The Melges IC37 Class is hitting the ground running in 2020 returning to Fort Lauderdale, FL for the second event of the Winter Series. The Lauderdale Cup hosted by Lauderdale Yacht Club is set for three days of racing January 24-26.

After winning the Fall Cup in November, Drew Freides and Bill Ruh’s Pacific Yankee is leading the series. “We’re down here for the Florida weather, to have fun with friends, and enjoy some competitive sailing,” said Ruh. “The class is just getting started, so the winter series is to encourage one of the key elements of a class, which is participation.” After racing onboard New York Yacht Club’s charter fleet last season, this will be the second event for Pacific Yankee as a privately-owned boat. “This is a chance to get our boat ramped up and be competitive in the fleet. You folks who are up north in the cold weather, I encourage you to get down here.”

Heeding Ruh’s advice, Chris Culver’s Blazer II from Newport, RI is joining the Class for the Lauderdale Cup. Class President, Phil Lotz, remarked, “It’s great to have some time in the sun. There’s a lot of camaraderie and sharing of ideas down here.”

Lauderdale Yacht Club’s Race Committee has eight windward/ leeward races scheduled for the fleet running Friday-Sunday. Winds peaked to 25 knots in big waves for Thursday’s practice, and the forecast varies from light to blustery for the weekend.