Dave Ullman to Lead Racing Clinic at US Nationals
With less than three months remaining until the action begins at the 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, newly crowned Melges 24 World Champion Dave Ullman has confirmed that he will run a pre-Nationals racing clinic on September 20. The U.S. National Championship is set for Sept. 21 – 23, 2007, at Detroit’s Bayview Yacht Club.
Ullman is known as one of the most approachable stars in the high-octane world of the Melges 24. “Many class members have been talking about setting up this kind of race clinic for a long time, and I’m excited we’re finally making it happen,” Ullman said. “The best classes always work to improve themselves, and we hope this type of clinic will become an annual tradition for every USMCA National and North American event.”
Latis Yachting Solutions is generously sponsoring the clinic, scheduled to take place on Thurs., Sept. 20 on the Detroit River directly adjacent to Bayview. The clinic will consist of boat-handling and starting drills on the water, and Ullman will lead a post-sailing debrief session on the club’s waterfront patio. Participants should plan to be on the water from noon until 5:00 pm.
MIDWEST FLEET IS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR BIG PARTICIPATION
With 33 boats – mostly local - racing at this month’s Detroit NOOD regatta, the Midwest fleet is a rock-solid foundation on which to build large numbers for this year’s National Championship. “We’ve got the fastest-growing Melges 24 fleet in the country right now – and possibly the world,” Greg McCliment, regatta vice-chairman and Detroit fleet captain, said. “I’ll be surprised if we have less than 50 boats here, and we’re shooting for 60,” he added.
Interested participants may visit http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_registration_info.cfm to register. The early registration deadline is September 10.
McCliment and Regatta Chairman Paul Hulsey are both active racers that campaign their boats throughout the U.S., and they have been working hard to ensure this event caters to the needs of out-of-town teams. For example:
• Out-of-town boats will have haul-out priority at Bayview’s two hoists.
• Weigh-in will begin early on Thursday morning.
• Thomas Hardware, sailing outfitters, will be on-site to help sort out the competitors’ rigging, deck and clothing requirements. Todd Jones is the owner of Thomas, as well as a long-time racer in the class, and a Governor of Bayview Yacht Club: “We’ve been outfitting top Melges 24’s for years, and we know just what to expect to ensure all the teams’ needs are met.”
• Bayview partner Yachtscoring.com will ensure that results are available in near-real time. The Official scoring team will enter individual race results from the water – results that will be available on-line, moments after each finish.
• National Championship competitors who plan to race at the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin “Fall Classic” may store their boats at Bayview for no additional cost.
• Bayview will make two internet-connected computers available to all competitors, while free wireless internet will be available to those with their own laptops.
Motor City Serious About its Racing
One of the biggest reasons that Melges 24 competitors love their boats is their pure speed – and the regatta organizers know it. That’s why they specifically chose late September for the Championship – September in the Great Lakes means “breeze on.”
“The NOOD Regatta showed what our summer is about – light air and hot sun,” Hulsey said. “But mid-September is a different story: Last year we saw 15 knots or more almost every day of the month, with water temperatures averaging 77 degrees.”
Well reputed PRO and Bayview Past-Commodore Tim Rumptz will shoot for at least eight races during the three-day event. He plans to set the windward-leeward courses closer to the Canadian shore of Lake St. Clair, where the current flows at less than a knot.
Given the proposed race course location, which requires the fleet to motor through the Detroit River current, the regatta organizers plan to make available multiple power boats to tow the competitors to and from the race course. “We recognize many teams will sail to the course area to familiarize themselves with the day’s wind shifts,” Hulsey said, “But I think we all agree that a fast tow to the dock at the end of each day will allow the parties to start sooner.”
And We’re Seriously Social
When it comes to parties, sailors all agree that nobody does it quite like Bayview:
• Thursday, Sept. 20 – Registration and crew weigh in begins. An informal “meet and greet” will take place in the Bayview Bar.
• Friday, Sept. 21, nearby Crescent Sail Yacht Club will host the competitors for a “garden luau” on their huge lawn just a few miles from Bayview.
• Saturday, Sept. 22, the fun returns to BYC under the Big Top, with live music and dancing all night. Barefoot Wines of Modesto, California will supply enough wine and beer to soothe the bruises from Saturday’s racing, and a delicious seafood buffet will take care of the rest of the competitors’ needs.
• Sunday, Sept. 23, Bayview will host the Awards Ceremony under the Big Top, with trophies and prizes for the top 5 Corinthian competitors as well as the top 5 overall winners. Individual race winners will also collect prizes.
FROM THE MOTOR CITY TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE MELGES 24
Traveling teams have another good reason to come to the Midwest in the fall – only two weeks after Nationals, the Fall Classic regatta serves up big wind on Lake Geneva, Wis., an easy six-hour drive from Detroit, and the home of Melges Performance Sailboats. It’s no surprise that Buddy and Harry Melges III are the sailors they are – Lake Geneva’s shifty, unpredictable winds and rapidly changing climate challenge sailors constantly.
About Barefoot Cellars Wines
For over 20 years, Sonoma-based Barefoot Cellars Wines have received huge critical and popular success. Barefoot is a proud Sponsor/Partner of the Championship, and their Gold-Medal winning wines will be available throughout the event. More information on Barefoot Cellars Wines is available at www.barefootwine.com.
About Latis Yachting Solutions
Sponsor/Partner Latis Yachting Solutions will be on-hand to help with all boat transportation needs. Latis is the primary boat logistics partner for Melges Performance Sailboats, Pegasus Racing, and a host of other teams – and their reputation for “making it happen” is well-earned. If you need your boat moved, they will do so on-schedule, allowing you to concentrate on driving your boat instead of your truck. Contact Latis with your transportation questions at info@latisyachting.com or (866) 840-9204.
About The 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championships
The 2007 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship is hosted by Bayview Yacht Club, with the support of Sponsor/Partners Barefoot Wines, Yachtscoring.com and Latis Yachting Solutions.
All race information, including on-line registration, is now available at www.melges24racing.com/nationals. The Midwest Region’s home page is www.melges24racing.com.
The Melges 24 is the most unique one-design sportboat in the world, and the class continues to enjoy strong growth. More information on the U.S. Melges 24 Class is available at www.usmelges24.com.
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EVENT PRESS OFFICER
Alan Block
(248) 563-0657 - mobile
(248) 808-4086 - office
blocksailing@mac.com
USMCA PRESS OFFICER
Joy Dunigan
(912) 398-5776 - mobile
joy.dunigan@melges24.com