Working together on the big picture

The GL52 fleet has corralled available TP52s, handicaps them within a tight window, and organizes a schedule of events on the Great Lakes. After Bob Hughes’ Heartbreaker swept the top results in the Bayview Mackinac Race and Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, he likes how the fleet is maturing.

Particularly, he is a strong supporter of the GL52 fleet’s new format of morning fleet briefings, where teams share insights openly to improve collectively.

“A fleet only lasts as long as you have owners willing to fund them, and owners will only do that if they’re having fun,” he says. “These morning debriefs bring owners and crews together in a way I haven’t seen before in a big-boat fleet. You see all the teams, top to bottom, sharing ideas. It builds relationships and raises the racing of the entire fleet.”

He notes that fewer protests and better camaraderie are results of this approach, helping newer teams accelerate their learning while seasoned programs continue to refine.

“This is our sport, and for it to continue and grow – not shrink – we’ve got to get more people into it and help the younger and new teams. The GL52 fleet is special because we hate losing to each other, but everyone respects each other and works together on the big picture.”