Melges 20 U.S. National Championship all set

by Joy Dunigan on 6 Oct 2012 The fourth edition of the Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship is only one day away from commencement in scenic San Francisco, California, hosted by the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. An amazing 24 teams have assembled from all across America representing ten states, including five entries from Canada.

Among the top contenders are reigning National Champion Michael Kiss on Bacio, Charleston Race Week Champ Russ Lucas on Shimmer, Paul Reilly on Red Sky and the forever aggressive Tony Tabb with Steve Sisson at the helm on Elevation Racing. Recently crowned Pacific Coast Champion Brian Hill on Atlas is also poised and ready to go after another trophy.

Daniel Theilman on Kuai, Sid Gorham on Funner, Elliot James' Problem Child, Skip Shapiro on Makaira and Roland Vandermeer on BLAST! are among the teams boasting local knowledge and talent. They plan to squared off, and hopefully put home court advantage to best use on the leaderboard. Last but not least, in attendance for the first time ever in the Audi Melges 20, yet well accustomed to the intensity of Melges performance racing, is newly crowned Melges 32 World Champion John Kilroy Jr. on Samba Pa Ti.

Far beneath the roar of the spectacular Blue Angels and the excitement of cityfront America's Cup Racing, Thursday provided the perfect opportunity for the National Championship fleet to practice on San Francisco Bay and conclude registration. Three days of racing are scheduled, commanded by none other than PRO Bruce Golison and team, Friday-Sunday, October 5-7.

Full Entry List:

1.) Brian Hill, Atlas
2.) Michael Kiss, Bacio
3.) Rhonda Joyce, Batteries Not Required
4.) Roland Vandermeer, BLAST!
5.) John Arendshorst, Blink 20/20
6.) Erwyn Naidoo, Bohica
7.) Danny Shea, Diamante
8.) David Pollock, dp
9.) Tony Tabb, Elevation Racing
10.) Tom Kasberg, Flygfisk
11.) Sid Gorham, Funner
12.) Bob Hayward, Gypsea
13.) Daniel Theilman, Kuai
14.) Kent Haegar, Mach Schnell
15.) Skip Shapiro, Makaira
16.) Elliott James, Problem Child
17.) Paul Reilly, Red Sky
18.) John Kilroy Jr., Samba Pa Ti
19.) Richard Davies, Section 16
20.) Russell Lucas, Shimmer
21.) Wes Whitmeyer, Slingshot
22.) Tom Ritter, Tramp
23.) Clay Broussard, Velocity
24.) Paul Currie, Wild Melges 20 website