It’s Old News as New Wave Claims IC37 National Championship, Again

Newport, R.I. — For the second straight year, Steve Liebel’s New Wave is the IC37 National Champion. Liebel and his veteran team were nearly unstoppable over the course of five races, winning three and not placing worse than fourth in the competitive 16-boat fleet. The final margin of victory over second place was an astounding 16 points. While heavy winds and the threat of lightning storms cancelled the third day of the regatta, there was little doubt what team was the class of the field this weekend.

“There was a lot going well,” says tactician Marcus Eagan, a new recruit to the New Wave crew. “The team’s been together forever and I jumped in and just kind of hit if off like that. Steve’s a great driver and the team executed really well.”

The 2023 IC37 National Championship was hosted by the New York Yacht Club in Newport, R.I., concurrently with the ORC East Coast Championship. While the IC37 class, the premiere big-boat one-design class in North America, focused on buoy racing, the ORC competition featured a mix of buoy racing and point-to-point races, giving the 20 competitors from 31 to 74 feet in length a hint of what’s to come next fall when the Club hosts the 2024 ORC World Championship. The 2023 New York Yacht Club Regatta Season is sponsored by Helly Hansen, Hammetts Hotel and Safe Harbor Marinas.

As the defending champion, New Wave was one of the favorites coming in to the fifth edition of the class’s national championship. The addition of Marcus Eagan who has had success in the IC37 and many other classes, only made the team stronger, at least on paper. Great individual sailors don’t always combine to make great teams. But Eagan and main trimmer Marty Kullman found a quick rapport during the Annual Regatta in June, dividing up the key areas of responsibility and allowing Liebel to focus on doing what he does best, starting well and sailing fast.

“I don’t get involved with [boatspeed],” says Eagan. “We had Marty on the main, who talks to Steve all the time and he’s in charge of the boatspeed and making the boat go well. I’m just telling them where to go. Those guys, regarding the speed and everything, they have it figured out. I stay out of their way. The team’s been together for a long time, they’ve done it very well. They won the nationals last year. They’ve executed at a very high level. And I’m just here trying to not make mistakes.”

The results indicate that Eagan delivered on that plan. New Wave opened the regatta with a win and a second on Day 1, then built on its lead with two firsts and a fourth in some very light and lumpy conditions on Day 2.

“The focus was to always get off the line, do well off the line, get the boatspeed up and do very minimal maneuvers,” says Eagan. “We had one race where we didn’t do very well, but we were able to get a clear lane and get out. We just kept it simple, very conservative, with good starts.”

Behind New Wave was a jumble of boats that more accurately captures the competitiveness of the fleet. Second through fourth was separated by just four points. Chris Lewis and his Qubit team opened the regatta with three straight sevenths, before closing with first and a third to take second. John Lovell skippered the Southern Yacht Club team to third, a good omen for their impending defense of the Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup in September. In fourth was Peter McClennen’s Gamecock team, which will represent the New York Yacht Club at the Invitational Cup. Rounding out the top five was Doug Newhouse’s Yonder. — Stuart Streuli, NYYC

2023 IC37 National Championship
July 14 to 16
New York Yacht Club Harbour Court
Newport, R.I.

Full Results Here

Place, Yacht Name, Sail, Owner/Skipper, Results, Total Points
IC37 (One Design – 16 Boats)

1. New Wave, USA023, Steve Liebel – 1 -2 -1 -4 -1 ; 9
2. Qubit, GBR015, Chris Lewis – 7 -7 -7 -1 -3 ; 25
3. Southern, USA 003, John Lovell – 9 -3 -5 -2 -7 ; 26
4. Gamecock, USA031, Peter McClennen – 2 -4 -4 -11 -8 ; 29
5. Yonder, USA033, Douglas Newhouse – 4 -9 -3 -9 -4 ; 29