Peter Keck claims victory at US Sailing 2022 Championship of Champions

Peter Keck, left, winner of the Jack Brown Trophy and 2022 Championship of Champions with PRO Jim Walsh, right © US Sailing / Lexi Pline

The Championship of Champions, hosted by Shore Acres Yacht Club came to a close Sunday afternoon after three days of tight racing on Barnegat Bay. Peter Keck (Delafield, WI) won the event by one point, claiming the 2022 Jack Brown Trophy.

Keck, who won his invitation at the C Scow Nationals, brought years of scow experience to the regatta, having won C Scow Nationals five times.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to hold on to the lead - it was so close, but I managed," said Keck. "The whole idea of this event is so cool, to have people from other one design classes that are all champions competing against each other is a great idea. To all the competitors, I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you - thank you!"

Bill Draheim and Mary Anne Hopper (Royse City, TX), representing the MC Scow Class, came in a close second after a banner day on Sunday. The pair won three of the four races on Sunday in an attempt to close the gap with Keck. Lightning Master North American Champion Ched Proctor (Southport, CT) and crew Stephanie Swann (Fairfield, CT) sailed a consistent event, taking third place. Proctor had only three finishes outside the top 10.

Competitors and volunteers alike complimented the unique nature of the regatta, which invites winners of one design National, North American and World Championships to compete against each other in a selected one design fleet.

"It never ceases to amaze me the continued popularity and importance of the championship of champions event to the sport of sailing in North America," said Shannon Bush, US Sailing's Championship of Champions Committee Chair. "As a One-Design sailor myself, it's very humbling to be in a crowd full of competitors who have won a major national, continental or world championship in the past year."

US Sailing would like to thank title sponsor Gowrie Group, a division of Risk Strategies for their ongoing support of this special event. US Sailing also thanks national sponsors Gill Marine for providing competitor gifts, and Regatta Craft mixers for providing their refreshing craft mixers to competitors.

This event could not have happened without the work of host club: Shore Acres Yacht Club, Event Chairs Greg and Rose Matzat, Commodore Will Demand, and their amazing crew of staff and volunteers.

Full results available here.