2010 Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship Readies For Big Fleet Racing

August 26, 2010 (Holland, MI) - The 2010 Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship officially gets underway this weekend at the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club in Holland, Mich. At least twenty-three teams are expected to attend the three-day racing extravaganza, making it the largest U.S. Nationals to date.

Competitors have traveled great distances to compete, some from as far away as California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New York, South Dakota and Washington with several others coming from Canada. There is, of course, a healthy collective of hard-core Audi Melges 20 fanatics from Michigan with every intention of taking the top prize.

Defending National Champion Eric Wynsma on Superfly is back and ready to capture a second title. With Sean Fidler aboard as trimmer and tactics from Anthony Kotoun, Wynsma will definitely be on the watch list. 2010 Charleston Race Week Champion Michael Kiss on Bacio is always a tough competitor. Eyes will be on Chuck Holzman’s Flyer with the talents of 2009 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Bora Gulari as tactician and George ‘Bear’ Peet as trimmer.

For the second running of the U.S. Nationals, the fleet is full of fresh faces. George Gamble debuts on A Little Wicked, Brian Hill on Atlas, Jeff Jones on Bad Nemo, Kate Mullin on CAN-141, Lance Smotherman on Details, Paul Reilly on Red Sky Sailing Team, Simon Strauss on Simplicity, Kent Haeger on USA-012 and Rhonda Joyce on Batteries Not Included. They are all brand new to the fleet.

Thursday, August 26 has been set aside for warm-up, practice and registration. Championship racing starts Friday, August 27 and will conclude on Sunday, August 29. Plenty of great parties and dinner gatherings are planned.

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