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Sailor · 2010–2025

Nikolaus Kowal-Besler

north star sail club PHRF handicapCal 25ILCA 7 (Laser)

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Events
29

101 races · 23 race wins

Win rate
24%

24% win rate · 7 of 29

Podium rate
69%

20 top-three finishes

Typically beats
63%

of boats faced (range 57%–68%, 201 boats)

Longest win streak
4

race wins in a row

Most successful partnership
Matt Koch

2 wins · 3 podiums in 4 events together

Best trio
Matt Koch & Dennis Meagher

2 wins · 2 podiums in 3 events, all three aboard

Biggest lift
Matt Koch

+19 points of fleet beaten when sailing together

Longest-running crew
Ian Pouliot

May 2014 – Sep 2024 · 5 events

Nemesis
Adam Hollerbach

0–14 head to head in 14 races

Best day
15 Aug 2020

1-1-2 · 2020 Bayview One Design Regatta

Signature result
1st of 10

2025 GPSC Sundown Series · PHRF handicap · 5 Aug 2025

Partnerships · 34 sailors

Most successful partnership: Matt Koch — 2 wins · 3 podiums in 4 events together
  • Ian Pouliot · Prestige Worldwide, Rugger · Cal 25, PHRF handicap 5events 2 wins together · 3 podiums · 40% win rate · 2 of 17 races won Beat 68% of the fleet together(+3 vs. without) · best 1st · May 2014 – Sep 2024
  • Stephen Kowal-Besler · Crazy Train, Rugger · PHRF handicap 4events 1 wins together · 2 podiums · 4 events · 1 of 9 races won Beat 69% of the fleet together(+4 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2013 – Jun 2023
  • Matt Koch · Prestige Worldwide, Rugger · Cal 25, PHRF handicap 4events 2 wins together · 3 podiums · 4 events · 2 of 12 races won Beat 82% of the fleet together(+19 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2016 – Sep 2024
  • Dennis Meagher · Prestige Worldwide, Rugger · Cal 25, PHRF handicap 4events 2 wins together · 2 podiums · 4 events · 2 of 16 races won Beat 63% of the fleet together(−3 vs. without) · best 1st · May 2014 – Oct 2022
  • Jake Wolny · Prestige Worldwide, Rugger · Cal 25, PHRF handicap 3events 1 wins together · 1 podiums · 3 events · 1 of 15 races won Beat 51% of the fleet together(−17 vs. without) · best 1st · May 2014 – Oct 2021
  • Nicholas Irwin · Rugger · PHRF handicap 3events 1 wins together · 2 podiums · 3 events · 2 of 5 races won Beat 80% of the fleet together(+15 vs. without) · best 1st · Jun 2023 – Sep 2024
  • Jeffrey Pawsat · Crazy Train, Rugger · PHRF handicap 2events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 7 races won Beat 64% of the fleet together · best 3rd · Jun 2013 – Jun 2022
  • Steven Videtta · Rugger · PHRF handicap 2events 0 wins together · 2 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 2 races won Beat 77% of the fleet together · best 2nd · Jun 2021 – Jun 2022
  • Mike DeLano · Rugger · PHRF handicap 2events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 2 races won Beat 61% of the fleet together · best 3rd · Jun 2022 – Jun 2023
  • Kevin Flood · Crazy Train, Rugger · PHRF handicap 2events 0 wins together · 1 podiums · 2 events · 0 of 7 races won Beat 69% of the fleet together · best 2nd · Jun 2013 – Jun 2021

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

Rating history

-1722822720112013201520172019202120232025Helm rating, all classesCrew rating, all classes

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

Event history · 29

DateEventBoatClassRoleFinish
27 Sep 2025Bayview North Channel RaceRuggerPHRF handicapSkipper2nd / 7
5 Aug 20252025 GPSC Sundown SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapSkipper1st / 10
13 May 20252025 GPSC Sundown SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapSkipper8th / 8
28 Sep 20242024 Bayview North Channel RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther2nd / 10
9 Aug 20242024 St. Elmo's Night RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther1st / 8
6 Aug 20242024 Top Gun Twilight Series - Summer SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther1st / 5
11 Jun 20242024 Top Gun Twilight Series - Spring SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther4th / 4
8 Aug 20232023 Top Gun Twilight Series - Summer SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther3rd / 6
4 Aug 20232023 St. Elmo's Night RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther2nd / 8
9 Jun 20232023 Invitational Mills Trophy RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther4th / 7
23 May 20232023 Top Gun Twilight Series - Spring SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther2nd / 6
1 Oct 20222022 Bayview North Channel RaceRuggerPHRF handicapSkipper1st / 6
10 Sep 20222022 Birthday RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther3rd / 7
2 Aug 20222022 Top Gun Twilight Series - Summer SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther1st / 7
25 Jun 20222022 ABYRA Night RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther2nd / 5
10 Jun 20222022 Invitational Mills Trophy RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther3rd / 8
2 Oct 20212021 Bayview North Channel RaceRuggerPHRF handicapMedic/Doctor1st / 9
26 Sep 20212021 Fall SeriesRuggerPHRF handicapOther3rd / 5
21 Aug 20212021 Birthday RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther4th / 7
15 Aug 20212021 Kent Sail RaceRuggerPHRF handicapOther2nd / 6
26 Jun 20212021 ABYRA Night RaceRuggerPHRF handicapSkipper2nd / 7
15 Aug 20202020 Bayview One Design RegattaPeacemakerPHRF handicapCat 3 Cooler Jockey1st / 8
2 Jun 20172017 Bayview One Design RegattaGail ForceBeneteau First 36.7Bow2nd / 11
3 Jun 20162016 Bayview One Design RegattaPrestige WorldwideCal 25Medic/Doctor10th / 16
30 May 20142014 Bayview One Design RegattaPrestige WorldwideCal 25Medic/Doctor15th / 17

Helm rating across all classes: 227, #16,305.Crew rating across all classes: 62, #33,687. Compiled from public results; not an official ranking.