News

Melges 15 Wins Boat of the Week & Crowns West Coast Champions
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="6078"] Photo: Joy Sailing [/caption] The 2024 Melges 15 West Coast Championship was contested at Long Beach Race Week June 21-23 at Long Beach Yacht Club and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. With 18 Melges 15s on the race track, it was the largest class at LBRW.  Seven races were sailed in a full range of 12-20 knots under blue skies on the dark blue waters of the Pacific.  Keiran Searle and Declan McGranahan from Corinthian Yacht Club won the Championship title, racing in their first West Coast... Read more...
Melges 15 Class Takes Center Stage at Long Beach Race Week
The 2024 Melges 15 West Coast Championship is preparing to get underway at Long Beach Race Week co-hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in California June 21-23. With 17 boats registered, the Melges 15 represents the largest one-design fleet racing at the event.  “LBRW is definitely the highlight of the SoCal racing season, so it’s awesome to have the West Coast Championship held in conjunction with it!” said local owner, Brad Thomspon. “I think it will help encourage more people to join the M15 class... Read more...
Midwest Sailors Triumph at East Coast Championship in Annapolis
The iconic sailing town of Annapolis, MD hosted the second annual East Coast Championship at Severn Sailing Association. Twenty-nine teams, mostly from the region, competed, but a Midwest boat topped the leaderboard. Toby Sullivan and Graham Ness from Minnesota won the event in a 24-point tie-breaker with New Jersey’s Emily and John Haig, followed by Annapolis locals, Sara Morgan Watters and Anna Flynn. The three-day event featured consistent winds and flat water on the Chesapeake Bay. Nine races were sailed to engage a throwout, which shook up the rankings. This... Read more...
2024 East Coast Championship to Set Sail in Annapolis
The stage is set for the Second Annual Melges 15 East Coast Championship, June 7-9, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. The highly anticipated event has attracted 28 teams from across the East Coast, including sailors from New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina. As part of the Championship Series introduced in 2023, these class-sanctioned regattas aim to elevate competition, promote regional fleets, and foster a sense of camaraderie among racers. Annapolis, renowned for its rich maritime history and vibrant sailing community, boasts burgeoning Melges 15 fleets at several clubs, including the... Read more...
Open Season on Geneva Lake
By Maru Urban, LGYC The Geneva Lake Sailing School kicked off the regatta season in SE Wisconsin by hosting their Melges 15 clinic at LGYC May 4-5. Saturday started with breakfast, followed by a skippers meeting, racing, and wrapped up with a debrief. The RC got 4 races in with S/SW breeze of 5-10. Unfortunately, there was no wind on Sunday, so that was all of the racing that the 18 competitors got to experience. Home lake standouts Oliver Gray & Adler Johnston tied Finn Burdick & Colton Hibbard for... Read more...
Melges Mayhem Regatta Report
By Pierce Barden, M15 Cape Fear Fleet Captain Eighteen Melges 15 teams gathered at the Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC for the first annual Melges Mayhem Regatta on May 4-5. Sailors from across the Southeast participated and included teams from NC, SC, GA, and FL. The Carolina Yacht Club, situated on the Atlantic Ocean, provided a great venue and hospitality. The club has a history of hosting major championships such as the Lightning Worlds, Lightning Pan Am Trials, Sunfish Worlds, Lightning NAs, Laser Nationals, Lightning ACCs, and Laser... Read more...
Melges 15 Offers Action-Packed Summer Calendar
Join the action! The Melges 15 has a full event calendar for anyone interested in joining one of the fastest-growing one-design classes in the world.  Since its launch in 2020, more than 800 Melges 15s have been sold worldwide attracting a diverse range of sailors—from seasoned veterans looking for competitive racing to new sailors seeking a thrilling and approachable platform. The design offers a fun sailing experience so you can enjoy time on the water with friends and family.  As the summer sailing season gets underway, there are Melges 15... Read more...
Annapolis Triple Crown Series
Introducing the Melges 15 Triple Crown Series in Annapolis! Join us for three regattas over five weeks in the waters of Annapolis. Sailing World Series Regatta – May 3-5 (Coinciding with the Kentucky Derby) SSA Spring Series – May 18-19 (Preakness Weekend) Melges 15 East Coast Championship – June 7-9 (Belmont Stakes Weekend) Event Highlights: Competitive Racing: Test your skills against top sailors. Convenient Location: All regattas take place in Annapolis. Housing Available: Accommodations upon request. Free Boat Storage: Complimentary storage between regattas. Fundraiser for a Cause: Join us for... Read more...
West Coast Melges 15 Fleet Shines at Big Dinghy Regatta
By Tim Clarke, Vela LA The West Coast Melges 15 fleet ventured to Richmond Yacht Club for the Big Dinghy Regatta April 13-14. Teams traveled from Southern California and Washington to showcase the M15.  With a big breeze on Saturday, the competitors put on a good show. The boats handled the conditions perfectly with wind in the high teens gusting into the twenties. Sunday was lighter with more current to deal with, resulting in plenty of lead changes. After 7 races, Brian Savery and Tim Clarke were tied for first... Read more...
Sarasota Clubs Collaborate for a Weekend on the Water
1 weekend, 2 regattas, 3 meals, 11 trophies, 20+ boats! By Jennifer Ikeda-Faugust Fleet 2 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron hosted its inaugural Spring Melges 15 regatta on April 14, 2024. By combining with the Sarasota Bay Cup Regatta, hosted by Bird Key Yacht Club on the 13th, participants enjoyed a full weekend of sailing. SSS kicked off the events with practice races on Friday afternoon, followed by a Welcome Party at BKYC with an abundance of drinks and hors’ d’oeuvres. Saturday’s breeze was sporty as over 20 competitors headed... Read more...
2024 Melges 15 Nationals Registration Open
Registration is open for the 2024 Melges 15 U.S. National Championship August 23-25 at Grand Traverse Yacht Club in Traverse City, MI. This year’s Championship is gearing up to be the largest Nationals to date and will feature the stunning late summer backdrop of Pure Michigan’s coastline. Three days of racing are scheduled alongside shoreside parties and a fleet dinner. Leading up to the Nationals is the Championship Series - class-sanctioned events designed to enhance competition, promote regional fleets, and foster camaraderie among racers.: East Coast Championship June 7-9, 2024... Read more...
Melges 15 Boat Care Best Practices
Keep your Melges 15 in prime condition for years to come! We have compiled a list of best practices for boat care and maintenance to ensure you get the most out of your boat. The following guidelines are in accordance with the Melges standards and warranty. Rig Tension We recommend reducing your rig tension after sailing each day by using the rig tensioner provided with each new boat. Cleaning Your Boat To clean your Melges 15 use Dawn soap and water, use a degreasing soap to get road grim off.... Read more...