Lively Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week!

(Long Beach, CA)- Sporty sailing conditions by day, spiced rum and dancing by night; Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week delivered 24/7, for the hundreds of sailors who turned up to race in the waters off Long Beach, CA on June 23 to 25.

“Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Long Beach Yacht Club team up to put together this event each year, merging our forces to provide – with our years of experience and knowledge gleaned from this event, and others – the best regatta possible, for our participants,” said co-chair John Busch, of LBYC. “This year we were blessed with strong winds, fair seas, excellent competition and great parties. And we couldn’t do it without our sponsors, like Ullman Sails and all the others who support this great event.”

Three stellar days, of breeze and sunshine, rounded out this annual funfest of racing and parties. Over 100 teams, hailing from Montana to Mexico, competed in one design and PHRF racing, on three different courses along the California coast.

“We were a little worried initially, when we didn’t see the number of entries we’d like early on,” Busch admitted, “but as usual, a lot of people wait to sign up.” Traditionally, numbers are lighter in Transpac years, as those racers do their final prep for the Los Angeles to Honolulu Race, which starts next week.

“But we ended up with 122 boats – and some really strong fleets like the J/70s, plus the weekend warriors who come out to play and make it such a fun event,” said Busch.

There were thrills and spills, in the 15 to 20 knot conditions, and chop.  And, the 28-boat J/70 fleet loved every minute of it!  In the end, Chris Snow’s COOL STORY BRO iced the class, never finishing lower than 5th place to win 16 pts total over 7 races.  For the balance of the top five, it might as well have been a complete shoot-out at the OK Corral!  All boats finished within 5 pts of each other.  Hanging on in the thrilling final race to determine who finished where, Jeff Janov’s MINOR THREAT from California YC took the silver, while Jim Murrell’s HUCKLEBERRY grabbed the bronze, just one point separating them.  In fourth was Pat Toole’s 3 BIG DOGS team from Santa Barbara YC and they were also the Corinthians Division winner!  Fifth place was none other than the infamous Chris Raab from Newport Harbor YC, finishing just one pt back from the “3 doggers” and taking 2nd in Corinthians.  Third in Corinthians Division was Tracy & Christy Usher’s CHRISTINE ROBIN.

The J/120 class also did not expect a “runaway”!  However, that is exactly what they saw, a jailbreak from day one that started with four straight 1sts and never looked back!  Guess who??  Hmmmm.  This time it was John Laun’s CAPER gangster laying down some serious pipe and emphasized that fact by winning the last race, too, to close with a mere 11 pts in 7 races.  Ouch, a.k.a. a spanking of the fleet!  Not surprisingly, behind them it was a fierce battle for the balance of the podium and the top five.  Surviving the brutal battle was Ernie Pennell’s MAD MEN, taking home a total of 23 pts to take the silver…just.  In third was Rudolph Hasl’s HASL FREE with a 23.8 pts total based on two redress scores.  Only two pts back in 4th place was Chuck Nichols’ CC RIDER and in 5th place was John Snook’s JIM with 27 pts.  WOW!!  No rest for the weary in this fun-filled, family-based class in SoCAL!

In PHRF B Class, Jack Jorgensen’s J/111 PICOSA snagged third place behind the most wacked out, tuned out, custom modified PHRF boats on the West Coast.  In PHRF Random B Class, Tim Harmon’s J/124 CIRRUS took third place, while Glenn Griley’s J/122 TKO was 5th and Seth Hall’s J/124 MARISOL took 6th place.

In PHRF C Class, David Boatner’s famous J/35 RIVAL walked off with class honors. On a tiebreaker for third at 25 pts each, Heinz Butner’s J/109 RAPTOR won over Scott McDaniel’s J/105 OFF THE PORCH.  Not far off the pace was David Angers’ J/80 MISS DEMEANOR in 7th spot.

“Ullman Sails is excited to sponsor this event once again, and to support great sailing, competition, and camaraderie at this fantastic venue. We appreciate the host clubs, all the volunteers, and of course the racers who continue to show up each year,” said Ken Cooper, of Ullman Sails. Sailing photo credits- Bronny Daniels/ JOY Sailing.com.  Sailing photo credits- Dave McBridge  For more Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week sailing information Add to Flipboard Magazine.