USMCA NEWS

NEWS

2006 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP • US COMPETITOR PERSPECTIVE

27 AUGUST 2006 • The USA is represented this year by only four teams. I guess when such matters end up coming into play, there is but only one response - it's not quantity, it's quality. In that case, the word "quality" should be stated in capital letters Q U A L I T Y. Only four of some of the absolute best teams are on the roster for this year's World Championship, a far cry from the 60+ that was in Key Largo at the infamous Ocean Reef Club in December of 2005.

With fleet allocations in full swing here is a team perspective on the USA representatives:

DAVE ULLMAN • USA 505; PEGASUS 505
World class yachtsman Dave Ullman aboard Pegasus 505 is heading up the Pegasus Racing Program in Hyeres. In the Green Fleet, Ullman is accompanied by George Hermadas, Brian Hutchison - 2003 World Champion crew, long-time member of the Pegasus program and Transpac veteran Brent Ruhne, and last but certainly not least is none other than Jess Holger, a three-time 505 World Champion.

PHILLIPS PERKINS (HELM) | STEVE PUGH • USA 595; TABOO
This team is relatively new to the International Melges 24 scene. In the Red Fleet, owner Steve Pugh and his Taboo team of Phillips Perkins (helm), Scott Inveen and John Collins hail from California and the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. They first participated at the 2006 North American Championship finishing seventh overall. Not too shabby, for a first time around in a 30+ boat fleet.

BRIAN PORTER | USA 600; FULL THROTTLE
Reigning 2006 Melges 24 North American Champion, Porter is a veteran to the Melges arena. In addition to being a former Olympian, Brian's accolades as a tremendous sailor are astonishing. Originating from the heart of America - the Midwest, Brian along with his brother John Porter, have competed on various levels within the sport of sailing. Both have national titles stacked to the ceiling in a number of Scow classes — in particular E Scows and A Scows. Adding to this fantastic poole of sailing talent are 2002 Melges 24 World Champions Harry Melges, III and Andy Burdick. Burdick alone brings over 30 National Championship titles to this however-you-want-to-look-at-it, winning combination of intuitiveness, experience, strength and sharp-as-a-tack team.

MARK MANSFIELD (HELM) | SIMON STRAUSS • GBR 592; TEAM GILL
Despite the fact that the sail reads GBR, the USMCA has adopted Simon Strauss as one of our own. He currently lives in New York City and is a very pro-active member of the Northeast Melges 24 Fleet. Marked for the Yellow Fleet, Strauss serves as Fleet Captain for Long Island. Simon is a very good sailor and has paired his crew with Irish helm Mark Mansfield. Mark is one of the most accomplished sailors in the world and this is not the first time that they have combined their talents. Mansfield is a former Olympian (qualified in 1996 in Savannah, Georgia and again in 2000 in Sydney, Australia in the Men's Keelboat Division) and he is also 2003 Star European Spring Champion. His sailing career and credits are extensive including participation at the Star World Championships, multiple Barardi Cups and the famous German Kieler Woche. In addition to the team are Aaron O'Grady, another very impressive Irish Finn Sailor and Paul Austin, an experienced 1720 Class sailor and currently Sales Manager with Hyde Sails.

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