News

International Crews Gather for Inaugural Melges 15 European Championship at VDLR
A host of excited foreign accents can already be heard on the waterfront as crews fly in for the Inaugural Melges 15 Europeans Championships which will be held on the Hyland Shipping course at the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. Currently the fastest growing dinghy class in the World the arrival of 12 brand new charter boats for the Regatta has helped push the class through the 1000 boat mark. A wide range of ages from teens to retirees are set to compete in mainly mixed gender crews with family partnerships... Read more...
MELGES 15 CLASS TAKES OVER LONG BEACH RACE WEEK
Submitted by Morgan Paxhia Over twenty Melges 15s gathered in sunny Southern California for the 20th edition of Long Beach Race Week . There was a large contingent of ABYC boats, as well as others travelling from further away, including San Diego, Colorado, and even two teams from Mexico. The regatta was sailed in light sea breezes from the south of around 8-10 knots. With big wind shifts rolling through, each race offered new pitfalls and opportunities. For the final race on Sunday, a classic Long Beach 15-knot seabreeze rolled... Read more...
Long Island Leads Melges 15 Growth Ahead of 2025 East Coast Championship
The 2025 Melges 15 East Coast Championship is set for May 30-June 1 at Centerport Yacht Club in New York, with nearly 40 boats on the starting line. As the third edition of the East Coast Championship and a key regatta on the Championship Series calendar, this year’s event promises a mix of top-tier racing and class camaraderie. While the Melges 15 Class continues to thrive worldwide, few places have embraced it as enthusiastically as Long Island Sound. What began with a handful of early adopters has transformed into one... Read more...
Charter a Melges 15 this Season
Chartering a Melges 15 through an authorized dealer is a perfect way to jump into the action this summer! Whether you're traveling to a major regatta or testing the waters before buying, charter boats are ready to race. The Melges 15 has quickly become one of North America's most popular double-handed dinghies and is quickly gaining traction worldwide. Many Melges dealers offer charter opportunities for regional and national events, making it easier than ever to sail in top-tier fleets. Availability varies by location and event, so it’s smart to reserve... Read more...
Registration Open for Melges 15 Nationals
Registration is officially open for the 2025 Melges 15 U.S. National Championship, set to take place on Long Beach Island, NJ, and hosted by Brant Beach Yacht Club and the Brant Beach Sailing Foundation October 3-5, 2025.  The Jersey Shore is one of the East Coast’s top vacation destinations, with its iconic boardwalk, sandy Atlantic shoreline, and the home of LBI Chowderfest, which attracts crowds of more than 13,000. Barnegat Bay features protected waters between Long Beach Island and the New Jersey mainland, making it an ideal racing area for... Read more...
Regatta Report: SDYC Spring Dinghy
Regatta Report by Morgan Paxhia Emily and I first did a demo day on the Melges 15 in September 2024 at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, CA. Our sail was only about 30 minutes and we were instantly psyched about this boat we had been hearing so much about with the big East Coast fleets. Our initial impressions: fun, fast, and simple.  This past February, we chartered a boat for the Winter Series Event 2 out of the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. We signed up... Read more...
2025 Melges 15 Great Lakes Championship Registration Open
Registration is open for the 2025 Melges 15 Great Lakes Championship August 22-24 at Charlevoix Yacht Club in Charlevoix, MI. Competitors can save $50 on the entry fee through July 20, 2025.  One year after the National Championship in Traverse City, the fleet is heading one hour north to compete in Charlevoix - a bustling harbor town with iconic beaches, towering sand dunes, and a charming downtown. Racing will be held on Lake Charlevoix, the third-largest inland lake in Michigan, with 56 miles of shoreline. “The Melges 15 has brought... Read more...
Emily & John Haig Win 2025 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship & Overall Series
Father-daughter duo Emily and John Haig (NJ) clinched victory at the 2025 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship March 21-23 at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. Their impressive performance secured not only the Midwinter Championship title but also their third overall Winter Series win. Competing against a stacked fleet of 96 teams from across the U.S., the Haigs demonstrated consistency and skill in the fourth and final event of the 2024-25 Winter Series. In total, more than 180 teams from 27 states traveled to the newly opened Melges Watersports... Read more...
Final Showdown of the Melges 15 Winter Series
The 2024-25 Melges 15 Winter Series celebrates a record-breaking season after welcoming 184 teams to four events. The series concludes with 92 teams competing for the Midwinter Championship at the Melges Watersports Center on March 21-23. Teams traveled from 27 states while New Yorkers flocked in droves to the Series, bringing a host of 18 teams from across the state. The crew of Jeff Sullivan, Billy Farmer, and Travis Odenbach (NY) send their boats south in a custom-built box trailer for the season.  “We only have to move the boats... Read more...
Welch & Martin Dominate Melges 15 Winter Series Event 3 as Competition Heats Up
The third event of the Melges 15 Winter Series saw 92 teams compete, shaking up the overall series standings. Ricky Welch and Mitchell Martin (MS) dominated the event, securing the overall win with an 18-point lead. Dueling father-daughter duos Dana and John Haig (NJ) and Mason and Mark Zagol (CT) claimed second and third place, respectively. Sailors traveled from 21 states across the U.S. to participate in a one-day clinic with Class Coach Paris Henken, followed by two days of competitive racing on Florida’s Space Coast. Among them were some... Read more...
94 TEAMS RALLY FOR EVENT 3 OF MELGES 15 WINTER SERIES
Ninety-four teams are set to compete in the third event of the Melges 15 Winter Series, taking place February 22-23, 2025, at the newly opened Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. The regatta weekend kicks off with a one-day clinic on Friday, led by Class Coach Paris Henken and Melges Watersports Director, RJ Porter. Among the participants is 12-year-old Adi Lacroix (WI), who attended the previous two clinics and sails alongside her father, Josh. “Adi absolutely loves Paris, her coaching style, and the overall clinic experience,” said Josh. “These... Read more...
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2025 EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2150"] 2024 East Coast Championship in Annapolis, MD [/caption] Registration is open for the 2025 Melges 15 East Coast Championship May 30-June 1 at Centerport Yacht Club in Centerport, NY. Competitors can save on the entry fee through April 10, 2025.  Long Island has been a hotbed of activity for Melges 15 Class growth in 2024-25, with nearly two dozen new boats being delivered to American Yacht Club, Pequot Yacht Club, Noroton Yacht Club, and Indian Harbor Yacht Club.  “After years of searching for the right boat... Read more...