San Francisco Bay Delivers for December Melges 24 Regional Regatta

© Sharon Green Photography / ultimatesailing.com

San Francisco Bay rewarded the Melges 24 fleet with an outstanding weekend of racing on December 13–14, as conditions far exceeded the early forecasts. What was expected to be a light-air regatta instead evolved into two days of ideal Bay sailing, with pressure steadily building into the upper range and boats flirting with planing conditions.

Sunday marked a highlight for the fleet, as Berkeley Yacht Club went above and beyond to provide the Melges 24s with their own dedicated one-design start—an effort that was greatly appreciated by all competitors and contributed to high-quality, tightly contested racing.

The regatta drew a competitive mix of crews, including a strong contingent from Lake Tahoe making the trip down to test themselves on the Bay. USA 350 Bob, skippered by Spencer Griscom, showed impressive confidence and aggression on the starting line in his first Midwinters appearance. CAN 039 Powdered Toast Man, skippered by Nick Pullen, delivered a standout performance on the opening upwind leg despite sailing with a reduced crew of just three sailors.

Local teams were well represented, led by USA 801 Takeoff, skippered by Andrew Picel, who sailed consistently and decisively to claim the overall victory. Close behind was fellow Bay Area entry USA 419 Hei Hei, skippered by Michael Griffo, with the two teams locked in a compelling battle through the final races of the weekend.

The fleet extends a sincere thank you to Berkeley Yacht Club and its race management team for their exceptional support, as well as to all sailors who made the effort to get on the water for a memorable weekend of Melges 24 racing on San Francisco Bay.

Final Results
1.) USA 801, Takeoff
2.) USA 332, Chop Chop
3.) CAN 039, Powdered Toast Man
4.) USA 419, Hei Hei
5.) USA 350, Bob