What a fantastic weekend at Woodlawn Lake in San Antonio! The 2026 Alamo Classic Victoria National Championship brought 20 sailors together for 24 races, challenging conditions, close competition, and the kind of hospitality and camaraderie that make these events special.
Sunday delivered beautiful sailing conditions. The morning started glassy at the 9:00 a.m. skippers’ meeting, but by race time the breeze was around 10 knots out of the south-southeast, building to 10–15 knots for the rest of the day.
There were plenty of challenges along the way, including wet batteries, rig blowouts, and other breakdowns. A national championship is a good reminder to keep your boat and equipment in top condition!
One of my personal highlights was watching the B rigs perform in the stronger breeze against boats still carrying A rigs. I was impressed by how competitors adapted to the conditions and worked their way up the standings. It was a great demonstration of how tuning, equipment choices, and boat handling can make a real difference when the wind picks up.
**Congratulations to our 2026 National Champion, Chris Macaluso!**
Final standings:
Chris Macaluso — 41 points
Ron Stephanz — 60 points
Hew Hamilton — 90 points4. Eric Gregory — 94 points
5. Bob Piper — 95 points
The battle for third through fifth was especially close, with just five points separating Hew, Eric, and Bob after 24 races! As for my own result, I’ll gladly take fourth. I was bested by three past National Champions, all of whom I’m proud to call friends. That’s pretty good company, and it made for terrific competition!
Ron Stephanz also deserves recognition for a remarkable recovery after a servo failure during Saturday’s morning races. He battled back through the fleet and held on to second overall. What a comeback!
**A huge thank-you to everyone who made this championship possible!**
Race Director Ray Seta did an outstanding job reading the changing conditions and setting challenging courses throughout the weekend. Calling good courses in shifty air isn’t easy, and Ray did a terrific job making the most of the conditions.
Sylvia and Denise were fantastic as our scoring team, recording finishes, calling sail numbers, keeping the scores straight, and helping prepare and serve lunch. These two ladies have hearts of gold, often making sure everyone else is fed before taking care of themselves. Their contribution is invaluable!
Jeff handled the chase boat on Saturday, setting and retrieving the finish-line marks and chasing down wayward boats. Terry took over the chase boat Sunday and captured photos from out on the water. Thanks to both for their work keeping things running smoothly and documenting the action.
Thanks to the Woodlawn Lake club members and all the participating sailors who helped with setup and breakdown. Everyone pitched in, and by 4:00 p.m. Sunday the venue was packed up and we were on our way. That’s teamwork!
Saturday’s raffle was another highlight, with a brand-new Victoria boat, a complete DF65, and many other great prizes. Thank you to everyone who contributed, including members and supporters who continue to give back to the club. The generosity made it a truly worthwhile raffle, and one lucky participant even won their entry fee back!
Food and hospitality were first-class all weekend, from Saturday’s barbecue and breakfast tacos to Sunday’s sausage dogs and delicious hamburgers cooked on Woodlawn’s own BBQ pit. Add plenty of cold drinks and a terrific group of volunteers, and you have a championship that is hard to beat.
A heartfelt thank-you to Ray and the entire Woodlawn Lake Sailing Club for hosting us so well. The organization, facilities, and hospitality were outstanding from start to finish.
Tonight we wrap up the weekend with our **farewell dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the Alamo Café!** It’s a chance to relax, celebrate, and enjoy one last gathering with friends before heading home.
Twenty sailors. Twenty-four races. Great competition, great friends, and a memorable weekend at Woodlawn Lake.
Congratulations to Chris, Ron, Hew, and all our competitors. And thanks to everyone who raced, volunteered, donated, cooked, scored, chased boats, set up, and packed down.
**Great racing, great friends, and a great weekend. See you at the next regatta!**
