|
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
Team Voodoo Child
|
|||||||||
|
Meet the members of the Voodoo Child crew.
Brian Duchin Position on the Boat: Skipper/owner Home: Tacoma, Washington. Age: 52 Personal Info: Married to the ever-tolerant Susan Boynton, with 3 wonderful sons: Sam, Wiley, and Jack, and 2 standard poodles: Kato and Layla. Profession: College professor/historian Sailing Experience: I learned to sail in C-Larks at the University of Washington Yacht Club, but didn't get serious about sailing until the 1990's when I bought my first keelboat--a J30. Since then I've raced and cruised a variety of boats in the Pacific Northwest and beyond including the 2004 and 2006 Vic-Maui Races. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I bought her. Actually, the Santa Cruz 52 is my second Voodoo Child; the first was a J-130 we raced to Hawaii in 2004.
Brad Baker Position on the Boat: Think I'm the owner but really I'm not. Home: Seattle, Washington. Age: 41 Personal Info: Married to PJ (also on the crew) with two great kids Bryce and Austin. Profession: Partner at Swiftsure Yachts Sailing Experience: I started sailing at age 15 with the Explorer Scouts in DesMoines on a donated Perry 41 race boat named "Heather". I raced on many different boats over the years from 505 dinghy's on up, mostly on keel boats. Highlights include: Winning the local fleet championship in J-24s one year. Crewing with my wife and very good friends Mark and Kathryn Harang on "Rev" and winning two international regattas. Sailing at Mach 10 on the Ultimate 30 "Loose screw" on the Blakely rock benefits race. Being part of the 1st overall winning crew skippered by Fred Roswald for 1981 Swiftsure, racing on "Heather" (It was my very first Swiftsure I didn't know a thing but they took me anyway!). Sailing with Roger Palmer and the crew on the Baltic 42 "Hypertension" in the 1980's. Some of my most cherished sailing experiences have been during the 8 different Vic-Maui races I've participated in, especially racing with Brian on the first "Voodoo Child" the J-130 where we took first in class 2nd overall for the 2004 Vic Maui Race and the 2006 Vic-Maui taking line honors and the win overall. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I was sitting at my desk one day when I worked as a sail maker at North Sails. In walks this guy named Brian Duchin. He'd bought a J-30 which he had named "Diva" and wanted to race. I sold Brian a few sails for that boat and he kept asking me to come race with him. Eventually I did. I remember that regatta well. It was a PSSR and we managed to pull off a win. Since I have become good friends with Brian and have continued to race with him not only on the J-30, but a Mumm 30, J-130 and now the SC 52.
PJ Baker Position on the Boat: Pit, packing spinnakers and communications relayer both on and off the boat. Home: Seattle, Washington. Age: 36 Personal Info: Married to Brad, mom to Bryce (8) and Austin (5). Sister to John (crew member). Sammy and Tasha (the cats) let us live in the house. Profession: Chief domestic engineer at the Baker Household, Bookkeeper at Swiftsure Yachts, Substitute in Shoreline School District, Preschool Teacher, and Ski Instructor. Sailing Experience: I grew up cruising with my family in Washington and Canada on their 1935 28’ CROD (Columbia River One Design), Mamook. I was an active member of the Junior Program at the Seattle Yacht Club. In high school and college, it was rowing rather than sailing that got me out on the water. A college roommate (from UW sailing team) got me a job building and repairing sails at the Shore Sails loft where I met her future husband and began racing. I first raced J-24’s and some big boats, then I was steady crew on the Thunderbird Rev and got to race in several Thunderbird Internationals (we won in1997 and 2003). Swiftsure is an annual event in the family – though most of the last few for me have been spent in Victoria with my sons awaiting the finish. In September 2004, I helped deliver the Halberg Rassey 46 Trinity from Victoria to San Francisco. I have participated in the 1994, 2000, 2002, and 2004 Vic-Maui Races as a Waiting Wahine and the 2006 Race as a crew member on Voodoo Child. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I was the Head Waiting Wahine to the old Voodoo Child crew in the 2004 Vic Maui and moved onto the boat as crew when the SC52 arrived in Seattle. I suppose it doesn’t hurt that I am married to Brad.
Pete McGonagle
Position on the Boat: sail trimmer, engineer/mechanic Home: Seattle, Washington. Age: 44 Personal Info: Married to college sweetheart, Kirsten Wolff, MD with son Alden(4). Profession: Yacht Broker; Partner in Swiftsure Yachts with Brad Baker. Retired merchant marine officer Sailing Experience: I grew up racing and cruising in Rhode Island. I got serious about racing in college at Kings Point where I transitioned from dinghies to big boats. I did three Bermuda Races and raced Vic-Maui ’04 and '06 with Brian. I’ve also spent a lot of time delivering cruising boats on both the East and West Coast. How did you come to Voodoo Child: She showed up below our office and there was beer aboard…Actually Brad kind of drug me back into the racing scene after years of inactivity and the VC programs have been a perfect balance of fun and competition.
Lydia Volberding
Position on the Boat: Headsail trimmer Home: Gig Harbor, Washington. Age: 48 Personal Info: Married 26 years to my very supportive husband Lon, captain with Southwest Airlines, with two awesome sons Jason (22) and Kyle (20). Profession: Still trying to find one. In the meantime, student, volunteer, and household coordinator for Volberding family. Sailing Experience: I fell in love with sailing at age 12 when I was involved in a junior sailing program in Montreal. This led to my CYA senior level instructor certification and summer jobs instructing in Montreal and Kingston, Ontario. As a teenager I raced my own Fireball but mostly crewed dinghies at different regattas including the Canadian 19 and Under Youth Championships, CORK and the 1977 Tornado North Americans and World Championships. Career and family commitments took me away from sailing for about 10 years, but since rediscovering my first love, I’ve tried to make up for lost time. Did some racing on the Chesapeake while living in Maryland. I have done three Newport-Ensenada races, a couple of West coast deliveries, Vic-Maui 2004 and 2006 extensive buoy and distance racing on the Puget Sound on an Olson 30, Express 37, and various other keelboats including Brian Duchin’s J-30, Mumm 30, J-130, and now Santa Cruz 52. I race my J-24 in Seattle. Our family has cruised in Florida, Desolation Sound, and the San Juan and Gulf Islands. I’ve been active in the Tacoma Women’s Sailing Association. How did you come to Voodoo Child: Eons ago, I looked up from a history mid-term I was taking and saw Dr. Duchin buried in the current issue of 48˚ North. After class we talked sailing and I was recruited!
Sam Duchin
Position on the Boat: Foredeck Home: Tacoma, Washington. Age: 18 Personal Info: Son of Brian Duchin and Susan Boynton; brother of Jack and Wiley Duchin; boyfriend of Claire Peterson; Caliph of Mecca; protector of the holy lands; shadow of god on earth. Profession: I am a sailing instructor and a college student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Sailing Experience: Started sailing when I was 9 and took an ASA Learn To Sail course with my dad. Since then I’ve taken countless sessions of the Tacoma Yacht Club Junior Program Summer Camp, where I worked my way onto the instructional/coaching staff. I am a US Sailing Level 1 Sailing Instructor. I have races El Toros, Lasers, and 420s on the TYC Junior Racing Team. Meanwhile, I started keel boat racing on my family’s boat (then but a wee little J30) and have been with the program ever since crewing on a Mumm30, a J130, and now the SC52. I’ve cruised with my family through the San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound. How did you come to Voodoo Child: By car.
Kirk Rue
Position on the Boat: Trimmer / Grinder Home: Tacoma, Washington. Age: 55 Personal Info: Married to Sharon; sailor, dental hygienist; with two well-educated former fore-deck-monkey daughters, Janie (married to Ryan Griswold) and Lindsey. Profession: Anesthesiologist Sailing Experience: I remember cruising on the Columbia River aboard the family boat (a Star class) as a child. At 20, I sailed with my younger brother, Forrest, and my father, George, as dad relocated his MORC 24 footer, Nirvana, from Portland to Seattle and decided that Puget Sound was the place to be. Sharon and I raced our Tartan 10, Wuthering, with our daughters and friends, graduating to two J35's, Wild Bill, and now, Growltiger. How did you come to Voodoo Child: Brian and I were moorage neighbors at TYC; he invited me aboard Voodoo Child in 2005.
J. Lee Glenn Position on the Boat: Main trimmer and headsail trimmer Home: Bainbridge Island, Washington. Age: 53 Personal Info: Co-owner with Roxanne Williams of an Able Apogee 50 berthed on the east coast, motorcyclist, photographer Sailing Experience: 20 years of racing and cruising on both coasts including owning/campaigning a J35 and a Mumm 30 on the East Coast, cruising a Sceptre 41. Key West Race Week, Block Island Race Week, Mumm 30 Nationals, Rolex Swan Regatta, Annapolis/Newport & Newport/Bermuda 2006 Profession: Architect How did you come to Voodoo Child: Selling our Sceptre 41 through Swiftsure Yachts introduced us to Pete and Brad, and that provided a connection to the VC campaign. I've been sailing on Voodoo Child since the boat hit the water in the spring of '05.
Aaron Hanson Position on the Boat: Headsail/spinnaker trimmer and grinder Home: Tacoma, Washington. Age: 33 Personal Info: Married to Stephanie, the team physical therapist. We have a son, Porter, who is almost 1 year old, and Bernese Mountain Dog--Guinness. Profession: Biology teacher Sailing Experience: Years of sailing on Puget Sound, racing on a J35, a C & C 50, and now a Santa Cruz 52. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I met Brian though the team physical therapist (my wife) in 2005, went sailing with the team, and the rest is history.
Harold Beard Position on the Boat: Trimmer/grinder; delivery navigator. Home: Tacoma, Washington. Age: 57 Personal Info: happily married for over thirty years to M.L., with two children. Nora (20) Ben (18) Profession: dentist Sailing Experience: I am the proud owner of a Cal 33 and I've been racing and cruising boats on Puget Sound for over 40 years. I was navigator on Crescendo, a Centurion 40 in the 2000 Pacific Cup-- S. F. to Hawaii. Delivery crew navigator on the Voodoo Child (J-130) from Maui to Seattle after the 2004 Vic-Maui race. Skipper/navigator on the new Voodoo Child ( Santa Cruz 52) from Maui to Seattle after the 2006 Vic Maui race. How did you come to Voodoo Child: Brian and I have a variety of sailing friends in common though we didn't meet until 2004 when I signed on as navigator to bring home the J-130, Voodoo Child, after the 2004 Vic-Maui race. I've been in the regular crew ever since and I will be the delivery skipper for the return delivery after Vic-Maui 2006.
Ryan Position on the Boat: Foredeck Home: Born and raised in Gig Harbor, living in Seattle, Washington. Age: 22 Profession: ???? Sailing Experience: I started sailing with my dad on a millimeter sailboat when I was 1 year old and I've been sailing ever since. I cruised the San Juans and Gulf Islands on my family's Catalina 30 but didn't really learn about sailing and racing until joining the Tacoma Yacht Club Junior program. I raced El Toros, Bytes, and Lasers on the Northwest Junior Circuit. By the time I was in High School I'd become an instructor in the TYC Learn To Sail Program, adding to my summer hours spent on the water. I think dinghy racing will always be my favorite but there's a lot to be said for the power of a big boat. One of my peak sailing experiences was breaking 21 knots on Voodoo Child on a windy day in Grand Prix last Fall and the 2006 Vic-Maui this summer. My current sailing program includes crewing on the foredeck of VC and racing my Thistle on Lake Washington. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I've know Brian and his family through the TYC Junior program for years. In fact, I was one of Sam's instructors/coaches. I've been sailing on Voodoo Child since 2005.
Eric Rone
Position on the Boat: Trimmer Home: Born and Raised in Tacoma, currently living on my Cal-33 on Lake Union. Age: 24 Profession: Student/apprentice boat rigger at CSR Marine Sailing Experience: I've been sailing all my life. I grew up cruising throughout the Pacific Northwest with my family, joined the Tacoma Yacht Club Junior Program and I've been racing sailboats ever since. I raced Lasers on the Junior Circuit through my school years including two trips to Smythe Cup in 1999 and 2000. In the summers I taught sailing and coached the TYC Race Team, where for the last few years I've been the head coach. I've raced 49'ers and a variety of other boats including my own Cal-33. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I met Brian and Sam through the TYC Junior Program where I was one of Sam's instructors, coaches, and eventually his colleague. Last Summer Sam and I coached the race team together. I sailed on Brian's Mumm30 and I've been racing on Voodoo Child since the boat splashed in March 2005.
John Austin
Position on the Boat: Bow, mid-bow and mast. Home: Seattle, Washington. Age: 32 Personal Info: Deeply committed to the lovely Vennessa; brother of PJ Baker; brother-in-law of Brad Baker; uncle of Bryce and Austin Baker. Profession: Account Executive for XO Communications Sailing Experience: I grew up sailing on the family's Columbia River One Design (CROD) on Lake Washington. I was introduced to racing by my brother-in-law, Brad Baker. Since then I've sailed most Northwest races as well as Vic-Maui 2002 on Jeito. I've been sailing on Voodoo Child since the program got under way in 2005. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I met Brian while sailing on Jeito and got to know him better through Brad and PJ. When the campaign got going in 2005, Brian recruited me and I've been deliriously happy ever since.
Position on the Boat: Pit Crew Home: North Tacoma Age: 34 Personal Info: Single, with two golden retrievers Profession: lawyer Sailing Experience: Does sailing with my family when I was 4 years old count? I started sailing again a few year ago and the racing bug bit me. I started on a J35, then joined the Voodoo Child crew during the 2005 season. Now I race whenever I can, on whatever I can . . . . .J105s, J24s Thistles, but primarily on Voodoo Child. I'm hooked!! How did you come to Voodoo Child: Common friends led to an opportunity to join the crew part-time, and one thing led to another. . . . . .
Position on the Boat: Guest (and sometimes Webmaster) Home: Ballard Age: 43 Personal Info: Profession: Computer Network Support Specialist I, II & III Sailing Experience: Kennedy Cup '86; Vic-Maui '88 & '92; Alpha Intergalactics '01; Centennial Trans-Pac '05; Delta Ditch '06 How did you come to Voodoo Child: Brad Baker and I go way back and he actually asked me to go sailing on the boat!
Kurt Hoehne
Position:
Wherever I’m needed, tactical sounding
board.
Russell Bray Position on the Boat: Trimmer Home: Seattle Age: 39 Personal Info: Single Sportsman Profession: Technology Sales Sailing Experience: Various Monohulls: Melges 24, J-24, Mumm 30, J105 etc. Favorites are Australian 18 footers and I-14's How did you come to Voodoo Child: Chance meeting with a crew member on a flight to the East Coast.
Chris Raftery Position on the Boat: Sous Chef Home: Bellevue Age: 55 Personal Info: Married with 3 children Profession: Civil Engineer, Real Estate Developer Sailing Experience: Thistles, J-Boats, Buoy racing and some ocean racing How did you come to Voodoo Child: Gladly, after wandering in the desert for 40 days and nights.
Dave Reid Position on the Boat: Mid-Bow Home: Richmond Beach Age: 42 Personal Info: In flux, 2 kids Profession: Control Systems Engineer, UW Medical Center Sailing Experience: Began sailing 10 years ago when I moved to Seattle. Have sailed on J-145 Jeito and J-130 Joia, 1D-48 Irene and Melges 24 Goose and Duck, Express 37 Declaration of Independence. How did you come to Voodoo Child: I sailed with Brad on Joia and Jeito. I was looking for a ride and made the call.
|
||||||||||
Helling
Kelsey Sheldon
Scott Lindberg
