2023 Long Beach Race Week

The 2023 Long Beach Race Week had a full complement of races sailed in ten divisions, including seven one design classes and three PHRF fleets, on June 23-25 in Long Beach, CA. Throughout the three solid days of racing, conditions ranged from big breeze starting off strong on day one with breeze in the high teens, to light conditions on the final day.

The closest racing across all divisions was in the Catalina 37 class, which was won by Shore Team Racing (LBYC / RYC) who finished with 19 points. Team Kowabunga (HYC / LSFYC) tied with Marcy Rye (SMWYC) and her team, each with 21 points. Dominic Marchal had reunited a crew of old sailing friends – Shore Team Racing – to sail together for the first time in 28 years.

“We got the gang back together using sailing as an excuse,” noted Marchal (above). “I thought, best case we’ll get on the podium, the fact that we won is just great!”

Fuzzy Logic (LBYC), the J/109 racing in PHRF B and helmed by Jeff Shew took first in class with 12 points, a tidy five-point lead over second place Sun Puffin, the J/105 skippered by George Scheel. Calling tactics for Shew was Bruce Cooper from Ullman Sails, title sponsor for the event.

Rode Rage, the Beneteau 36.7 helmed by Peter Cochrane (SLBYC) finished first in class with five bullets over five races. Code Blue, the Schock 35 helmed by Rob Marcus (ABYC) led in class to win with twelve points. The Melges 15 class raced LBRW for the first time and were the ultimate crowd pleasers as they hurtled downwind at max speed with Brad Thompson (ABYC) on “He’s Gone,” his new Melges 15, taking six bullets and a second place to win in class.

The Viper 640 helmed by Ed Feo (ABYC) won in class with sixteen points. Racing in PHRF A, Jim Bailey (NHYC) on his OD35 Destroyer won in class for the second consecutive year, although only just beating out Doug Jorgensen (LAYC) on the J/111 Picosa by one point. Racing the Random Leg course in PHRF RL, the J/125 Javelin helmed by Dan Murphy (CYC) took first in class.

The event was also being used as the Catalina 37 National Championship, the Schock 35 Pacific Coast Championship, the Viper 640 Pacific Coast Championship, and the J/70, J/80, J/105, J/109, and J/120 Southern California High Point Series.

Special trophies were awarded in the following categories:

Boat of the Day:
Friday: J/111 Picosa
Saturday: Melges 15 / He’s Gone

Boat of the Week:
One Design: Catalina 37 / Shore Team Racing
PHRF: Destroyer, Jim Bailey

Yacht Club Challenge:
Team Cal Yacht Club (J/70, Minor Threat; Melges 15, Allie Blecher; PHRF A, Obsidian

Golison & Kent Family Trophy:
Minor Threat, Jeff Janov

Furthest Traveled:
J/70 Nimbus, Eduardo Saenz (Mexico)

Schock 35 Pacific Coast Championship:
Code Blue, Rob Marcus (ABYC)

Catalina 37 National Championship:
Shore Team Racing (Will Benedict RYC / Dominic Marchal ABYC)

Viper 640 Pacific Coast Championship:
Ed Feo (ABYC)

J/70 Corinthian Class:
DJ, Ryan Cox (VYC/ABYC)

Campbell Cup:
Destroyer, Jim Bailey (NHYC)

Event information – Race details – Results

Source: Michelle Slade, LBRW