IOD Celebrity Invitational Regatta

August 14th - 16th, 2019

Nantucket Race Week is pleased to announce the 15th annual running of the IOD Celebrity Invitational.

Karen Ryan Photography

Introduction

Imagine being provided a boat within a fleet of 14 evenly matched IODs to be raced by your crew on Nantucket Sound. Further imagine having an America's Cup tactician, Olympic medalist or a world champion calling your tactics for the regatta. In keelboat one-design racing this is truly special.

Karen Ryan Photography

The Celebrity Invitational begins with an opening reception buffet dinner at the Great Harbor Yacht Club, with two days of racing and more social events. The series will consist of up to four races each day on Nantucket Sound. Each participating team will have a celebrity tactician on-board. Races will be sailed in a fleet format, and prizes will be awarded for daily and overall results. Opportunities abound for non-sailing spouses and significant others to explore and enjoy the island: beaches, bicycling, water sports, shopping, museums, sightseeing and more.

Karen Ryan Photography

Schedule of Events

Professional Race Officer:

Eric Robbins, US Sailing National Race Officer, Judge and Umpire; tactician & trimmer on a J-105.

2019 Master of Ceremonies:

Dawn Riley: CEO of America True. First woman to manage an America's Cup Team; Competed in four America's Cups and two Whitbreads (now Volvo Ocean Race). Former president of Women's Sports Foundation. Currently Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, a non-profit training athletes in inshore, offshore and high performance sailing.

2019 IOD Celebrity Invitational Tacticians:

Geoff Becker: 25+ years teaching and coaching sailing. Coached four collegiate national championships. World champion in the J/24, J/70, Lightning. Several NA / national titles.

John Burnham: Races Shields and IOD, winning three Class titles. Won IOD World Championship this year in Marblehead.

Jonathan Farrar: Coaches Northeastern University Sailing Team. IOD sailor (Fishers Island Fleet) 4x world champion. U.S. Sailing Team (12 years – 470, Tornado) Tornado national champion (2x). Former U.S. Paralympic coach.

Dave Franzel: Founded Boston Sailing Center ‘77 & St Thomas Sailing Center in US Virgin Islands is 2016. 3rd in Soling World Championship ('02), won Sonar Worlds in ‘09. Campaigns a J70. North U coach.

Martin Kullman: Won Farr 40 World Championship ‘09. Sails professionally in Melges 20, Melges 24, J24, J22, J70 & more. Helmsman, tactician & navigator for offshore sailing in TP52, Volvo 70, Carkee 40, Santa Cruz 70. Coaches professionally along with virtual coaching through Hydra Sailing Solutions.

Luke Lawrence: Former Laser, Finn sailor. As tactician, various NA and world championships (Etchells, J/24, J/22, Viper) & for four Rolex yachtsman of the year nominations. 2nd in Star NAs & winner of Star Junior World Championship in 2019

Suzy Leech: America's Cup (‘95 Women's Team). Winning team (helm, tactician or navigator) 30+ international regattas among 15 classes, world champion in three (Mumm 30, Ynglings & One-Tons). Navigator on 12 Meter Enterprise this summer.

Tom Lihan: Lasers (NA, nationals winner), Finn (NA winner, '84 Olympic trials). Various big boats. Etchells program. NRW Celebrity veteran, 2x crew, 2x tactician.

Mike Marshall: Sail designer for North Sails. 2016 J/22 Worlds Champion, won J/22 North Americans, & been in top ten in multiple J/24 Worlds, NAs and Nationals. Board of Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation.

Cory Sertl: 3 Olympic campaigns & member of 1988 Olympic Team. Lightning NA Champion crew & several US Sailing Women's National Championship. Competing in J22, J24, & Snipes. Twice named Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year (‘95, ‘01). Currently President of US Sailing.

Mark Sertl: Won various World & North American Championship in 8-Meters, J22, Lightnings and J24 as trimmer, tactician & helmsman.

Jud Smith: Head of Doyle One Design. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year ('06, ‘18), Americas Cup (Stars and Stripes '95). Winner of Rhodes 19 Nationals ('06), J70 NA ('16), and Etchells NA (10x), seven worlds (IOD 2x, Mumm/Farr 30 2x, Etchells, Sonar Rolex Swan 44). Winning crew J/70 worlds ('17). Winning tactician NRW IOD Celebrity '16, '17).

Chris Snow: Sailmaker & manager of North Sails One Design. 10x National & North American champion in many One Design boats and top 10 World Championships. Winner of IOD Celebrity regatta as tactician in ‘08.

Jeremy Wilmot: Professional sailor who grew up in Australia. Won over 20 National & North American Championships. Winner of Melges 32 Worlds ('09) as tactician.

Past Celebrity Tacticians: