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Sailor · 2010–2026

David Nelson

hingham yc HandicapRhodes 19Combined

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Possibly the same person: David Nelson (2015–2025, 2 events), Dave Nelson (2026, 2 events), David Nelson (2024, 1 events), Dave Nelson (1998, 1 events). SailDex keeps these apart until the evidence or a claim says otherwise.
Events
100

367 races · 64 race wins

Win rate
17%

17% win rate · 17 of 100

Podium rate
49%

49 top-three finishes

Typically beats
73%

of boats faced (90%: 71%–75%, 1,650 boats)

Best class ranking
#1

Helm in Rhodes 19 · rating 733

Longest win streak
6

race wins in a row

Most successful partnership
Ken Delpapa

1 wins · 2 podiums in 3 events together

Biggest lift
Ken Delpapa

+17 points of fleet beaten when sailing together

Longest-running crew
Matthew Pike

Aug 2012 – Sep 2019 · 8 events

Nemesis
Family Feeley

24–49 head to head in 73 races

Rival
Jeffery Kent

48–41 in 92 races

Best day
22 Jun 2018

1-2-2-4-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-1 · Rhodes 19 - East Coast Championship · about 1 in 133,773 by chance

Signature result
1st of 31

2015 Rhodes 19 National Championship · Rhodes 19 · 21 Aug 2015

Partnerships · 44 sailors

Most successful partnership: Ken Delpapa — 1 wins · 2 podiums in 3 events together
  • Kevin Bell · Echo · Beneteau 36.7, Handicap 36events 3 wins together · 18 podiums · 8% win rate · 4 of 64 races won Beat 68% of the fleet together(−4 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2021 – Aug 2026
  • Matthew Pike · Got Qi · Handicap, J/105 8events 1 wins together · 4 podiums · 13% win rate · 2 of 16 races won Beat 78% of the fleet together(+8 vs. without) · best 1st · Aug 2012 – Sep 2019
  • Melissa Nelson · Echo, Idaho · Handicap, J/105 3events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 3 events · 0 of 13 races won Beat 46% of the fleet together(−25 vs. without) · best 4th · Jul 2023 – Sep 2024
  • Ken Delpapa · Got Qi, Tough Cookie · J/105, Rhodes 19 3events 1 wins together · 2 podiums · 3 events · 10 of 29 races won Beat 87% of the fleet together(+17 vs. without) · best 1st · Jul 2018 – Jul 2019
  • Michael Nelson · ELYSIUM IV, Stay Thirsty · Handicap, IRC handicap 2events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 5 races won Beat 54% of the fleet together · best 4th · Jul 2026 – Sep 2026
  • Brian Denker · Idaho · J/105 2events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 12 races won Beat 31% of the fleet together · best 4th · Jul 2023 – Jul 2024
  • Jack Denker · Idaho · J/105 2events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 12 races won Beat 31% of the fleet together · best 4th · Jul 2023 – Jul 2024
  • Kristen Denker · Idaho · J/105 2events 0 wins together · 0 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 12 races won Beat 31% of the fleet together · best 4th · Jul 2023 – Jul 2024
  • Frank Hart · 3172 · Rhodes 19 1events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 1 events · 2 of 10 races won Beat 97% of the fleet together · best 2nd · Jul 2014 – Jul 2014
  • Brian Cardarella · LittleWing · BENETEAU First 24 SE 1events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 1 events · 1 of 3 races won Beat 33% of the fleet together · best 3rd · May 2022 – May 2022

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

Rating history

-13291595201120142017202020232026Helm rating, all classesCrew rating, all classes

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

Event history · 100

DateEventBoatClassRoleFinish
4 Sep 2026Nautical Cloud Cherbourg Race (with JOG)ELYSIUM IVIRC handicapSkipper31st / 52
8 Aug 2026Flip Flop RegattaEchoHandicapSkipper6th / 8
5 Aug 2026Greater Boston Rumble IIIEchoHandicapSkipper1st / 21
5 Aug 2026LOWISA 60 Layover DayKiteHandicapSkipper6th / 8
2 Aug 2026LOWISA 60KiteHandicapSkipper9th / 11
25 Jul 2026Richardson Regatta 2026Stay ThirstyHandicapCrew4th / 10
15 Jul 2026Greater Boston Rumble IIEchoHandicapSkipper7th / 19
24 Jun 2026Summer Series - Wednesday Night RacingEchoHandicapSkipper2nd / 12
10 Jun 2026Greater Boston Rumble IEchoHandicapSkipper4th / 18
20 May 2026Spring Series - Wednesday Night RacingEchoHandicapSkipper2nd / 11
13 Sep 2025HYC Great Chase RaceEchoHandicapSkipper14th / 18
21 Aug 2025Rhodes 19 National ChampionshipTough CookieRhodes 19Skipper5th / 29
13 Aug 2025Fall Series - Wednesday Night RacingEchoHandicapSkipper6th / 13
9 Aug 2025Flip Flop RegattaEchoHandicapSkipper3rd / 10
3 Aug 2025LOWISA 59KiteHandicapSkipper1st / 7
16 Jul 2025Greater Boston Rumble IIIEchoHandicapSkipper4th / 20
2 Jul 2025Summer Series - Wednesday Night RacingEchoHandicapSkipper5th / 14
28 Jun 2025Konantz Cup and Gilman Leach Cup (jr) || RLWYC Weekend SeriesDavid NelsonHandicapSkipper1st / 6
21 Jun 2025Rhodes 19 East Coast ChampionshipsTough CookieRhodes 19Skipper1st / 16
18 Jun 2025Greater Boston Rumble IIEchoHandicapSkipper6th / 20
4 Jun 2025Greater Boston Rumble IEchoHandicapSkipper3rd / 20
14 May 2025Spring Series - Wednesday Night RacingEchoHandicapSkipper3rd / 13
12 Apr 2025Interclub Dinghy National Championship807ICSkipper2nd / 19
14 Sep 2024Chowder CupEchoHandicapSkipper1st / 3
2 Sep 2024Sail Salem Pursuit Regatta 2024EchoHandicapSkipper8th / 31

Helm rating across all classes: 422 (±110), #4,097.Crew rating across all classes: 45 (±205), #35,925. Compiled from public results; not an official ranking.