The “New” Don Trask International Masters Regatta This Weekend

As we were preparing to go to press with the November issue with a story on the passing of legendary West Coast sailor Don Trask, we heard from the San Diego Yacht Club that, as of October 14, 2025, it has officially renamed the International Masters Regatta the Don Trask International Masters Regatta. The announcement came out this week just ahead of the event, which runs today through Sunday at the San Diego Yacht Club. Don, who passed away on September 29, founded the International Masters Regatta at St. Francis Yacht Club in 1979 as a tribute to Master-level skippers who had made a name for themselves in the sport.

In its early days, the regatta was held in J/24s, and then eventually changed to J/105s.The regatta moved from StFYC to San Diego Yacht Club in 2012, thanks largely to the efforts of Malin Burnham and with Don’s blessing. Don always loved sailing in San Diego and continued to be an ardent supporter of and competitor in the regatta once it moved south, competing in the event six more times. Don’s longtime crew and friend Bill Kreysler echoed this sentiment, stating, “Don loved to sail and loved to win, but most important to him were the friendships. Don reminded us that sailing is about sharing a sport we love with the friends we’ve made along the way.”

In its 42nd year, the Don Trask International Masters Regatta is bringing 12 talented skippers from Canada, Germany, and the United States to compete for the coveted title. Over three days of racing, teams will compete using SDYC member-loaned J/105s in a round-robin format on San Diego Bay. This year’s roster includes some well-known names from both near and far. With invitations for the regatta going out to only a handful of select sailors, the event tends to feature the best of the best in the Master-level age range. Event chair Dave Vieregg describes the selection process for the Don Trask International Masters Regatta, stating, “Past champions from different classes, unique regions, or countries are invited to race here in San Diego. Entry is by invitation to skippers who are 60+, sailing with crew who are 45+. The ages make the event unique, but their significant accomplishments in racing as well as the shared camaraderie make this event extra special.”

John Dane, from Pass Christian Yacht Club in Mississippi, is a seasoned sailor with many regatta wins under his belt, including the 2024 Etchells North American Championship. This will be Dane’s first time competing in the Don Trask International Masters Regatta and sailing a J/105 in a competitive environment. Dane does, however, have a solid strategy by having his winning crew from the 2024 Etchells NAs, Bill Hardesty and Eric Doyle, racing alongside him.

Cory Sertl, vice president of World Sailing, returns as the sole female skipper taking the helm. The former Olympian, two-time US Sailing Yachtswoman of the Year, and incredibly accomplished sailor is quite familiar with sailing in the regatta, having placed third in 2023. When asked about her return to the event, Sertl kept it short and sweet, stating, “We are looking forward to coming back. We raced in 2023 and had a great time. It is a fun format and San Diego YC goes all out to welcome all the teams!”

West Coast competitors include Don Jesberg from San Francisco YC, Tracy Usher from StFYC, Chris Raab from Newport Harbor and Alamitos Bay YCs, Bill Menninger from Newport Harbor YC and Scott Harris from Coronado Yacht Club. It’s a great lineup!

Beyond the founding of the now “Don Trask International Masters Regatta,” Don was the West Coast manufacturer of both the Laser (he built 11,000 in San Rafael, CA) and the J/24. He brought a tremendous amount of fun, competitive spirit and support to future generations of young sailors, many of whom went on to compete at the top of the sport. We’ll have more on Don’s legacy and contributions to the world of sailing in our November issue.

It is terrific to have the San Diego Yacht Club honor Don with the renaming of the event. The wind is projected to be light, but the competition will be tight. Keep an eye on this weekend’s racing here.