
Jeff Bugbee
BioJeff Bugbee
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President
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My path to blokarting started with a boat I didn't yet have. In my early teens, my father and I built an O'Day 23 from the keel up, and I learned to sail the slow way — literal slow trips to local islands that taught me the difference between getting there and getting there fast.
After that, I wanted fast. Beach cats came first, then bigger cats — a Stiletto 27, a Maine Cat 30 — and eventually what I still think of as the ultimate local go-fast boat: an F31R trimaran called Final Gravity. I raced her competitively for eight years, often against my friend (and frequent finish-line nemesis) Dave Lussier.
Life eventually nudged me toward simplifying. About four years ago, Dave — our race chair — said, "Come try it, it'll be fun." It took one afternoon on a blokart and one evening on eBay to be fully hooked. The same instinct that put me on a trimaran put me on three wheels, just with a lot less rigging to flake at the end of the day.
These days, blokarting is where it's at. My partner Jessica and I are based in Connecticut with our four dogs, and we make the regular pilgrimage to Florida, Wisconsin, and Michigan, plus Ivanpah and Loring most years. Wherever there's wind and a flat surface, we'll find a way to get there.
I'm honored to step in as President of the North American Blokart Association. The community is what made this sport stick for me, and I'm looking forward to helping it keep growing — one "come try it, it'll be fun" at a time.

Aiden Schmiedlin
BioAiden Schmiedlin
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Vice President
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Madison, WI
I have been sailing at Ivanpah since 2019 and sailing blokarts since 2018. Additionally, I have been sailing soft water boats ever since I can remember and ice boats for the past few years. I love sailing of all forms and want to see the sport grow.
As one of the youngest racers, and certainly the youngest board member, it's exciting to see new people join and connect with the community as well as learn from the years of experience from our older sailors.
I love to race and go fast and I am excited too see you on the race course or trying to set a new personal record as we're flying across the ground.

Francis Gramkowski
BioFrancis Gramkowski
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Eastern Regional Representative
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Founding President of the North American Blokart Sailing Association.
Owner East Coast Landsailing, LLC
I have been going to Ivanpah for 30 years, first starting with Kite Buggies organizing a kite buggy event. Spring Break Buggy Blast in 1995 and transiting into Blokart around 2009. By 2011, we formed NABSA and started organizing our event with sailors from Spain, France and New Zealand attending. After organizing Blokart World Championships and NABSA's annual events we are into 2025.
Locally the “Jersey Boys” just organized a formal club, “Mid-Atlantic Blokart Sailors”. We regularly sail on the beaches in Wildwood, NJ and Brigantine, NJ off the beach we sail at Bader Field,Atlantic City, NJ, a closed airport that we rent for daily use.
So my life continues on as a confirmed “Wind Junkie” still enjoying the wind flying Kites and sailing Blokarts, occasionally still jumping on a friends Hobie.

Dave Lussier
BioDave Lussier
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Representative
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Dave has been involved in Blokarting since joining NABSA in 2018 and establishing the BK dealership New England Land Sailors (NELS). During that time, he has sailed in 6 North Americans (NAs) at Ivanpah, >10 regattas at Loring AFB in Maine, 3 events at Bader Field NJ, two European Championships (Wales and Denmark) and many local events he personally organized more local to Newport Rhode Island where he lives. Dave enjoys both the social and competitive racing aspects of all the events.
Dave is the official International Blokart Racing Association (IBRA) rep for NABSA (USA), serving the committee that maintains the Blokart one design rules and organizes the bi-annual Blokart World Championships around the globe. Dave has been on the podium 5/6 of the NA events, winning twice, and has become the NABSA Race Committee chair organizing the racing aspects for our annual NA event. Dave has been involved in organizing and participating in many on water multihull racing events, having grown up sailing Hobie Cats then transitioning to owning/racing Corsair trimarans for 25 years. Dave won the Corsair Nationals in 1999 on an F27 trimaran and currently races/cruises on a small 18’ Catboat.
During the 2018 NA event at Ivanpah, Scott Young and Dave set the Blokart world speed record at 77.7mph while racing in the final race of the event when a haboob (desert storm) passed through the race area generating winds >50mph. Scott and Dave exchanged the lead 4 times in two laps before the race was called off due to high winds and low visibility.
Dave is married to Sheri and has 1 daughter and a granddaughter. Dave has a degree in Electrical Engineering and “test drove” US Navy nuclear subs for a living (been to the north pole twice on subs and did many other interesting trips). Dave retired in 2023 from a $100M company (SEACORP) he ran as President at the end of his >40yr career as a Navy contractor.
Dave recognizes there are >16K Blokarts in the world and <750 in USA, but most are not participating in “racing” events as typical sailors are intimidated with BK racing. While he works constructively to ensure IBRA racing rules make racing fun and uniform/competitive, he also focuses on events being inclusive of more “fun” racing/sailing to entice more participation, grow the sport, and grow the number of venues we have for Blokart sailing in general.

John Wright
BioJohn Wright
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Board Member
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Greetings from Colorado!
I am Married to my Beautiful Wife Maureen for 42 Years.
My Sailing Addiction started back in 1967 while I was in Scouting.
My Dad, while serving in the US Marine Corp at Camp Pendleton San Diego.
I was in 3 Youth Groups. Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, and USMC Devil Pups..
Sea Scouts had me hooked. Special Services purchased Hobie 14’s to use in the “Turn-Around” Basin at Camp Del Mar Harbor near my Dad’s Office. My racing started with El-Toro’s and Optimist's here.
I have owned in my years, H 14’s, H 14 Turbo, H 16, H Getaway, Bimare A-cat, and now Evolved into “Dry Sailing” and to this day, I still have all but the Getaway. Sadly Toy Trimming is in my Future says my Kids.
Dry Sailing, Dust Bowl Sailing, Dragon Ass Sailing, or Better put “NoTime To Think” Sailing can describe Blokarting Well. I’m sure you have many more NickNames better than mine!
Now 10 Years in, and at the Ripe Age of 70. I admit I have reached ZEN! The Art of “Slow & Smooth”. (Maureens says that alot?)
My other Hobbies include Volunteering as a Firearms NRA Training Counselor for Scouting America. Served as Director of Shooting Sports for Greater Colorado Council for over 20 years. I love Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clay sand 5 Stand. Or Just Plain Blowing Stuff Up!
I also love Gravel Bicycle Racing, (Canyon Grail) Motorcycles, (BMWS1000XR) keeps my Adrenaline Rich and Wallet Thin! OK Enough About Me. What about you?
See Ya on the Playa!
Cheers!

