Pat Stadel
Sailor of the Week - January 27 - February 3
Ironically, Sailor of the Week, Pat Stadel of Marblehead, MA and San Diego, CA says she “doesn’t enjoy sailing,” what she is passionate about is racing because it requires her complete mental focus combined with physical performance. Throughout her life, Pat has reached the highest levels in a number of sports including racecar driving, skiing and backpacking in addition to racing sailboats. Her earliest memories of sailing are with her parents in their 19’ sloop on San Francisco Bay when she was just four years old. Frequently, the outboard motor would fail and they’d need to be towed away from restricted zones. Meanwhile Pat and mom were seasick, a malady that still affects Pat in rolling seas, but she never lets it impact her winning attitude or performance.
Pat has been a top competitor in the Etchells class for nearly 30 years, racing in numerous national and international championships, winning her share of trophies. When she was unable to obtain the service needed to repair her rigging, she did it herself. With advanced degrees in engineering and mathematics, figuring out how to fix things came easily to her. Soon other sailors were seeking out Pat’s help, which was the genesis of her Marblehead Rigging Company. She currently campaigns two Etchells, one in Marblehead and one in San Diego, is active in the radio-controlled CR-914 fleet and has recently purchased a Kettenberg PC to compete in that class as well. In 2008, she won both the Marblehead Racing Association Championship and the Etchells Fleet 4 Season Championship. A US SAILING judge since 1991, Pat became a senior judge in 1996, is a certified judge’s instructor and has served as the Chair of the Massachusetts Bay Sailing Association Appeals Committee since 2001. Recognized for her many contributions to the sport with numerous distinguished service awards, her colleagues say: Pat’s hallmark is to do it right the first time, with fairness to all. Pat looks forward to upcoming competition in the Jaguar Cup, Mid-Winters (East and West) and Marblehead Race Week. The summer will find her campaigning her Etchells on both coasts, by fall she’ll be headed to the North Americans and onward to the Etchells Worlds in 2011.