2025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series

Chris Busch and Jim Madden (USA 969 - Buschido) won the 2025 West Coast Sprint Series sharing the skippering duties throughout the series

San Diego Yacht Club has hosted the West Coast Spring Series annually since 2015 (except 2020), making this year's series the 9th edition.

Chris Busch and Jim Madden shared the skippering duties throughout the series for Buschido, and sailed with a varying crew of Patrick Powell, Chuck Sinks and Brad Rodi throughout the series. With overall victories in the Bill Bennett Cup and the Midwinters West, and a 3rd overall in the Pacific Coast Championship, the series was officially won by Team Buschido even before the Orca Bowl capped off the series in April. Busch also won the series in 2021. Two-time defending champion Jim Cunningham and Team Lifted had also locked up 2nd overall for the series going into the Orca Bowl after finishing 2nd in each of the three prior series events.

Series winning co-skipper Chris Busch on the competitive nature of the series: "The competition kept getting tougher at each event, and the conditions throughout the series were varied and challenging. We stayed adaptable. The first regatta (the Bill Bennett Cup) had perfect conditions for us — we were very fast when it was just about hiking. We added a little bit of rake to the setup, and it really lit up.

Midwinters was our toughest regatta because of the conditions, which were extremely difficult. It wasn't just windy — there was a big sea state that made it hard to steer through and keep the boat moving fast. That regatta also came down to a battle at the end, because we weren't leading until the very last moments. We had to sail hard against Jim Cunningham (who was in second), and there was some team racing at the start. We needed to keep him behind us — and the further back, the better."

Buschido finished 7th in that final race with Cunningham in 10th, winning the Midwinters by one point 17 to 18 over Lifted.

The Spring Series allows for one throwout score from the 4-event series, except the Midwinters regatta cannot be a throwout. For Argyle Campbell and the crew of Rock On, they weren't able to race in the Midwinters and were tagged with 31 points for missing the event. Otherwise their 1st in the PCCs and 3rd in the Bill Bennett Cup would have given them a chance to win the series heading into the Orca Bowl. Maybe next year.

In addition to winning overall at the Orca Bowl, Don Jesberg and the Viva team finished 5th overall in the Spring Series and were the top Corinthian team for the series.

Thank you to Etchells Fleet 13 and the San Diego Yacht Club Race Committee for hosting a season of competitive racing for the 37 teams competing this year. Melanie Aalbers served as series chair once again managing series for the fleet.

Melanie Aalbers: "It's been an honor to chair this series. The level of competition has been incredibly high, with a strong international fleet pushing each other to be better at every event. At the same time, the camaraderie has been just as impressive — our debriefs with Steve Hunt/Dave Ullman and social events create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages learning, growth, and connection. It's a special group of sailors, and I'm excited to see the momentum continue as we work toward the Worlds in 2026."

West Coast Spring Series Standings:

1. Chris Busch/Jim Madden, BUSCHIDO

2. Jim Cunningham, LIFTED

3. John Dane/Eric Doyle, HERE WE GO AGAIN

Corinthian Standings:

1. Don Jesberg, VIVA

2. Ethan Doyle/Matt Hecht/Brad Rodi, CAPRICORN

3. Eric Tecza/David Janinis, CHOMP!!