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Hot Chocolate has spent the past month on the AL/FL Gulf Coast racing each weekend with the goal of winning the Trilogy Trophy and defending the GYA Women’s PHRF Championship. The Trilogy trophy is awarded to the all-woman boat with the best combined performance in the Fast Women Regatta at Point Yacht Club, Bikini Regatta at Navy Yacht Club and the Race for the Roses at Pensacola Beach Yacht Club.

Fast Women on July 19th was run with a small turn-out between showers and thunderstorms. There was 12-15kts of wind, and the course was 2 triangles followed by a W/L. Debby Grimm on the J30, Hot Chocolate, won both the overall Spinnaker fleet and the all-women fleet. In the Bikini Regatta on July 26th, Hot Chocolate was 2nd in the all-women fleet and 3rd overall. In 10-18kts of wind, two races were run with W/L twice around both times. Jennifer Grant (FWYC) on the J22, Eve-n-keeled, was first in the women’s and overall division. She was the 2013 winner of the Trilogy and Race for the Roses. In the first race, the corrected time difference for the top 4 boats was a total of 23sec! On Aug 2nd, the Race for the Roses was run in much lighter (5-7Kts) and shiftier conditions than the previous two events. Once again, 2 W/L twice around races were run. Rachel Gillette (PYC) on Atlantic Union won. Hot Chocolate finished 5th in the 8 boat fleet, but it was enough to secure the Trilogy Trophy! These two races were also the first two in the GYA Women’s PHRF Championship. The Championship finished with a single W/L on Sunday in even lighter conditions (<5kts). Rachel Gillette managed to take 2nd in the final race and held on for a 1pt regatta victory.

Hot Chocolate was skippered by Debby Grimm and crew over the 3 weekends included: Anne David, Kaylor Grimm, Ellen Artopoeus, Julie Bylsma, Mamsie Manard, Janice Griglack, Elaine Boos, Forrest Richards and Louise Bienvenu. Both Debby Grimm and Elaine Boos are previous GYA Women’s PHRF Champions and Trilogy winners!