Paul White has sailed in more than 200 consecutive MAC regattas.
During the 34-year period in which he raced in 201 consecutive regattas in the Y-Flyer class’s Mid-America Cup series, Paul White never thought about skipping an event. Not even once.
“There was never a time that I did not want to go,” says the Indianapolis resident. “But there were times after I got back home that I wondered why I went!”
White bought his first Y-Flyer in 1973 and sailed his first MAC series– a six-event tour through America’s heartland– in 1974. The rest is history.
“The Y-Flyer is a great, fun boat to sail, and the MAC series allows us to compete, be outside, and be with wonderful people who like to do the same thing,” says White. “Each regatta has its own uniqueness.”
Off the racecourse, White has found other ways to devote his time to the sport. He has served as secretary and treasurer of the Y-Flyer National class for the past 18 years, has been on the board of directors for the Indianapolis Sailing Club since 1972, and was the Commodore in 1984 .
White never expected to maintain such a streak; now he can’t imagine stopping. Racing Y-Flyers is something White shares with his wife Kay, his crew for more than 180 of these regattas. “Sailing with my wife is a real joy,” White says. “We have always been a team.”
The team dominated at the 2008 Y-Flyer Internationals, where a string of consistently good finishes earned the Whites first place. Earlier this year, US SAILING honored White with the Gardiner Trophy, a service award. In a year filled with accomplishments and accolades, White’s fondest memory came in May at his 200th regatta, the Hawg Wild Regatta in Little Rock, Ark., when fellow sailors gathered at the Grande Maumelle Sailing Club to honor his milestone. “That is something that Kay and I will not forget for a long, long time.”
