Key West Race Week | Ullman Sails USA 32 Regatta Wrap Up

Team USA 32 from California Yacht Club (left to right): Greg Koski, Doug Mclean, Erik Shampain, Keith Magnussen

Key West Race Week (KWRW) 2015 version is in the books.  Potentially the last KWRW turned out to be a somewhat light air event until the final day when the classic conditions came through with much appreciation from the sailors. 

USA 32 leading the pack

USA 32 skippered by Doug Mclean from California Yacht Club was in the ultra competitive J-70 class.  Not only was the J-70 class the largest but it was also the closest with the regatta really coming down to the final few races.  Tea, Helly Hansen rallied back only to be OCS in the final race to ultimately end their chances.  Team Calvi Network remained consistent and took the top honors with some really cool sailing.  Flojito Y Cooperando pushed into second with their new Ullman Main.  They were extremely fast and made the most of their speed by keeping good clean lanes around the racecourse. 

Flojito Cruising Upwind

USA 32 rounded out the regatta in 11th place to secure a great finish for Doug Mclean as his first regatta as skipper.  The boys had a solid regatta and after three days were still in touching distance of the podium.  A tough fourth day with two over early starts were hard to overcome but the team bounced back with solid finishing.

Doug Mclean: "One of the best sailing experiences ever, great boat, great sailing venue, and really great team.  We came a long way from where we started, and having never sailed together until Key West, I am very proud of this team. I am also very proud of our results.  I want to thank our sponsors, Latis Racing, Ullman Sails, and most of all California Yacht Club for there great support.

Keith Magnussen:  "The fourth day was disappointing but we had to keep things in perspective.  This was our first regatta together as a team and when you are still developing it is important to bounce back and we did.  The atmosphere of the event and team was amazing and it was a pleasure to sail for Doug Mclean and California Yacht Club.  The J-70 is a great boat and I can only hope that it starts flourishing on the West Coast."

Erik Shampain: "Overall we had a great regatta and learned more about sailing and tuning the J-70.  The two highlights for me were blasting downwind on the final day and the collaboration between all of the Ullman customers as we are always trying to go faster as a group." 

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Key West Race Week | Ullman Sails USA 32 Day 4 Report

Team USA 32 Representing California Yacht Club

Day 4 from Key West Race Week came with good breeze and an early seat to make up for the lack of sailing on Wednesday.  The drama from the big boats (Bella Mente hitting something) was the talk of the town and the climax of the J-70 fleet was imminent as they were three races scheduled for the day.  USA 32 was keen on getting out early to see what the racecourse was looking like.

When the breeze came in it was refreshing as it quickly built to a steady 10kts.  Racing was tight and the leader board started to get organized with a few different groups forming.

USA 32 has a mediocre day with two over early races really making things tough.  Flojito Y Cooperando won two of three races using their new Ullman Main and propelled themselves into third place.  The Italian contingent "Cali Network" have sailed very consistently and with the throughout they are sitting top of the leaderboard.

Keith Magnussen: "In the first race we were looking ok but did not stick to the game plan as we had in previous races.  As the clouds and systems came through before the start we tried to tune the rig accordingly.  We might have been a little behind but felt good when we found a lane."  I think that a little more time in the boat as a team will be really beneficial in the future as this is our first regatta in the boat.  I am super positive about tomorrow and know that this will be a success as I have learned a lot about the J-70 and more about big boat management."

Grek Koski:  "Over early can be very costly and it took us out of our game plan.  We were more prepared for the light air because that is what we practiced in and were a bit un prepared as the breeze came on."

Erik Shampain: "Today was hard. Again I learned the lesson "Stick to the game plan." On the first beat of race 1 we went against our pre race game plan and it hurt as we rounded the first mark very deep. Luckily with a little speed and clean crew work, we were able to climb into the 20's. The next two races were harder as we pulled the trigger early and were called OCS. With shorted legs and few passing lanes, we were only ably to climb to around mid fleet. But we're staying positive and looking forward to getting three races back in on tomorrows final day.

Doug Mclean: "Tough day on the water and I am still learning the boat.  Time and distance was critical and we obviously missed that on two starts.  Team was a little disappointed but we are upbeat and looking forward to tomorrow.  It is great to be out here representing California Yacht Club and the West Coast."

Results

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Key West Race Week Sunday Report | Ullman Sails

Key West Race Week

USA 32 Team "Latis Racing" has been in Key West since Thursday and are excited about day one of racing which starts tomorrow.  Doug Mclean, Erik Shampain, Greg Koski and Keith Magnussen have been spending a few days on the boat practicing and have taken the time to share some observations.

Erik Shampain at the Southern Most Point

Erik Shampain:  Today was a great day to warm up.  A large fleet was on the water and had a good chance to test their speed against rivals.  We are very happy with our boat speed and optimistic about chances to compete.

Greg Koski: It was a really good practice to work on the little things. We worked on down modes and up modes.  It was about the fine tune.  Downwind we managed our crew position in order to switch gears.

Doug Mclean: Time on the boat and sailing with a relatively new team is always crucial even when you race with experienced sailors.  I had the chance to experience a wide range of conditions which helped us pack a lot of transitioning into two days.  I am looking forward to the regatta and representing California Yacht Club.

Keith Magnussen:  We had a great practice today and had a chance to fine tune our crew work.  Key West is a unique venue with many challenges and I am looking forward to a competitive week of saddling.

Follow USA 32 on Ullman Sails Newport Beach Facebook Page

Key West Race Week Sunset Over The J-70 Course

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NANUQ FINISHES 2ND IN QUICK RIDE TO KEY WEST

NANUQ FINISHES 2ND IN QUICK RIDE TO KEY WEST
1/15/2011

Congratulations to Ullman Sails customer Glenn Doncaster and his crew who took 2nd Overall in the PHRF Division A of the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, January 12-14. Glenn’s Sabre 426 “NANUQ,” is based out of Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville, Virginia. Glenn and his crew decided to take NANUQ down to Florida only five weeks before the start of the race.

In order to get the boat down south, the team broke up the delivery into three legs, arriving in Fort Lauderdale three days before the start. As a well-appointed cruiser, NANUQ lived up to her reputation and the delivery crew was treated to reverse cycle heat, hot water, a generator, a dinghy on davits and full canvas finishing. Once in Ft. Lauderdale, the crew spent two days turning NANUQ from a cruiser to racer, including changing over the mainsail, removing the furling drum and loading a full inventory of race headsails. Several new sails were delivered for the race included a new S3 heavy reacher and a GPL IT Carbon #2 genoa, both of which worked beautifully in the heavy reaching conditions.

The race itself proved to be a quick one. Here’s an onboard report from the crew:

"It was fairly light at the start 8-10 and built throughout the race, becoming quite windy during the night. Top wind speeds were about 34 knots. It blew out of the north the whole race. We started with the .6 runner and were slightly slower than the lighter displacement boats. As the wind built we got on pace with the fleet and started to make gains toward nightfall. At dusk we switched to the new S3 heavy reaching chute and as we rounded the bottom of Florida the angle tightened and we progressively made gains. Around midnight the wind had built significantly and the apparent wind angle closed so we changed down to a #2 genoa. We beam-reached with the #2 and full main through the night surfing at 10-13 knots of consistent boat speed. The final leg was a beat up the shipping channel into Key West harbor with gusts in the high 20s”.

NANUQ finished in just under 20 hours, correcting to second in class! On arrival in Key West and after a number of celebratory rum drinks and a good night’s sleep, the crew turned NANUQ back into a cruiser. She will spend the rest of the winter in Florida and then Glenn will bring her back to the Chesapeake for more racing this summer

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Melges 24, Melges 32 & J-105 at Key West Race Week.......Days 3&4

post#41
Key West, Florida
The sailing conditions are proving to reward good boat speed and good tactics. Alan Field's Melges 24 "WTF" is the top amatuer helms person and top American boat in arguably the most talented fleet at Key West Race Week this year. "WTF" won race #7 by a ridiculous time of almost 3 minutes...way to go Cali boys!

Dave Ullman who is crewing on Alex Jackson's Melges 32 "Leenabarca" from Newport, Rhode Island has turned on the heat and steadied out in 5th place. Alex, Dave and crew are only 2 points out of 3rd in the Melges 32 fleet of 20 boats!The J-105's have had three different leaders over the last three days. Back on top of the fleet is Ullman Sails customer Brian Keene racing "FLAME" who is being chased by another Ullman Sails customer Gerrit Schulze racing "MAX POWER" who is in 3rd overall. Ullman Sails have won 5 out of 8 races so far!for full results and photo's

-click here-

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Day 2 Melges 24 & J-105 at Key West Race Week

post #40
Key West, FL

For Key West Race Week photo's by Tim Wilkes
-click here-

Another moderate breeze on day 2 with wind between 13-18 knots. Alan Field's Melges 24, "WTF" showed blazing upwind speed and great tactical calls to lead the fleet all the way around the four leg course of the first race of then day. Even after a blown tack line on the first run and a brief drop to second place, the California based team romped right back to the front and stayed there. In race two of the day, Alan's team stayed strong through shifty conditions to take a 6th place. The total day's total catapulted them into 5th overall and the top American boat.
Blu Moon from Switzerland is racing with the Ullman Dacron main and sailed very consistent taking a pair of deuces to hold onto second overall in this highly competitive fleet.
On the J-105 course, Brian Keane's "Savasana" is leading the pack with a stunning 3,2,1,1 finish!

Full Results for all classes
-click here-

Erik Shampain-Ullman Sails Newport Beach

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Melges 24 at Key West Race Week

post #39
Key West, FL

2009 Key West Race WeekNo problem with speed! Alan Field's Melges 24, "WTF" from California Yacht Club featuring an all upwind Ullman Sails Inventory rounded the first upwind mark of the first race in 1st place just in front of the current World Champions. In the first race, a 60 degree shift from a large rain cloud on the first run caused a fall to 13th in the end. Sailing off the start line with speed, "WTF" rounded the first upwind mark of the second race in 2nd place! Alan and crew ended the day with a 13 and a 4, and lie in 8th place. Alan's success is shared with Tactician Steve Hunt, Jeff Reynolds, Sarah Curran, and Ullman Sails Newport's own Production Manager Erik Shampain.

Blu Moon lies in second featuring the 4 time Melges 24 World Championship winning Ullman Sails Dacron Main.

Follow the Melges 24 "WTF" report this week by clicking back to Ullman Sails Newport Beach!

2009 KWRW results and pictures -click here-

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