SAN DIEGO— After a tightly contested final day of racing, Luke Lawrence and his crew claimed victory at the 2025 Etchells North American Championship, hosted by San Diego Yacht Club. Lawrence, sailing aboard Bayou Hustler with teammates Brian Ledbetter and John Kostecki, secured the title with a fourth-place finish in the final race, edging out fierce competition from a talented international fleet.
The regatta wrapped up Sunday, May 25, following two decisive races that saw significant movement on the leaderboard. Heading into Race 8, six teams were within nine points of the lead, making for a dramatic finish. Peter Duncan (Oatmeal), who briefly held the regatta lead after Race 7, fell to fourth overall, unable to close the gap on Lawrence in the final leg.
“Another amazing week in San Diego,” Lawrence said. “Thanks again to Austin Sperry for the opportunity of a lifetime. It was amazing to sail with some of my heroes. John Kostecki and Brian Ledbetter were such a pleasure to be around for the week.”
Simon Cooke (New Order) took second place overall, followed by Jim Cunningham (Lifted) in third. In the Corinthian division, Second Chance helmed by Will La Dow finished first, narrowly beating Ethan Doyle’s Capricorn by a single point. Paul Taylor placed third.
Regatta PRO Mark Foster praised the sailing conditions and highlighted the use of Vakaros technology for managing starts and avoiding general recalls. “Nice sunny conditions on the water — just a Chamber of Commerce day for sailing in San Diego,” he said.
With the 2025 North Americans complete, attention now turns to next year’s Etchells World Championship, also to be hosted by San Diego Yacht Club in May 2026. Organizers are already planning what they hope will be a world-class event.
Sponsors for this year’s North Americans included Cutwater Spirits, North Sails, Maui Brewing, the Bay Club Hotel & Marina, Vakaros, and Sailors for the Sea. San Diego Yacht Club extended special thanks to regatta chair Marnie Jenkins for her efforts in hosting a successful championship.
