Melges 15s Make Splash at Long Beach Race Week

A dozen Melges 15s hit the water at Long Beach Race Week for the first time over June 23-25. Boats traveled to Alamitos Bay and Long Beach Yacht Clubs from Washington, Colorado, and all corners of California for the event. 

Kevin Thomas, from Long Beach and a member of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, purchased his Melges 15 last fall and is one of the 12 competitors who raced in the fleet. He has raced LBRW for over thirty years on many boats including CF37, Melges 24, J/109, J/105, Viper 640 and J/70. This year he sailed with his crew of eleven years, Helen Burdett – they did their first LBRW together in 2007.

“The local fleet is just getting started and [we had] a chance to sail with a couple of the guys from the Pacific Northwest and Tahoe area who have had their boats longer, so we hope to learn from them,” Thomas said. “Long Beach is a great place for this boat.”

Thompson/Taugher USA 324 sail to victory. Photo by Tom Walker

Throughout the three solid days of racing, conditions ranged from big breeze in the high teens to light conditions on the final day. Congratulations to Brad Thompson and Kevin Taugher (ABYC) on their commanding performance catapulting them to the top of the podium! 

“It helps to have a great crew and I have Kevin Taugher who is magic,” Thompson said. “It [was] a little bit of everything, we’ve had some great boat handling. [Friday] was a little different in the bigger breeze where we just powered through and basically just kept boat speed up. We were hitting 16 knots in breeze downwind and the big boat guys were clapping us on as we blew by them. [Saturday] was a little more strategic watching shifts and puffs and finding places on the course.”

“Sunday was a great conclusion to a great regatta with some 80 boats racing including a class new to us - Melges 15 - which we were thrilled to welcome,” noted LBYC Staff Commodore John Busch.