2025 E Scow Nationals – Where Blockheads Beat the Breeze
September 23, 2025
The 2025 E Scow Nationals were not for the faint of heart. Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club hosted 50 boats for this year’s championship. Never seen an E Scow? Picture a 28-foot planing surfboard with an asymmetrical kite—and no “off button.” From the moment you leave the dock until the boat is back on the lift, sailing an E Scow is full-throttle, physically demanding, and relentless.
Photo by Anna Suslova
Day one saw two races, including a strong youth turnout with eight skippers under the age of 25. The fleet battled up and down a 1.3-mile course in breeze that built from 15 knots to nearly 20 by the end of race one. With winds holding at 20–25 knots and 1-3 foot waves, the race committee stretched the course to 1.7 miles. On the edge of class limits, both boats and sailors were pushed to theirs. The result? Pure chaos: broken masts, capsized hulls, snapped rudders, and blown shrouds filled the second race.
After racing, the fleet gathered for the annual class meeting, where the Blockheads Youth Boat of the Day Award was presented to Finn Rowe, Malcom Lamphere, Madison Whitehead, and Will Huerth. Harken is proud to sponsor this recognition each year, celebrating the next generation of sailors!
Photo by Anna Suslova
Day 3 picked up right where Day 2 left off—breeze on! With part of the fleet sidelined from damage the day before, those still standing were thrown back into the windy arena. The day began with 20 knots on the course, again pressing the limits of the E Scow class. This time, the Race Committee wisely called it after one race, locking in Kyle Navin and team as the top youth boat of the day. After racing, sailors rinsed off the salt and shifted gears for the regatta party—an evening of dancing, mingling, and cocktails (for those of age). The Blockheads Youth Boat of the Day Award was presented to Kyle Navin, Quin Frazier, Norman Berge, and Dave Navin, just before the highly anticipated raffle for a brand-new North Sails jib.
The final day of racing kicked off with a 10:30am start. Conditions were the lightest of the regatta, with 8–12 knots of breeze and a minimal wave state. Blockheads award winners in boat I-11 closed out strong, posting a 3rd and a 1st on the day. Awards commenced at 3:30, with the third honor going to the youngest youth skipper and team in boat MA-13. West Walker, Max Naseef, and Victor Larimer showed determination all weekend, making a big effort to get their boat on the starting line and into the mix.
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