Kicking Off Summer the Right Way: The Inaugural 2025 Island Surf & Sail Windsurfer LT Regatta!
By Ally Latham
This past weekend, the shores of Bayview Park in Brant Beach, NJ came alive as we celebrated the long-awaited return of the Windsurfer LT. The Inaugural 2025 Island Surf & Sail Windsurfer LT Regatta was more than just a competition, it was a joyful reunion of the windsurfing community and a vibrant kickoff to the summer season.
It’s been 25 years since the last sailboarding event hosted by ISS in 2000, making this regatta a truly historic moment for the island. We welcomed 21 sailors from near and far – NJ, NY, PA, MD, CT, NC, FL, and even Montreal, Canada. The fleet showcased a wonderful mix of generations, with seasoned racers who sailed in the ’80s and ’90s sharing the course with enthusiastic younger competitors.
Setting the stage on Friday, June 20th, the weekend began with a friendly meet & greet and a helpful rigging demonstration to warm everyone up. Winds ranged from 8 to 26 mph, promising exciting conditions for the races ahead.
Saturday delivered classic early summer conditions, with southerly and southeast winds at 8-18+ mph. Eighteen racers were divided into two divisions and tackled six rounds of racing. The day started with a short 3-mark course, but as the wind direction shifted, the fleet took on a full 6-mark slalom course, culminating in a fast-paced championship race.
Sunday brought even stronger conditions, with southwest winds gusting 7-27+ mph. Sixteen racers returned to the water for three more rounds of racing on the slalom course, followed by another championship showdown. Combined championship scores from both days determined our overall winners, capping off a weekend of friendly competition and great camaraderie!
Final Results:
Overall Champions: 1st Place, Lianne Dunbar • 2nd Place, Mike Pinto • 3rd Place, Ken Tiu
Division 1 Lightweight: 1st Place, Craig Rial • 2nd Place, Ally Latham • 3rd Place, Geoffrey Morrisseau
Division 1 Heavyweight: 1st Place, Ken Tiu • 2nd Place, Will Flannery • 3rd Place, Patrice Boiley
Division 2 Lightweight: 1st Place, Mike Pinto • 2nd Place, Lianne Dunbar • 3rd Place, Scott Lynch
Division 2 Heavyweight: 1st Place, Steve Gottlieb • 2nd Place, Mo Shuster • 3rd Place, Karl Morrisseau
Legends Division 70+: 1st Place, Kevin Gaston • 2nd Place, Mike Fields • 3rd Place, John Drinker
A heartfelt thank you to all the sailors, volunteers, sponsors, and photographers who made this event such a success. Special appreciation goes to:
Race Committee: Jane Price • Amy Tiu
Scorers: Jack Bushko • Terry Deakyne • Tom Latham • Kevin Gaston
And our generous sponsors and partners:
Island Surf & Sail • US Windsurfer Class Association • Sandy Point Progressive Sports • LBT Beach Patrol • Dubinski Custom Woodworking • CliffHangerPhoto • AllyKellyPhoto • ABK Boardsports • H2Windsurfing • iWindsurf • Speakeasy Pizzeria
We can’t wait to continue spreading the spirit of the LT and growing the sport of windsurfing. Check out uswindsurferclass.com for more upcoming events – see you out on the water!
