New England Masters’ Regatta
In the mid-1990’s various members of the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet decided that it would be good to have a regatta for the older members of the Star Class. By this time the Masters’ Regatta held during the winter on Biscayne Bay had become a fixture on the Star Class regatta list and the hope was to foster a similar event in the New England area.
At about this time the Burtis family wanted to donate a trophy in memory of Alan R. Burtis of the Southern Long Island Sound Fleet to a regatta. Coincidentally, William Burtis was sailing in the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet and as luck would have it the family’s desire coincided with the development of the Masters’ Regatta, and thus the regatta found itself with a beautiful trophy.
The first running of the New England Masters’ Regatta (then called the Atlantic Coast Masters’ Regatta) took place at Milford Yacht Club on August 26-27, 1995. The first winner was Russ Brooks of Huntington Bay, with Felix Hafen as crew.
In order to get the regatta going the Mid-Connecticut Star Fleet held the event for 5 years in succession. Since then the regatta has been held by other fleets throughout the 1st District.
Masters’ Winners
|
Year |
Boat |
Skipper |
Crew |
Fleet |
Where held |
|
1995 |
7504 |
Russ Brooks |
Felix Hafen |
HB |
Mid |
|
1996 |
7192 |
Dave Cook |
Bill Faccone |
Sun |
Mid |
|
1997 |
7565 |
Jack Button |
Chris Batchelor |
Mid |
Mid |
|
1998 |
7657 |
Bill Watson |
David Chord |
CLIS |
Mid |
|
1999 |
7565 |
Jack Button |
Chris Batchelor |
Mid |
Mid |
|
2000 |
7765 |
Bill Allen |
Ken Allen |
WH |
BH |
|
2001 |
7565 |
Jack Button |
Chris Batchelor |
Mid |
CLIS |
|
2002 |
7732 |
Gary MacDonald |
Serge Leonidov |
BH |
BH |
|
2003 |
7313 |
Tom Price |
Will Wagner |
CB |
Mid |
|
2004 |
8181 |
Larry Whipple |
Mark Strube |
PS |
BH |
|
2005 |
8112 |
Joe Bainton |
Will Christensen |
NB |
CLIS |
|
2006 |
8007 |
Bill Watson |
Rodrigo Meireles |
CLIS |
Mid |
|
2007 |
7715 |
Will Swigart |
Carroll McCallum |
CLIS |
WLIS |