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, Laser racing

2018 Master of Ceremonies:

Dawn Riley: CEO of America True, 1^st woman to manage an America's Cup Team. Raced 4 America's Cups & 2 Whitbreads (now Volvo Ocean Race). Former president of Women's Sports Foundation & now Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, a non-profit training athletes in inshore, offshore & high performance sailing.

2018 IOD Celebrity Invitational Tacticians:

Ed Adams: Rolex Yachtsman of the Year (1987, 1991). US Olympic Athlete of the Year (1987, 1991). World or national champion in Star, J/24, Snipe, Laser. Extensive offshore resume. Coaches various one-design and big boat programs.

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.

Peter Commette: Laser World champion; U.S. Olympic representative (Finn '76 – 11^th), Raced Duckboats (3x World Champion) & scows. Former head coach for US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point. Races Snipes in world competitions.

Victor Diaz-de-Leon: J/70 NA, South American, world champion. Etchells NA, Midwinters, Jaguar winner. US Sailing Championship of Champions winner. Top Moth sailor.

Charlie Enright: 4x collegiate all-American (Brown). 100k+ offshore miles. Volvo Ocean Race skipper (Team Alvimedica 2014-15; Vestas 11th Hour Racing 2017-18)

Geoff Ewenson: Olympic trials (Finn 2004 2^nd, 2008 2^nd). Now pro sailor, from J-24s to super yachts (tactician, trimmer, navigator). Shields sailor

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.

Andy Green: Americas Cup helmsman (2000, 2003). Bermuda Gold Cup winner (IOD match racing). TV and online commentator for major sailing events (host and MC for the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race).

Luke Lawrence: Former Laser, Finn sailor. As tactician, various NA and world championships (Etchells, J/24, J/22, Viper) & for four Rolex yachtsman/woman of the year nominees. Star sailor.

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. Aerospace engineer, sailing TV projects and commentator.

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

Moose McClintock: Olympic trials (Soling '84), Admirals Cup ('97 1^st), world, national and NA championships as crew or skipper (Ensign, Shields, J/22, J/24, Etchells, Swan 42). Match race circuit (Congressional Cup 5x wins, Match Race Worlds 2x 2^nd). America's Cup (Young America '95, America One ('00 LV final 2nd) Races & coaches in Etchells and J/70.

Dave Reed: Editor of Sailing World. Elite International 420 sailor, various one-design classes. 12M NA winning crew. Volvo Ocean race. NRW Celebrity 4x as crew.

Jud Smith: Head of Doyle One Design. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year ('06). 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).

Past Celebrity Tacticians: