DCB Delta Force Commands Lake Havasu

Minus the United States military aerial demonstration teams courtesy of the ongoing government shut-down, the Pacific Air Show still roared above Huntington Beach, Calif., last weekend. It was, by the accounts of several locals who caught it from a 44-foot cruiser in the spectator fleet, its usual awe-inspiring self.

Lake Havasu locals who rose early Friday morning were treated to a spectacular sight. Photos by Tom Leigh copyright Tommy Gun Images.

But just 300 miles to the Southeast in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., a brand-specific group of high-performance custom catamaran owners was putting on a delta-formation show of its own on the Colorado River fed waterway between California and Arizona.

The event was the 35th annual DCB Owners Regatta. It attracted 70 boats and more than 300 guests.

“We had an incredible turnout,” said Tony Chiaramonte, the vice-president of the Phoenix-based company. “We run the regatta on Thursday and Friday—Saturday is a free-day for the DCB customer-family members still in town—so we have more of the lake to ourselves. We’re a little unlike a few other regattas in that we pull all required permits and secure proper insurance. The local officials spoke at our drivers meeting mentioned how grateful they are for that.

“We wouldn’t do it any other way,” he added.

The new DCB M35R catamaran debuted at the event.

“On Thursday, we ran to Ghost Mine Saloon, a new place on the California side of Lake Havasu,” he continued. “We had 30 or 40 boats and they handled the docking and raft-up perfectly. On Friday we ran up to Pirate Cove Resort, always a favorite with our group.”

But for those willing to be on the water and waiting for the helicopter carrying videographer Carter Bahde and photographer Tom Leigh by 7 a.m. sharp, there may be a new DCB Owners Regatta “favorite” in the making: creating delta formations while running. Of the 20 boats that showed, all but four or five, according to Chiaramonte, were of the catamaran variety.

So he organized the outboard-powered cats to create one most impeccable delta formations ever seen on Lake Havasu—or elsewhere.

The DCC stern-drive contingent had excellent representation.

“It was extraordinary,” he said. “Everybody involved loved it.”

In a break from the past five or six years due to an even-schedule conflict, according to Chiaramonte, DCB based the regatta out of the venerable Nautical Inn rather the London Bridge Resort. The DCB crew brought in extra docks to accommodate the fleet at the Nautical Inn venue.

Though the event likely will return to the London Bridge property, the DCB and Nautical Inn teams—and the participants—made it all work.

The Nautical Inn venue worked out just fine the most of the DCB catamaran owners and their guests.

“The cool thing about the Nautical is that with its big pool, the Naked Turtle Bar and its own launch ramp, it’s a very self-contained place to have an event,” Chiaramonte explained. “The downside is it’s a little more exposed if the wind comes up on the lake, which it did a bit on Friday. But it worked really and everyone had a great time. The camaraderie was insane, and the Saturday night banquet and awards party in the convention center on site was packed.”

For M37R catamaran owner Dan Kuhn of Cape Coral, Fla., last weekend’s DCB Regatta was his second. Kuhn took delivery of the 37-footer during the 2024 happening. Such deliveries have been common during the longstanding event.

But this time, Kuhn added the Lake Powell Challenge, which happened two weekends ago, to his Western boating-adventure itinerary.

“DCB puts on a great events—it was a lot of fun,” said Kuhn, who currently is traveling through Texas and on his way home with his catamaran in tow. “And Lake Powell was incredible. It was our first time there and the photos just don’t do it justice.”