Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Melges 32 Gold Cup at Lauderdale Yacht Club - Overall

by Joy Dunigan 8 Dec 2008 06:54 GMT 5-7 December 2008

Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll are 2008 Melges 32 Gold Cup Regatta Champions

A massive congratulations is extended to Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll (Clearwater, Fla.) on USA-131 New Wave. From early class beginnings, Marty and Mike have always been at the forefront of Melges 32 sailing. Today, they captured yet another major championship title, that of 2008 Melges 32 Gold Cup Regatta Champions! On board, making up this almost completely amateur team is Judah Rubin, Jay Kuebel, Steve Liebel, Ron Hyatt, Alex Shaffer and calling tactics was Scott Nixon. Nixon is no stranger to success as he just came off a victorious Melges 24 North American Championship with Terry Hutchinson a month or so ago in Annapolis, Md.

The day consisted of two dynamic races in which International Melges 32 Class President and reigning 2008 U.S. National Champion Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on USA-32 STAR really nailed the first. Overcast skies greeted the fleet down on the dock and again, it had everyone worried that gloomy conditions would prevail. Instead sunshine, warmth and most importantly breeze arrived even if it was short lived.

The first start was clean with the exception of the big shift within a minute of the gun, jamming the pin end. Joe Woods (Torquay, UK) on GBR-700 Red took full advantage of room at the committee boat jetting out to the right. Peter Rogers (London, UK) GBR-121 Highlife went alongside, but the shifty conditions found John Kilroy USA-13131 Samba Pa Ti rounding the top mark in first, followed by Ecklund who had some serious speed. Gradually, Ecklund pulled away from the fleet, ever increasing his margin for the win. The battle for second was interesting between Stephen Pugh (Sausalito, Calif.) on USA-158 Taboo, Kilroy, Jim Swartz (Edgartown, N.Y) on USA-007 Q and Kullman/Carroll. Kilroy slipped further back to settle for sixth, while Pugh went on to take second, Swartz finished in third. One of two Italian entries Carlo Alberini (Pesaro, Italy) on ITA-186 Calvi Network took fourth while Kullman/Carroll were fifth.

Going into the last race of the day Kullman/Carroll and Swartz were dead even in the points. For Swartz, to win his first major Melges 32 championship title would be grand, but for the Kullman/Carroll team a victory would serve as a fixed reminder of just how strong a competitor the New Wave team really is, especially considering their last significant win was the 2008 Miami Grand Prix last March. A little after noon, the five leg race was conducted on comfortable seas and breeze pumping around 10-15 mph. From the start Kullman/Carroll punched the left side rounding the first windward mark in second behind Jason Carroll (New York, N.Y) on USA-128 Argo in first. Ecklund was determined still rounding third.

It was tough but Kullman/Carroll worked their way to the front to edge the lead from Carroll; Kilroy and Ecklund followed closely. It was tight no doubt as Carroll and Kullman/Carroll split the difference at the first leeward gate. From there, Kullman/Carroll gained ownership of a solid lead, while Swartz suffered some six to seven spots deeper in the fleet with his hopes of a win fading fast. Carroll, although regularly challenged by Kilroy and Ecklund managed to hang on considering that at the last leeward gate Kilroy did occupy the second position, if only for a moment. Back upwind, Carroll regained his positioning and took the second place spot while Kullman/Carroll cruised across the finish line. Kilroy landed third, in fourth was John Taylor (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla,) on USA-1313 Ninkasi and in fifth was Ecklund.

Overall Results:

1st Marty Kullman/Mike Carroll, New Wave; 3-13-1-2-[17]-4-5-1 = 28pts
2nd Jim Swartz, Q; 1-6-7-1-[11]-9-3-8 = 35pts
3rd John Kilroy, Samba Pa Ti; 9-2-3-5-[10]-7-6-3 = 35pts
4th Carlo Alberini, CALVI Network; 10-3-2-6-3-13-4-[14] = 41pts
5th Jeff Ecklund, STAR; [14]-1-10-10-[21/DSQ]-1-5 = 42pts
6th John Taylor, Ninkasi; 11-12-5-[18]-7-1-8-4 = 48pts
7th Kip Meadows, roXanne; 2-14-11-[21/DSQ]-4-2-15-7 = 55pts
8th Joe Woods, Red; [15]-7-4-7-6-12-10-11 = 57pts
9th Edward Tillinghast, Dark n'Stormy; 4-4-19-3-[16]-8-14-16 = 65pts
10th Pieter Taselaar, Bliksem; 7-[17]-6-4-14-11-7-17 = 66pts

Click here for full results.

A very special thanks

The International Melges 32 Class Association would like to sincerely thank the Lauderdale Yacht Club and inparticular — Regatta Chair Lang Ryder, Bob Meagher, Lindsay Allen and a host of others that made this event spectacular. From the dinners, to the upscale atmosphere LYC was the perfect host. To IM32CA President, Jeff Ecklund whose passion for the Melges 32 led to countless hours of coordination and planning. Thank you Jeff for all your hard work and contributions to this incredible class of boat.

Ninkasi Racing was soley responsible for the beer truck — that's right, an entire truck of beer was made available for the racers each day after competition. Thank you Ninkasi Racing as post race discussions would not have been the same without the brew!

Related Articles

Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point overall
Darby Smith thought his chances of winning the J/22 class were derailed on Friday Darby Smith thought his chances of winning the J/22 class at Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point were derailed during the third race held Friday. That's because the main halyard aboard Tasmanian Devil snapped and the boat was unable to finish. Posted on 14 Apr
Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point Day 2
Standings tighten on 'Moving Day' It was moving day at Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point and that's exactly what several skippers and teams did. Posted on 13 Apr
Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point Day 1
Spectacular start with sunny skies, warm temperatures and solid wind Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point got off to a spectacular start on Friday with sunny skies, warm temperatures and solid wind. Competitors on Circle 1 completed four races, while those on Circle 2 got in three. Posted on 12 Apr
158 entries set for Charleston Race Week
18 classes racing at Patriots Point Robin Team has skippered an entry at Charleston Race Week at least 15 times and done so quite successfully. The Lexington, North Carolina resident presented with the Palmetto Cup, awarded to winner of the most competitive handicap class, five times. Posted on 11 Apr
Entries open for Crown Series Bellerive Regatta
Sailors from across Tasmania are gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary Sailors from across Tasmania are gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Crown Series Bellerive Regatta, regarded as one of the most successful sailing events on the Tasmanian sailing calendar. Posted on 31 Jan 2024
Charleston Race Week announces new partnership
Many regular competitors are already signed up for the 2024 edition Between April 18-21, hundreds of sailors from all corners of North America and beyond will descend on one of the finest sailboat racing destinations in the US - Charleston, South Carolina — for world-class racing and fun parties. Posted on 29 Jan 2024
Charleston Race Week 2024 registration open
We are thrilled to welcome everyone back Online registration for Charleston Race Week 2024 is officially open! Register early and scoop up those early entry discounts now. Posted on 18 Nov 2023
Melges 20 and Melges 32 World League GP
Puntaldia, Sardinia, sees conclusion of second round The second seasonal Grand Prix of the Melges World League for the Melges 32 and Melges 20 classes ended today on the Sardinian regatta field of Puntaldia. Posted on 29 May 2023
2023 Charleston Race Week overall
Concluding with the full complement of racing across all 15 classes At the end of the day, a regatta is all about the breeze and when the wind generously gave its all for the last race of Charleston Race Week 2023, it brought smiles to many faces and success across all fifteen fleets racing. Posted on 23 Apr 2023
2023 Charleston Race Week Day 2
Dark N'Stormy start to the day A day that started with dark skies and thunderstorms finally cleared well before noon but not without challenging times for both race committee and racers alike. Posted on 22 Apr 2023