Raygun Wins Midwinters West as 50 Etchells Face Full Range of San Diego Conditions
San Diego, CA – March 31, 2026 – The Etchells Midwinters West delivered a full spectrum of San Diego conditions to a 50-boat international fleet, with shifting breeze, building pressure, and a decisive current component shaping racing across the weekend.
In anticipation of the 2026 Etchells World Championship, Race Committee moved further south into the Pacific giving the West Coast Spring Series competitors a preview of the Worlds race course area. This course shift introduced deeper water, stronger coastal current, and a more complex track that rewarded positioning and adaptability over static setup. PRO Jeff Johnson discussed the change stating “Getting out to sea and away from Point Loma avoids the resulting land effects on the wind and sea state. It may seem like it wouldn’t make much of a difference, but the difference results in more equal conditions across the racecourse. And the SW to NW wind direction puts the weather mark in more "coastal current" which tacticians should dial into their strategy during a Worlds level event."
While racing was tight, it was Raygun, USA 1527, sailed by Austin Sperry, John Kostecki, and Noel Drennan, who maintained the lead throughout most of the weekend scoring 1st in 2 out of 7 races and placing in the top 8 for the remaining races. Stark Raving Mad, USA 1477, and Magpie, AUS 1526, were close contenders for second place with Stark Raving Mad narrowly edging out Magpie by just one point.
For the Series, there are two teams that have a chance to win it all. Series scoring takes the three best regatta finishes and excludes one. Stark Raving Mad leads the series with 6 points, while Raygun stands with 45 (43-1-1). If Raygun finishes top 3 in the Orca Bowl, they will win the series excluding their DNC 43. Otherwise it will go to Stark Raving Mad (whose max series points are 6). Meanwhile, 14 teams have a shot at the series podium going into the final event.
Etchells Pacific Coast Championships - Final Standings
Overall Results
1st – Raygun (USA 1527) – Austin Sperry, John Kostecki, Noel Drennan
2nd – Stark Raving Mad (USA 1477) – Skip Dieball, Jeff Eiber, Jeff Reynolds
3rd – Magpie (AUS 1526) – James Mayo,Caleb Paine, Ben Lamb
Corinthian Division
1st – No Dramas (GBR 1490) – Andrew Lawson, Billy Russell, Graham Vails
2nd – Second Wind (USA 985) – Will La Dow, Jake La Dow, Alex Curtiss, Paula Schmid
3rd – Viva (USA 1429) – Don Jesberg, John Bonds, Alden Grimes
West Coast Spring Series - Current Standings
1st – Stark Raving Mad (USA 1477) – Skip Dieball, Jeff Eiber, Jeff Reynolds
2nd – Buschido (USA 969) – Chris Busch, Ben Mitchell, Patrick Powell
3rd – Second Wind (USA 985, corinthian) – Will La Dow, Jake La Dow, Alex Curtiss, Paula Schmid
(Note: Austin Sperry's Raygun is currently 8th but has two first places and can win the series by finishing top 3 in the Orca Bowl.)
Conditions were tricky and evolved across the weekend from unstable breeze on Friday to stronger pressure on Saturday followed by a light and transitional final day. Competitors were highly aware of the ongoing changes compared to their previous experiences racing in San Diego. Regarding the final race day’s conditions, Judd Smith said, “It’s been probably a little unusual for San Diego… the breeze was kind of more out of the north a little bit northwest,” while Monica Morgan added, “We’ve had a really wide variety of conditions. It was really windy Saturday, got really light at the end of Friday… we’ve seen a lot of different sailing conditions.” Lars Osell added, “Some models have today (Sunday) being pretty light, some have it shaping up for some decent breeze, but either way, an unusual direction and condition here for San Diego.”
Friday night’s debrief, led by international yachtsman, racer, and sailmaker, Dave Ullman, focused on how the offshore course increased the importance of current. Ullman emphasized that positioning relative to current and pressure, not the usual small rig adjustments, determined Friday outcomes. He noted that equal current across the course made starting and mark approach critical, and added, “In San Diego, 90% of the time when the wind dies, there’s more wind on the left,” a factor that came into play when breeze faded.
Saturday brought sustained hiking conditions of 15 to 18 knots, perfect racing conditions with Graham Valis of No Dramas, GBR 1490, adding, “A lot of us are quite tired, you know. Arms are hurting, legs are hurting.” By Sunday, the pressure dropped off. Competitor Bruce Nelson said, “The conditions were a little bit everything this weekend, incredible for training… and then today the forecast was good and started out very nice and then something… occurred out there… and then the breeze died. So the Race Committee made a good move and abandoned the 8th race. It’s been some of the best racing conditions you can expect in San Diego.”
Austin Sperry’s Raygun team was consistent across all conditions. “It was a great week here training in San Diego with our training partners for the Worlds,” Sperry said. “We were fortunate enough to win this event. It was a great event to test a new boat and get ready for the Worlds here in a few months.”
Ben Lamb, sailing aboard Magpie, pointed to the value of the shared preparation. “It’s just great training with these guys because I think we’re getting both teams up to speed… the goal for us teams is just to be one and two and someone’s one and someone’s two. We’re really happy the way the team’s evolving.”
Sperry also credited his team and San Diego Yacht Club. “I’d be remiss to not thank my team… John, Nitro, Rodney, Chris… it wouldn’t be possible without them.” He added, “SDYC members… make us feel so welcome here. Your hospitality is fantastic.”
River Paquin raced for the first time with Marvin Beckmann and Cameron Carter on Martian 2. Reflecting Sunday morning on the first two days, Cameron said, “Looking forward to a little less breeze today. Our bodies hurt, but it’s an amazing boat to sail,” while Paquin added, “just kind of figuring everything out as a team… but we’re having fun.” The team continued to build through the weekend, finishing fourth in the single race completed Sunday.
A standout storyline across the weekend came from the next generation, with junior sailor Moy McHugh at the helm of K2 finishing ahead of her father’s team both sailing under the Irish flag. Moy also won Race 7, an impressive result in a fleet of this depth.
Race management, led by PRO Jeff Johnson, completed seven successful races, with an eighth abandoned as breeze shut down on the final day.
With 50 boats on the line and a deep international fleet, the regatta reinforced the level of competition heading into the final events of the series. As Bruce Nelson noted, “Fleet was tough. Real deep… even in 25th place it was hard to keep up with people… just great racing all around.”
Off the water, the event carried the same energy, with three nights of socials, strong camaraderie, and a fleet that included world champions and Olympic medalists throughout. Participation is expected to grow to approximately 65 boats for the Orca Bowl / Pre-Worlds April 25-26 followed by the 2026 Etchells World Championship May 10-15, both hosted by San Diego Yacht Club.