The Kahn family from San Francisco, dominated the front running after the first two races of the 2005 Corum Melges 24 World Championship at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo yesterday.

Philippe Kahn took second place, with three-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts calling tactics for his Pegasus 575, while his 16-year-old son Shark finished in fourth place, sailing Pegasus 492.

First place honours went to three-time US Melges national champion and Olympic silver medalist Morgan Reeser, from Fort Lauderdale, sailing Neil Sullivan’s Mfatic, from Annapolis, Maryland. With one exception there were Olympic medalists and sailors among the crews of the top seven boats of this star-studded regatta.

The victorious Melges 24 crew will take away more than the World Championship Trophy. Corum will present each winning crew member with an Admiral’s Cup Trophy 41 timepiece valued at $2,400.

The third place in a day of taxing racing in light and shifty winds went to Australian America’s Cup skipper James Spithill. Joined by brothers Charlie and Jonathan McKee, from Seattle, Spithill sailed a chartered boat named Luna Rossa, after the Italian America’s Cup syndicate he now sails for.

Italian native Nicola Celon, from Verona, took fifth place. A dinghy and big boat sailor, Celon is currently second on the European Melges 24 ranking lists. He is currently lying just one point behind Kahn.

John Pollard, a British sailmaker is sixth while John Bertrand from Annapolis, Maryland is in seventh place.

Results (after two races)

1. Morgan Reeser, Mfatic, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 2-8, 10 points

2. Philippe Kahn, Pegasus 575, San Francisco, Calif., 10-6, 16

3. James Spithill, Luna Rossa, Genoa, Italy, 5-12, 17

4. Shark Kahn, Pegasus, San Francisco, Calif., 492, 19-3, 22

5. Nicola Celon, Ale Ali, Verona, Italy, 1-22, 23

6. John Pollard, Xcellent, Torquay, England, 17-7, 24

7. John Bertrand, Fusion M, Annapolis, Maryland, 9-15, 24

8. Brian Porter, Full Throttle, Winnetka, Ill., 26-2, 28

9. Martin Kullman, New Wave, St. Petersburg, Fla., 18-11, 29

10. Francois Brenac, Partner & Partners, La Rochelle, France, 22-14, 36