2018 Diversified Melges 24 U.S. National Championship Settles in for Great Racing

Final preparations are underway across the board for the start of the 2018 Diversified Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, hosted by The San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, CA taking place on September 7-9. From weigh-in and event registration, to practice racing, the Melges 24 fleet is getting set and ready for what will be three amazing days of highly-competitive racing on San Francisco Bay.

In addition to an action-packed weekend on the water, plenty of shore-side festivities have also been planned which includes complimentary beer and snacks after racing each day. A very nice, regatta dinner party is scheduled for Saturday night in the main dining room at the yacht club to celebrate the Class' 20+ years of conducting its National Championship event.

On the competitive side of things, the fleet anticipates a heated weekend with notables such as Washington State's Kevin Welch racing MIKEY, Steve Boho at the helm of THE 300 traveling from the Midwest, Canada's Richard Reid on ZINGARA and Laura Grondin's DARK ENERGY in attendance. They are up against some of the toughest area teams who possess a distinct home-court advantage.

Doug Wilhelm's WILCO, Duane Yoslov's LOOPER and Kent Pierce's AVERAGE WHITE BOAT are among the local favorites that will compete as Corinthians. They are expected to do very well in San Francisco Bay's reliable big breeze conditions.

Yoslov is a long-time Melges 24 owner and serves as the West Coast District Governor for the USM24CA. The sailing is epic this time of year on the bay as the fog backs away and the breeze is bigger than ever, he says.

Tomorrow (Friday) marks the first day of competition in California. The event will conclude on Sunday with an awards ceremony featuring some prizes from Quantum Sails to crown the next U.S. National Champion.