With 127 boats on the line, the Melges 15 Winter Series 3 brought another exciting weekend of racing, with strong competition on the water and great energy off it.
The weekend began Friday with a clinic led by Esteban Forrer and Justin Assad, providing sailors with valuable instruction and guidance. Friday evening featured a special event with Olympic gold medalist Jonathan McKee, fresh off his win at Winter Series 2. McKee shared insights on big-fleet tactics, giving sailors valuable perspective heading into the weekend. The session set the tone for a competitive and educational weekend on the water.
Saturday began with an AP ashore as the fleet waited for a dying northerly to give way to the forecasted sea breeze. Right on schedule, the wind filled in around 1:00 PM, providing 8–10 knots and ideal racing conditions for the afternoon. The fleet was as competitive as ever over the course of 3 races, with close races all the way towards the finish.
With storms forecasted for Sunday afternoon, racing got underway earlier in the day. The breeze increased to 10–15 knots with puffy, shifty conditions that tested teams’ adaptability and boat handling. One race was completed before weather moved in, sending the fleet ashore ahead of the approaching storms.
After four races, Emily and John Haig claimed the overall victory, finishing just one point ahead of Emily’s sister, Dana Haig, sailing with Shayne Bersin. Jonathan and Elisabeth McKee took third, followed by Morley Flynn and Lauren Crossett in fourth, and Peter Foley and Ethan Brooks rounding out the top five.
Another thrilling weekend in the books, and the fleet is ready for more — we’ll see you at Midwinters in March!