Perfect Long Beach Race Week

J/109s Sweep PHRF 5
(Long Beach, CA)- Hosted by Alamitos Bay YC, the stars were out under a clear blue sky for the 134-boat Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week through the weekend.  Big or small, one-design or speed-rated handicaps, around the buoys or offshore ... whatever their pleasure, the best of the West were tested by the competition, the elements and parties onshore for three straight days of fabulous weather and gentle breezes in the Bay.  The annual event is the West Coast's largest keelboat regatta, co-hosted and organized by the Alamitos Bay and Long Beach Yacht Clubs.

In the J/105 and J/120 classes, respectively, Gary Mozer's Current OBSESSION 2 from Beverly Hills and John Laun's CAPER from San Diego were hoping to defend titles they fought to win on tie-breakers last year!  And, John Demourkas of Santa Barbara, who won the Farr 40 East Coast championship with his GROOVERDERCI earlier this month, was hoping to repeat that performance by sailing his renamed J/105 (from Rockin'n'Groovin to GROOVERDERCI). Also hoping to repeat was the J/80 AVET sailed by Curt Johnson of California YC.

The schedule for three races Saturday and the last two Sunday had great sailing with 11-16 kt southwest breezes and fairly flat seas under a clear blue sky.  Despite the gorgeous, benign weather, the competition was hot and fierce in the J/105 and J/120 classes.  For the J/105s, Gary Mozer's CURRENT OBSESSION 2 did manage to overcome some remarkably tough competition in the fourteen boat J/105 fleet, most practicing and gearing up for the upcoming J/105 North Americans in San Diego this fall.  Gary's team posted a 2-2-2-1-1-3-1 tally for 13 pts to win by eight points.  The battle for second place was an epic one between Rick Goebel's SANITY and John Demourkas' GROOVERDERCI, when the smoke cleared it was SANITY that won the tie-breaker at 21 pts each over GROOVERDERCI.

The eight boat J/120 class also saw a repeat winner, with John Laun's CAPER winning with a 1-2-1-1-1 for just 6 pts, winning by a huge ten point margin of victory.  Second was John Snook's JIM with 16 pts.  Third was determined on a tie-breaker between Peter Zarcades MELTEMI and Mike Hatch's J-ALMIGHTY, with MELTEMI winning the tie-breaker to snag third overall.

Rounding out the one-design classes, Curt Johnson sailed his J/80 AVET to another repeat regatta win with a scoreline of 3-1-3-1-1-1-1 for 11 pts, six points clear of the second place boat BLUE JAY sailed by Bob Hayward.  Third was Steve Wyman on NUHUNU.

In the PHRF handicap classes, winning PHRF Boat of the Week was Steven Crooke's J/109 SUGAR from Long Beach YC, posting a stellar scoreline of  1-3-1-1-1-4-1 for 12 pts to lead a class sweep for the J/109s in PHRF 5 Class.  Second in that class was a past winner Tom Brott on ELECTRA and third was Chris Mewes on SHADOWFAX.  Of note, Dr John Messenger's J/33 NITRO was fourth and Larry Leveille's J/29 RUSH STREET from Santa Barbara YC was 6th.

Mark Surber's J/125 DERIVATIVE from Coronado YC blew away their PHRF 2 class with straight firsts!  In PHRF 4 the J/35 RIVAL sailed by Dick Velthoen & David Boatner from Ventura YC posted a 1-2-1-2-2-1-2 for 8 pts but lost the tie-breaker, finishing second.  Yet another J/35, Steve McClure's MAC'S finished 5th.
Sailing Photo credits- Rich Roberts     For more Long Beach Race Week sailing information

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