2021 CYCRTM JUDGES

DONALD MAKOWIECKI (CHIEF JUDGE) Don Makowiecki has been a sailor most of his life, sailing in Europe, the Mediterranean and along the east coast of the Americas from Newfoundland to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He is a longtime racer, competing on boats ranging in size from 30 to 50 feet. He has sailed 12-meter America’s Cup boats for many years and was a crewmember on Freedom when she won the America’s Cup 150th Anniversary in Cowes, England. He is a certified World Sailing International judge and a US Sailing National judge and umpire. He holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s License and a European Ships Master License. He is a past commodore of the South Bay Scooter Club, an iceboating club and is the author of a book on iceboat construction. Don is a longtime member of the Storm Trysail Club. He served on the Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac Protest Committee in 2017 and was the Chief Judge in 2019. Makowiecki is the owner of SupportBoats.com, a racing services company located in Newport, Rhode Island.

MIKE KASPAR (PC SECRETARY) Mike Kaspar caught the sailing bug in 2002 after seeing the America’s Cup on TV. He became an active crew member in the Benetau 40.7 fleet and a member of Columbia Yacht Club shortly thereafter. He started judging in 2006 and umpiring in 2011. Mike has been a National Judge since 2018 and National Umpire since 2011. He has judged at at numerous offshore, inshore, and youth events, including the 2018 Farr Worlds, 2018 M32 Worlds, and Chicago NOODs and Verve Cup events since 2006. He is currently the Regional Administrative Judge for Area K and a member of the US Sailing Judges committee. Mike is a Director at the CME Group in their Global Command Center in Chicago, supporting clients in Chicago, London, and New York.

JAMES WALSH

Jim Walsh has been a National Judge since 2002 and a National Race officer since 2017. He has recently judged at 2019 12 Meter World Championships and Star North American Championships, and served as Chief Judge of the 2019 Annapolis NOOD and the 2019 US Sailing Youth Championships. Jim has also served several roles in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, most recently as a member of their appeals committee. He is currently the Regional Administrative Judge for Area C, member of the US Sailing Judges committee, a member of the US Sailing Review Board, and a past director of US Sailing. Jim is also an accomplished sailor, currently as driver of the J/88 One Too Many, and was previously the tactician on a King 40, crew member on a Melges 24, and owner-driver of a Henderson 30. Jim is the Director of Technology at Cedar Grove School district in New Jersey.

SARAH ASHTON

Sarah Ashton is the Commodore of the Charleston Yacht Club and the Chairman of the US Sailing Judges Committee. She has 40 years of active racing experience, including both one-design and PHRF racing boats including Melges 24, E Scow, J27 and J30s. She has been a certified US Sailing Senior/National Judge since 1987 and serves as the chief judge of the Charleston Ocean Racing Association. She has judged at the last four Charleston Race Weeks in addition to other major events including the VX One North America Championship, Melges 24 National Championship , Beneteau 36.7 National Championships, and the USODA National Championship. Sarah served on the Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac Protest Committee in 2019.