Drumbeat builds for California classic

As the dominant event on the west coast summer schedule, 2018 Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week is slated for June 22 to 24. Fueled by reliable sailing conditions, the classic Long Beach sea breeze arrives by noon and builds throughout the day.

Entries are shaping up, with a robust class of J/70s racing in their Southern California High Point Series, as are the J/120s. A lively Viper640 fleet has rallied, plus Farr 40s, TP52s and Pac 52s; and Schock 35s, competing for the Pacific Coast Championship. The Catalina 37s have a full line-up for the Nationals, with four-time title holder Dave Hood and team DH3 hoping to unseat defending champion Bruce Ayres.

A solid contingent of PHRF boats is mobilizing up, scheduled, along with the one-design classes, to compete in seven windward-leeward races on four separate courses.

With an assortment of competitive boats ranging from Melges 32s to Santa Cruz 50s and 52s, the Random Leg division will be sent on courses that will take them both inside and outside the Federal breakwater, testing their skills in a variety of conditions and points of sail.

Entries are discounted through June 4 and close on June 19. Entry fees include Friday’s After-Race Party at ABYC, with music, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and no host bar; Saturday’s Post-Race Mount Gay Rum Party at LBYC, with music, dancing, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and no host bar; and Sunday’s Prize-giving, also at LBYC, with hors d’oeuvres and no host bar.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook

Source: LBRW