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Sailor · 1989–2026

Bruce Nelson

sdyc EtchellsORC handicapHandicap

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Events
85

454 races · 59 race wins

Win rate
18%

18% win rate · 15 of 85

Podium rate
49%

42 top-three finishes

Typically beats
77%

of boats faced (range 76%–79%, 1,715 boats)

Best class ranking
#29

Helm in Etchells · rating 611

Longest win streak
4

race wins in a row

Most successful partnership
John Teeter

6 wins · 8 podiums in 10 events together · 60% win rate

Best trio
John Teeter & Bill Martin

6 wins · 8 podiums in 10 events, all three aboard

Biggest lift
Tim LaBute

+29 points of fleet beaten when sailing together

Longest-running crew
Bill Martin

Jul 2008 – Jul 2024 · 12 events

Nemesis
Jim Cunningham

68–130 head to head in 198 races

Rival
Argyle Campbell

104–121 in 225 races

Best day
1 Jan 1996

4-4-6-1-2-5-6-2-5-5-1-6-4-2-1-5-3-9-5-3 · 1996 Etchells Faulconer Series

Signature result
1st of 74

2000 Etchells World Championship · Etchells · 21 Aug 2000

Partnerships · 60+ sailors

Most successful partnership: John Teeter — 6 wins · 8 podiums in 10 events together · 60% win rate
  • Ty Reed · Bad Pak, BadPak, Rhino, Zero Gravity 51 · Etchells, Handicap, ORC handicap, Pac52 19events 3 wins together · 10 podiums · 16% win rate · 4 of 57 races won Beat 64% of the fleet together(−10 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2017 – Aug 2026
  • Jon Gardner · Bad Pak, BadPak · Handicap, ORC handicap, Pac52 14events 4 wins together · 9 podiums · 29% win rate · 5 of 27 races won Beat 57% of the fleet together(−18 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2015 – Jun 2023
  • Tom Holthus · Bad Pak, BadPak · Handicap, ORC handicap, Pac52 14events 4 wins together · 9 podiums · 29% win rate · 5 of 27 races won Beat 57% of the fleet together(−18 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2015 – Jun 2023
  • Bill Martin · Stripes · GL 70, IRC handicap, ORC handicap, PHRF handicap 12events 6 wins together · 10 podiums · 50% win rate · 19 of 53 races won Beat 82% of the fleet together(+12 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2008 – Jul 2024
  • Matt Smith · Bad Pak, BadPak · Handicap, ORC handicap, Pac52 12events 4 wins together · 8 podiums · 33% win rate · 5 of 25 races won Beat 59% of the fleet together(−15 vs. without) · best 1st · Sep 2017 – Jun 2023
  • Artie Means · Bad Pak, BadPak · Handicap, ORC handicap, Pac52 11events 4 wins together · 8 podiums · 36% win rate · 5 of 24 races won Beat 60% of the fleet together(−13 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2015 – Jun 2023
  • Paula Schmid · Rhino · Etchells 11events 1 wins together · 4 podiums · 9% win rate · 6 of 68 races won Beat 82% of the fleet together(+12 vs. without) · best 1st · Apr 2019 – Mar 2025
  • John Teeter · Stripes · GL 70, IRC handicap, ORC handicap, PHRF handicap 10events 6 wins together · 8 podiums · 60% win rate · 18 of 43 races won Beat 82% of the fleet together(+12 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2008 – Jul 2024
  • Melissa Denman · Rhino · Etchells 9events 0 wins together · 2 podiums · 0% win rate · 2 of 55 races won Beat 75% of the fleet together(+3 vs. without) · best 2nd · Aug 2017 – May 2026
  • Bill Babel · Stripes · GL 70, IRC handicap, ORC handicap, PHRF handicap 9events 5 wins together · 8 podiums · 56% win rate · 15 of 38 races won Beat 84% of the fleet together(+14 vs. without) · best 1st · Aug 2008 – Jul 2024

Lift shows how much better this sailor finishes with that partner aboard.

Rating history

034869519901995200020052010201520202025Helm rating, all classesCrew rating, all classes

— Helm rating, all classes · - - Crew rating, all classes

Event history · 85

DateEventBoatClassRoleFinish
28 Aug 20262026 Long Point Race Week (Invitational)Zero Gravity 51PHRF handicapStrategist3rd / 8
11 May 20262026 Etchells World ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsSkipper22nd / 76
25 Apr 20262026 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Orca BowlRhinoEtchellsSkipper18th / 62
27 Mar 20262026 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Midwinters WestRhinoEtchellsSkipper17th / 50
21 Feb 20262026 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Pacific Coast ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsSkipper15th / 42
17 Jan 20262026 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Bill Bennett CupRhinoEtchellsHelm12th / 42
16 May 20252025 Etchells North American ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsSkipper20th / 38
26 Apr 20252025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Orca BowlRhinoEtchellsSkipper13th / 33
28 Mar 20252025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Midwinters WestRhinoEtchellsHelm3rd / 30
22 Feb 20252025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Pacific Coast ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsHelm4th / 30
18 Jan 20252025 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Bill Bennett CupRhinoEtchellsHelm7th / 27
26 Jul 20242024 Little Traverse Yacht Club Regatta - Ugotta RegattaStripesORC handicapTactician6th / 10
30 May 20242024 California Offshore Race Week Series - SoCal 300Zero Gravity 51ORC handicapStrategist3rd / 6
18 May 20242024 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Orca BowlRhinoEtchellsOther2nd / 21
16 May 20242024 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Bill Bennett CupRhinoEtchellsHelm1st / 23
27 Apr 20242024 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Pacific Coast ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsOther7th / 20
6 Apr 20242024 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Etchells Midwinters WestRhinoEtchellsOther5th / 22
22 Feb 20242024 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht RaceZero Gravity 51ORC handicapStrategist2nd / 4
9 Feb 20242024 Islands RaceZero Gravity 51ORC handicapStrategist5th / 5
27 Jun 20232023 Transpac Honolulu RaceBadPakHandicapWatch Captain2nd / 7
1 Jun 20232023 California Offshore Race Week Series - SoCal 300BadPakORC handicapWatch Captain4th / 4
19 May 20232023 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - US Nationals/Orca BowlRhinoEtchellsOther8th / 22
13 May 20232023 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Bill Bennett CupRhinoEtchellsSkipper6th / 18
29 Apr 20232023 Etchells West Coast Spring Series - Pacific Coast ChampionshipRhinoEtchellsOther3rd / 14
7 Apr 2023Men's MayhemBruce NelsonSabotSkipper17th / 27

Helm rating across all classes: 661, #531.Crew rating across all classes: 359, #4,971. Compiled from public results; not an official ranking.