation as Trask was honored, together with recognizing a full house of champion master sailors.
"We have such great resources and facilities here and executing a regatta with many moving parts - literally - requires a team of outstanding organizers and volunteers," Alli Bell, SDYC Vice Commodore. "Many thanks to Dave Vieregg for putting together an incredible regatta, along with Principal Race Offer Susi Graff, the SDYC race committee, umpires and many volunteers. A special thank you goes to the J/105 owners who graciously lent out their boats for the Masters regatta; without their generosity and support, this regatta would not be possible. Our appreciation also goes out to Helly Hansen, Chipz Happen, Bella Luna Estate Winery, North Sails, and Quantum Sails for sponsoring the 2025 Don Trask International Masters Regatta."
Full results, including all the past winners, can be found at masters.sdyc.org