For the third time in four years, Steve Liebel’s New Waveteam emerged victorious in the the IC37 National Championship, sailed over the weekend out of the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I. The seventh edition of this annual championship was highlighted by a 26-boat fleet, the biggest ever for the one-design keelboat.
It was a dominant performance by the veteran team, which won the first race and the final race, only finished outside the top 10 in one of the eight races and claimed the championship by 19 points. Of the 26 teams competing, only six avoided at least one finish of 20th or worse, and just nine points separated Wade Waddell’s Pegasus team in second from Bill Zartler’s Voodoo Too crew in seventh. Rounding out the top five were Hannah Swett on MO in third, Chris Lewis’ Qubit in fourth and Clinton Hayes’ Gloriana in fifth.
“It’s a big number out there, 26 37-foot boats that are identical,” says Liebel. “We all get to that windward mark at the same time. It’s very exciting, and it’s very rewarding.”
The National Championships were part of a big three days at Harbour Court. Also contested this weekend were the inaugural edition of the NYYC Coastal Races Regatta and the 69th edition of the Queen’s Cup.
IC37 National Championship results can be found here
