Star Class Honoring the Past, Leading the Future
The Star Class lost a great friend and Life Member on November 5, 2025. For over 65 years, Charles “Chuck” Beek was a fixture in Southern California Star sailing. He crewed for his father Barton and often sailed with his son Chas and daughter Hannah.
Chuck almost always sailed with a family member, including his brother in law, Val Lyon. When he wasn’t sailing with family, Chuck sailed with Will Swigart, Steve Brown and Rick Peters.
A native of Newport Beach, Chuck personified “California Cool”. With his wide and bright stripped, long sleeved polo shirts, he was the most relaxed guy in the boat park. He always sailed to and from the race course, even in places like Newport Beach and San Diego when everyone else was being towed.
As recently as April of this year, and being seriously compromised by his illness, he raced in the Western Hemisphere Championship with Chas crewing. Hannah was on the track racing with Bobby Lippincott. In July, Chuck raced in the King of Spain with Hannah crewing. Star sailing has always been, and will always be, a family affair for the Beeks.
We should all be more like Chuck!
Sail on Chuck!
