18th Del Rey Yacht Club Corum USA International Yacht Race
Del Rey Yacht Club Starts Feb. 11-18, 2005
dryc.org
Sept. 18, 2004

First Pre-Race Seminar Oct. 14

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.---The first of three pre-race seminars for next February's 18th Del Rey Yacht Club Corum USA International Yacht Race is scheduled Thursday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. at the club.

The event is free and open to the sailing public and is not exclusive to entrants. Snacks and beverages will be served. Starts for the historic race from Marina del Rey to Puerto Vallarta are scheduled Feb. 11-18, 2005.

The first seminar agenda will open with an overview of the race, followed by discussions of equipment requirements, appropriate sails and their proper use directed by experts on those subjects and concluding with a presentation by a panel of previous participants.

Bob Kettenhofen, manager of North Sails Long Beach, will lead the sail discussion. Panel members and the types of boats they have raced to Puerto Vallarta are Fred Huffman, Santa Cruz 50, Columbia 50 and 52, Contessa 36, Trade Winds 40 and Jeanneau 52.2; Bob Kettenhofen, MacGregor 65 and J/160; Scott Adam, C&C 39 and Davidson 53, and Sandy Sinclair, Catalina 38 and 42.

Ensuing seminars covering other aspects of offshore sailing are scheduled Nov. 11 and Dec. 9, followed by an all-day workshop for paid entries on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Race chairman Ron Jacobs said, "The seminars have been very successful in the past in preparing less experienced racers for the offshore experience with a higher level of confidence and allowing veterans to brush up on the fine points."

As in 2003, the fleet will be divided between the Racing Division and the Salsa group, the division for skippers who prefer to break up the race into three legs but still enjoy the thrill of a competitive long-distance blue water event.

The Salsa Division will start Feb. 11, a week ahead of the Racing Division classes, and enjoy layovers at Turtle Bay and Cabo San Lucas, with Bahia Santa Maria as an option in between. The Salsa Division will have classes for both spinnaker and non-spinnaker boats.

The Notice of Race, Entry Request Form, current entry list and other race information and event details are available online at www.dryc.org.

Entry forms should be requested by Oct. 10. Del Rey Yacht Club will provide dock space for all starters and assist in air transportation and hotel accommodations.

All entries must have a minimum deck length of 35 feet and a Southern California PHRF off-wind course rating of 150 seconds per mile maximum.

Salsa entries also must be capable of a minimum speed of 6 knots under power, with fuel capacity for a minimum distance of 150 miles.

The owner or skipper of the overall winner in each class will receive a Corum Admiral's Cup Trophy 41 watch with a retail value of $2,195. There were six such winners in 2003. The watch, along with the complete Corum line, may be seen at www.corum.ch

Corum is an independent, family owned company producing high-quality and prestigious Swiss watches since 1955.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Del Rey Yacht Club
(310) 823-4664
dryc.org

RACE CHAIRMAN
Ron Jacobs
(310) 274-7200
rj2sail@pacbell.net

RACING DIVISION ENTRIES
Mike Guccione
(818) 731-1030
innov8@pacbell.net

SALSA DIVISION ENTRIES
Marty & Phyllis Fliegel
(310) 577-6474

PRESS OFFICER
Rich Roberts
(310) 835-2526
richsail@earthlink.net