Long Beach delivers to open Race Week

Long Beach, CA (June 22, 2018) – One-hundred-thirty-six entries, representing 51 yacht clubs, turned out for the first day of Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week. Despite a gloomy morning and weather forecast, “Long Beach delivered!” said co-chair Chuck Clay.

By the start of today’s first race, the marine layer had burnt off and the modest southerly flow began shifting right. Soaring inland temperatures drew in the ocean breeze, swiftly ratcheting to a 14-knot wind from 230-degrees.

“This last week has been cloudy and the forecast didn’t look too good,” said Don Smith from Team Ayres-Satariano, defending Catalina 37 National Champion. “But the westerly filled in, and we had our full contingent on the rail; it ended up being a great day.”

That contingent of sailors was “a little rusty,” Smith admitted, saying the crew convenes just once a year for this popular annual event. After two races Ayres-Satariano sat in seventh place in the 11-boat one-design fleet. “Everyone had their ups and downs today,” Smith added. “It’ll be interesting to see the positions at the end of the weekend.”

Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week is a perennial favorite of sailors from up and down the Pacific Coast, and beyond. In addition to the 51 clubs represented on the race course, the event pulls from a robust community of boating organizations, including hosts Long Beach Yacht Club and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, plus another eight yacht clubs involved in Race Committee and Jurying.

Nearly 1,000 racers competed on three separate courses in 14 different one-design and PHRF classes. Taking an early lead in the three-day regatta was Margaritaville, in PHRF A, with two bullets. Also scoring dual wins today were the Farr 40 Coquille, J/120 Caper, and Schock 35 Code Blue. It’s All Good and Boomslang tied for first in Viper 640; as did Midlife Crisis and Argyle Campbell’s #3J, in J/70s.

Racing continues tomorrow with a scheduled three races starting at 11:55AM in local waters. Racing concludes June 24.

Event details – Results – Facebook

Source: LBRW