Kahn family dominate

After opening day of the Corum Melges 24 Worlds in Florida

The Kahn family from San Francisco, CA, dominated the front running after the first two races of the 2005 Corum Melges 24 World Championship at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo today.

Philippe Kahn took second place, with three-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts calling tactics for his Pegasus 575, while his 16-year-old son Shark finished in fourth place, sailing Pegasus 492.

First place honours went to three-time U.S. Melges National Champion and Olympic silver medalist Morgan Reeser, from Ft. Lauderdale, FL sailing Neil Sullivan's Mfatic. With one exception there were Olympic medalists and sailors among the crews of
the top seven boats of this star-studded regatta.

The victorious Melges 24 crew will take away more than the World Championship Trophy. Corum will present each winning crew member with an Admiral's Cup Trophy 41 timepiece valued at $2,400.

The third place in a day of taxing racing in light and shifty winds went to Australian America's Cup skipper James Spithill. The young Aussie was joined on board by fellow Luna Rossa teammates Charlie and Jonathan McKee, sailing their chartered boat.

Italian Nicola Celon took fifth place. A dinghy and big boat sailor, Celon is currently second on the European Melges 24 ranking lists. He is currently lying just one point behind Kahn.

British sailmaker John Pollard, is sixth while American John Bertrand is seventh.

Results:

1. Morgan Reeser, Mfatic, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 2-8, 10 points
2. Philippe Kahn, Pegasus 575, San Francisco, Calif., 10-6, 16
3. James Spithill, Luna Rossa, Genoa, Italy, 5-12, 17
4. Shark Kahn, Pegasus, San Francisco, Calif., 492, 19-3, 22
5. Nicola Celon, Ale Ali, Verona, Italy, 1-22, 23
6. John Pollard, Xcellent, Torquay, England, 17-7, 24
7. John Bertrand, Fusion M, Annapolis, Maryland, 9-15, 24
8. Brian Porter, Full Throttle, Winnetka, Ill., 26-2, 28
9. Martin Kullman, New Wave, St. Petersburg, Fla., 18-11, 29;
10. Francois Brenac, Partner & Partners, La Rochelle, France, 22-14, 36

To see full results - click here