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Women's Sailing

The Ruth Beals Cup Regatta

Amy Grothe blew away ten competitors at the 2009 Ruth Beals Cup Regatta, scoring three bullets out of four races (only the three best races counted in the scoring). In contrast to 2008, the wind was light and shifty, but it didn't matter to Amy and her crew, father Steve. Here are all the scores. Here are pictures of the regatta, taken by Mike Ferring. You can order prints of the pictures through this link on Snapfish.

Maggie Blumm and crew Dennis Martinelli finished second with six points. Barbara Tingom and husband George were third with 8 points.

Race organizer Pat Blumm and food wrangler Marsha Blumm delivered a great event, helped by PRO David Rawstrom and RC helpers Steve Zambroski, Dick Krebill, and Mike Ferring.

In 2010 this will probably be the drill:

• Ten entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

• No charge for entry.

• The C14 boats must be helmed by the woman entrant but the crew person may be male or female.

• You may use your boat or an ASF boat.

• The first five entries wishing to use an ASF boat will receive the ASF boats that have been set up for racing.

Questions: Contact regatta organizer Pat Blumm

During the 2008 regatta, wind blew 17-25, knocking over most of the entrants at one time or another, but in the end, Sheila Reed with crewman Lucien Sahali stayed right side up and blew everyone else away with a string of bullets.

The regatta is the brainchild of Marilyn Moyer-Ward, who came up with the idea for a women’s regatta after a visit to her Lake Erie yacht club, North Cape Yacht Club (NCYC). She says, "I had participated in the Irene Race many years ago with Jamie Matuszak and her crew as a novice sailor (we won!). The competition and camaraderie of that day impressed me and it was something I wanted to recreate here."

Naming this race for our founder, Ruth Beals Inscho, seemed a perfect match. The Arizona Yacht Club was Ruth’s creation when she was the first sailboat dealer in Arizona. (AYC history here.)

In the first race in 2005, Barb Tingom and Joyce Wieler finished in front, Barb’s sailing skills and knowledge of Tempe Town Lake catapulting her to bullets in three races. A very decisive win!

The very best part of the day was having Ruth herself there. Everyone ranked it as an honor to meet and speak with her. She brought along her family, Maggie, Jim, Sue and Terry, a beautiful and fun group. We presented her with an Honorary Membership to the Arizona Yacht Club and a replica of the new Ruth Beals perpetual trophy.

To wrap up the day, Mike Ferring and Kyle Clark took Ruth sailing and she told them, “This is just perfect. What a wonderful day.” And her smile when returning to the dock was priceless.

Directions to Tempe Town Lake Marina