DeVos junior crowned US Melges 32 Champion

Racing concludes in Harbor Springs

Ideal racing conditions just weren't meant to be on the final day of scheduled races at the 2010 Melges 32 US National Championship, hosted by Little Traverse Yacht Club, although initially it did appear early on to be promising. "When we saw it wasn't filling in like we had hoped by 12:30 p.m., it was just silly to make those guys sit out there and wait." said PRO Bruce Golison. "So, we sent everyone ashore. There was no indication as to how long it would take for the breeze fill like we wanted it to, and with a two o'clock cut-off we were pretty limited."

Congratulations to Ryan DeVos on Volpe as he is the 2010 US National Champion. DeVos, alongside of his father Dick, tactician Ed Baird, and crew consisting of Scott Nixon, Brian Janney, Mike Hill, Drew Weirda and Marty Kullman, produced an impressive 4-2-2-1-1 result winning by a remarkable 16 points. "I would have loved to have got some more racing in." said DeVos in celebration of winning his very first major Melges 32 title. "With the conditions we saw this weekend, there was no easy way around. This was really tough racing."

2010 Melges 32 Key West Race Week Champion John Kilroy, Jr. on Samba Pa Ti offered up some great competition yet settled for second place with Stu Bannatyne on tactics and Sam Rogers, Morgan Reeser, Eric Dorman, Kimberly Arnstson, Alan Nakanishi and Justin Smart as crew. John Porter on Full Throttle claimed third with the help of tactician Charlie McKee and team -Andy Burdick, Fritz Langzinger, Vincent Porter, Corbett Porter, Matthew Woodsworth and Kelly McKenna.

Several teams joined the class in Harbor Springs having traveled great distances, including Joe Woods from the UK and his Red team, and all the way from New Zealand, Stefan Goldwater on Tirade.

The Melges 32 is in full ramp-up mode for the 2010 Melges 32 World Championship taking place on September 20-25 in San Francisco hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Two additional events serve as warm-ups. The 2010 California Cup on August 20-22, hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club and the Rolex Big Boat Series, which also will serve as Pre-Worlds.

Results: