Viper 640 World Championship at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club - Preview

Jerwood under pressure in Practice Race 2, declared a dead heat with Justin Scott on day 1 of the Viper 640 Worlds Practice Regatta at Perth © Bernie Kaaks

Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (Long Beach, CA) will be hosting the 2019 Viper 640 World Championship powered by Goslings from August 17-24, 2019. The host of the Viper's 2014 North American Championship and the home of the world's largest fleet of the Viper 640 sportboat, ABYC has the experience, the resources, and the volunteers to make this a true World Championship.

50 Vipers are expected to be on the starting line sailing in the waters off Long Beach. The Viper 640 is known for its exceptional tracking upwind and, in the right conditions, hitting speeds in the high teens downwind. In short, these boats are as exciting to watch as they are to sail.

This Championship is drawing competitors from around the world including 2018 World Champion Nick Jerwood (Australia) plus a trio of crews from South Africa. "I found racing the Viper in the big winds off Perth during the 2018 Worlds an amazing and exhilarating experience," noted Jerwood, "and I can't wait to test the waters off Long Beach in a fleet of 50+ boats."

ABYC Commodore Dave Schack commented, "We are thrilled to have the Viper 640 Class back at our Club for the 2019 Worlds. This is a fleet of exceptional sailors who have consistently demonstrated they are as much fun off the water as on. This is a great family of sailors with which to be associated."

"Our Club has the resources and volunteers to make this major championship a reality, but it wasn't until Goslings Rum joined us as our presenting sponsor that we knew we would be able to put on a great Southern California championship," said ABYC Event Chairman Ed "Spot" Spotskey. "We have planned a great week of sailing and, when the sailors come ashore, they will be greeted by a level of hospitality found at only the best-run championships."

In addition to the actual World Championship, there will be a lot of Southern California Viper racing during August. The Santa Barbara Yacht Club will host the Viper 640 Pacific Coast Championship August 10-11 and ABYC will hold a Pre-Worlds regatta August 17-18.

The sailors are ready to race the Worlds having just completed two warm-up regattas. Last weekend, Santa Barbara Yacht Club hosted the Viper 640 Pacific Coast Championship and local Viper star Jeff Grange took top honors. PCC Results available here.

Ending today, ABYC's Pre-Worlds concluded after six races on the outside course off Long Beach where Geoff Ewenson (Annapolis, MD) atop the leaderboard. In essence, given the "pre" aspect of the regatta, some crews didn't sail all the races. Of note is 2017 Viper 640 North American Champion Marcus Eagan (Mandeville, LA) who won all four races he sailed. Warm-regatta results available here.

For more information about the Viper 640 and the 2019 Viper 640 World Championship powered by Goslings, go to www.viper640.org.