An interview with Travis Gregory about the 2024 Ultimate 20 North American Championships
by David Schmidt 18 Jul 03:00 NZST
July 22-24, 2024
Ultimate 20 racecourse action © John Liebenberg
When it comes to 20-foot monohulls that generate fast numbers and big grins, the Ultimate 20 is always part of the conversation. The boat enjoys a pedigreed design and build background, not to mention a solid reputation for its light-air performance. But, when a few more knots of TWS are added, Ultimate 20s have zero trouble getting up on a plane. While the design has existed since 1995, it continues to deliver sparkling performance in a towable package that clocks in at less that 1,600 pounds.
Ultimate 20s perform well in PHRF fleets, but, for many sailors, the real fun comes from racing the 20-foot flyers in one-design fleets. One great example is this year's North American Championship, which is being hosted by the Fresno Yacht Club from July 22 to 24, and which will unfurl on the waters of California's Huntington Lake.
All Ultimate 20s are welcome to race, provided that the skipper is a current member of the Ultimate 20 Class Association, displays their 2024 sticker, and ponies-up the registration fee.
Otherwise, it's game-on sailing in a design that knows how to shine in most conditions.
I checked in with Travis Gregory, who serves as president of the Ultimate 20 class, via email, to learn more about the class's 2024 North American Championships.
Can you give us a quick update on the health and status of the Ultimate 20 class? Also, would you say the class is in a period of growth, stability, or an ebbing tide in terms of participation numbers?
The Ultimate 20 Class is experiencing growth right now with used boats increasing in value and in high demand.
Lake Norman, North Carolina, has the largest fleet and hosted the North American Championship last year with close to 25 boats on the line. We also have grown a fleet at Park City Sailing Association in Utah with ten boats racing weekly on Thursdays.
Northern California has a concentration of boats and one-design activity, and thus is the choice to host our 2024 championship.
Also, the Bayview Yacht Club, [in Detroit, Michigan,] has a fleet of U20's racing regularly.
How competitive of an event will his year's Ultimate 20 NAs be, compared to the last several years of this event?
This year's event will be very competitive with two-time champion Steve Shaw attending. John Andrews is also a returning past two-time champion. The fleet is very competitive, and the regular attendees on the West Coast will all be there!
Where are the bulk of the entrants coming from? Also, am I correct that the class's sweet spot in terms of geography is California? Or, are there players arriving from other parts of the country as well?
The Fresno Yacht Club has a growing fleet, but we will also have attendees from around Northern California. Three boats are attending from Utah, and Steve Shaw and Tim Porter will be making the drive from North Carolina.
What's the weather typically like on Huntington Lake in late July? Are we talking t-shirts and shorts, or dry tops?
Huntington is home to warm weather and a perfect mountain thermal that blows nearly every day, 10-15 knots. [It's a] great venue for our championship.
Many will be attending the High Sierra Regatta the weekend before as a warm-up to the championship.
As a follow-up to that last question, how do the nearby mountains affect the racing? For example, is there a lot of orographic uplift there? What about mountain-driven wind shifts?
You are spot on. As a mountain lake it's shifty and it pays to connect the dots watching for the wind. Local knowledge and experience on this lake pays off. The club has fixed marks running the length of the lake giving the race committee lots of options for courses.
What kind of onshore entertainment can sailors expect, once the finishing guns have fallen silent each night?
The U20 class is made up of regulars who are as much friends as competitors. The class has a regular dinner, but you can expect that teams will gather every evening after sailing for food and beverage.
The class has a strong tradition of meeting after racing and the top placers of the day share their observations, rig tune, and tips.
We are about keeping everyone coming back for more fun next time, and that means helping everyone get better. The events are like family reunions as you sometimes only get to see these folks once a year.
For more information, check out the Ultimate 20 class website at www.u20class.org