Returning Skipper Wins Hospice Regattas National Championship 2010

Rochester NY - Skipper Kirsten Werner and her crew surpassed a competitive fleet of thirteen other teams, to win the 11th annual Hospice Regattas National Championship, held at the Rochester Yacht Club.

All fourteen teams completed one round of racing before severe weather on Sunday cut short the series. Most teams Saturday performed consistently during a second round of races that was not completed. Rules determined the final standings at the end of the last full round.

Werner complimented the Rochester Yacht Club, the race organizers, and the race committee, for “a spectacular job orchestrating the championship. Our team was honored to win this event supporting such an amazing cause.”

This was Ms. Werner’s second time qualifying for the national championship, in which teams represent the 20-plus local hospice races held throughout the year to raise money and awareness for hospice care in their communities.

Werner’s team has years of experience together on J24s and now a Beneteau 40.7. With her husband Kris on sail trim, Bobby Bryant on tactics, and Phil Hasl on the bow, the team finished first in five of the six races that determined the final results.

Placing a close second was Gary Tisdale and his team representing the regatta for Niagara County, held in Youngstown NY. Third was Bob McElwain and his crew from Naples, Florida.

Local regattas have netted over $14 million in the 30 years since the first regatta. Most importantly, they have reached thousands of new people with information about hospice care.

Hospice offer comfort-focused health care for patients with terminal conditions, along with compassionate support and services for families facing end-of-life challenges. Hospice is available to anyone, regardless of the ability to pay, thanks in part to donations and charity events.

This was the second of three years host Rochester Yacht Club, with an outstanding committee co-chaired by Hank Stuart, Mary Stuart, John Doyle, and Lauren Doyle, and their own crew of fellow sailors, local citizens, and Lifetime Care Hospice. The race-ready fleet of Sonar sailboats was thanks to Shumway Marine, with Haarstick sails built with donations from individuals and companies who care.

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