Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week

Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs

June 24-26, 2005

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Jan. 11, 2005

Ullman Sails International Is LBRW Title Sponsor

LONG BEACH, Calif.---Ullman Sails International has joined Long Beach Race Week as title sponsor of the newly expanded regatta that has been a summertime staple for a quarter-century.

The new Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week is scheduled June 24-26, co-hosted and organized by the Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs. They plan to combine the strengths of the former Long Beach Race Week, initiated in 1980 by LBYC, and North Sails Race Week, which closed its privately structured run of 20 years last summer.

Randy Smith and Kevin Ellis are the event's co-chairmen. Smith said, "We are pleased to have Ullman Sails as our title sponsor. Their support of handicap and one-design sailing has been very strong over the years. This partnership will certainly help Long Beach Race Week to achieve its goal of becoming the premier inshore regatta in Southern California."

Ullman Sails International has 20 lofts in six countries, including nine in the U.S. President Dave Ullman grew up in Southern California and has been a lifelong competitor in various dinghy and keelboat classes. He was honored as Rolex Yachtsman of the Year in 1996.

"We have been associated with Long Beach Race Week for a long time," Ullman said. "Now that it's going to be the premier regatta in Southern California, we're thrilled to be the sponsor."

The company also has sponsored other events but few of this stature.

"Having our name associated with our target market obviously is good for us, but it's also putting back into the sport," Ullman said. "There needs to be a regatta like that, and being down to one we were more than happy to step up. It's good for us and it's good for sailing."

Smith, Ellis and Ullman said they plan to continue the tradition of pre-regatta seminars for all competitors, featuring world-class sailors and other experts in the sport.

"It hasn't been formatted, but there will be an informational session of some kind, whether it's whether or tactics or sail trim," Ullman said. "We’ll have top people presenting it, and not just from Ullman Sails."

There will be three days of racing, overseen by competition chairman Mark Townsend and Sandy Toscan of ABYC. Post-race activities will be at hosted at both clubs with water taxi service available.

Organizers anticipate participation by approximately 150 boats, including Transpac 52, Farr 40, J/Boat one-design classes, including J/105s; 1D35, Schock 35, Catalina 37, Express 37, Cal 25, Santana 20 and other invited or approved classes. Buoy and random leg classes will be offered in PHRF competition.

Smith said, "We hope to create a 'Grand Prix' Random Leg class for larger yachts in town for the start of the 2005 Transpacific Yacht Race that may wish to get tuned up with some distance racing."

All inquiries, including sponsorship opportunities, may be directed by e-mail to raceoffice@LBYC.org. The event schedule, logistical Information and Notice of Race are scheduled for posting in November at www.LBYC.org and www.ABYC.org.

Rich Roberts

Press officer

(310) 835-2526

richsail@earthlink.net