News

Cheers to Melges 15 Rolex Yachtsman & Yachtswoman of the Year Nominees
The Melges 15 Class is excited to congratulate four of its members as Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nominees. Class Coach Paris Henken, Monica Morgan, Travis Odenbach, and 2021 Rolex winner, Harry Melges IV are among the list of Melges 15 sailors nominated for the 2024 award. These nominations celebrate not only their individual achievements on the water but also underscore the unique value of the Melges 15 as a premier cross-training platform.  Designed as the ultimate crossover boat, the Melges 15 enables sailors to excel across various... Read more...
Charters Available for Melges 15 European Championship
Charter reservations are live for the 2025 Melges 15 European Championship July 10-13, 2025, in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin. The event is being held in conjunction with the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta, Ireland’s largest sailing event, which celebrates its 10th edition over 20 years. With a dozen charter boats available, the Melges 15 European Championships are expected to draw sailors from around the world. Over 40 boats are expected to compete, making this a significant milestone for the class as the largest European event to date. The championship schedule includes three... Read more...
Inaugural Melges 15 European Championship Scheduled for Summer 2025
The Melges 15 Class is thrilled to announce the inaugural Melges 15 European Championships, set to take place in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, July 10-13, 2025. This event will be a highlight of the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta , Ireland’s largest sailing event, which celebrates its 10th edition over 20 years next July. The Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta, held biennially, is expected to attract sailors from over 400 boats, ranging from high-performance racing yachts to coastal classics, competing across multiple courses in the iconic waters of Dublin Bay. With a dozen... Read more...
2024-25 Melges 15 Winter Series Launches with 66 Teams
The Melges 15 Class successfully launched the 2024-25 Winter Series at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, Florida with a new November event the weekend before Thanksgiving. Attracting 66 teams from across the nation, this debut event marked a fantastic start to the season. Ahead of the weekend's regatta, Class Coach Paris Henken hosted an intensive two-day racing clinic, drawing over 20 teams for on-water drills in winds up to 25 knots and shoreside debriefs. Using video footage captured by drones and coach boats, sailors received detailed feedback to... Read more...
Melges 15 Winter Series Debuts at New Merritt Island Venue
The Melges 15 Class has launched the 2024-25 Winter Series at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, Florida. This November event, a brand-new addition to the series, has attracted 66 teams from across the nation, marking a strong start to the season. Kicking off the week, Class Coach Paris Henken led an intensive two-day racing clinic, where over 20 teams participated in on-water drills and training sessions. Each day concluded with shoreside debriefs featuring video footage, offering sailors in-depth performance analysis. “The coaches had drones and coach boats, and... Read more...
Introducing Melges 15 Class Coach Paris Henken
The Melges 15 Class welcomes Paris Henken as its Class Coach for the 2024-25 Winter Season. Henken, a 2016 Olympian in the 49erFX Class and an accomplished sailor, will lead the winter clinics and debriefs.  Having a Class Coach is a fantastic opportunity for sailors to sharpen their skills with one of the best in the sport. With an impressive sailing career, including a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in the 49erFX, multiple College National Championships titles, three-time All-American, and 2021 Quantum Women's College Sailor of the... Read more...
Brant Beach Yacht Club to Host 2025 Melges 15 U.S. Nationals
The Melges 15 Class is excited to announce the 2025 U.S. National Championship, October 3-5, hosted by Brant Beach Yacht Club in New Jersey. Building on the class’s phenomenal growth—now boasting over 900 boats sold—next year’s championship is primed to shatter records, with a heavy concentration of participants from the thriving East Coast fleet. John Barbano, Regatta Chair, shared his enthusiasm for the event, “The Melges 15 Class has set the bar for participation, inclusivity, and how it embraces technology. We’re so excited to host this prestigious event, and we... Read more...
Guide to Winter Sailing at the Melges Watersports Center
The Melges 15 U.S. Winter Series has a new home at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. Along with an exciting new venue, the series has added a fourth event in November! The Melges Team is committed to making it easier than ever to plan your winter sailing season. From logistics to sails, we’ve got you covered! Check out the updated guide to the Melges 15 U.S. Winter Series below. Don’t Miss Key Deadlines! Save on entry fees by registering early: November 22, 2024 : Last day to... Read more...
O’Connor and Byrne of the host club take out the Melges 15 National Championships
Originally Published on Melges Ireland Darragh O’Connor and Brian (Teddy) Byrne of Howth Yacht Club are the winners of the 2024 Melges 15 National championships held at Howth this weekend.  After four great races on Saturday, the 19-boat fleet kept fingers and toes crossed for sailing on Sunday, but with gusts of up to 30 knots and a difficult sea state, racing was abandoned for the day. This year's event was superbly pulled together by Cormac Farrelly of the host club, who led the event team well, delivering long, close,... Read more...
2024 U.S. MELGES 15 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Christopher Alexander and Hamilton Barclay are the 2024 U.S. Melges 15 National Champions. The racing was contested by 55 boats at Grand Traverse Yacht Club over the course of three days.  The first day of racing was marked by downwind thrills and significant wind shifts throughout the three races. A southwesterly breeze crested over the hills, creating large shifts and wind holes across Grand Traverse Bay. Conditions lightened on Day Two, but the prevailing southwesterly wind kept the shifts in play, gradually weakening as the day progressed. “Downwind was like... Read more...
19-Boat Fleet to Contest Melges 15 Irish Nationals at Howth Yacht Club
It has been a busy and exciting dinghy pen in Howth this week, with the green gate witnessing the departure of the many visiting Optimists to be replaced by the ad hoc arrival of Melges 15 s. Race Officer Richard Kissane and the team have also been spotted preparing to use the new Race Management software Race Sense . Various simulations of start  boats and marks are set up on the forecourt to check functionality and features. Competitors are looking forward to some fast, fun sailing with medium to strong... Read more...
Record Turnout for Melges 15 U.S. Nationals
The stage is set in Traverse City, MI, for the largest Melges 15 U.S. National Championship to date, with 62 boats registered for the regatta August 23-25, 2024. The Championship regatta has tripled in size since 2021, just a sample of the Class’s massive international success.  More than 900 Melges 15s have been sold worldwide, including fleets popping up all over the Emerald Isle after the launch of Melges Ireland in late 2022. This year, the Irish Nationals at Howth Yacht Club in Dublin are scheduled to coincide with the... Read more...