Reunanen rules sunny Seafair as ERCU debuts in Toledo

TOLEDO — The sun wasn’t the only thing blazing at Wallace Pond on Sunday.

ERCU’s 23rd annual Seafair Cup brought the heat in more ways than one, as 40 boats scorched through the club’s first-ever event at South County Park under flawless skies — and one driver stood well above the rest. Paxton Reunanen, the season point leader in both 1/10-scale modern and classic classes, turned in a double dose of perfection, sweeping both divisions with 1,600-point days.

Reunanen nearly made it a trifecta in 1/10 vintage, logging a class-best 1,100 points, but Hall of Famer  John Earnest stole the show — and the final heat — with a thrilling win that brought the crowd to its feet. It was a vintage performance from the crafty veteran, who once again proved his magic on the water.

In the larger-scale classes, Reunanen again made waves, stepping in as substitute driver for Mike McIntosh in the 1/7-scale modern/classic Beacon Plumbing entry. He collected three heat wins and the final, but a DNF kept him from a third perfect score. Carl Lewis, piloting the rapid Lincoln Thrift, tallied the day’s high score at 1,300 and finished runner-up in the final, just ahead of John Sjostrom and the 1974 Miss U.S., who took third with 1,225 points.

Sjostrom didn’t leave without hardware, however. In 1/7 vintage, he closed the day in style by winning the final with his Miss Thriftway after finishing second in points. David Newton had the high score with his 1958 Hawaii Kai III but settled for second in the final heat.

With sunny skies, an electric crowd, and a standout new venue, the Seafair Cup was a hit in its Toledo debut. ERCU thanked Lewis County for hosting and hinted at a hopeful return in 2026.

Next up is the prestigious Gold Cup, set for Aug. 9 on the Bill Mowatt Memorial course in Lacey — the season’s ultimate endurance test.