Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2 Shatters Records with 109 Boats
The Melges 15 Class broke registration records with 109 boats at the 2024-25 Winter Series Event 2 January 4-5, 2025. The regatta featured six races over two days at the new Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL.
Forty teams enrolled in a clinic spearheaded by Class Coach Paris Henken and assisted by Eddie Cox, Ripley Shelley, and Kyle Navin.
Third-place and top youth crew Ava Cohen (FL) said, “It’s inspiring to have a role model like Paris out here. She’s always looking out for everybody, which is super nice.” Cohen plans to attend Henken’s alma mater, College of Charleston, in Fall 2025.
Cohen crewed for Ryan Keenan (FL), who added, “It’s easy to sail up to her right after a race and get some advice or ask questions about different settings or scenarios. I’ve been part of this fleet for three years, and it’s really nice to have this level of support.”
The cool temperatures brought in a nice 12-15 knots with puffs up to 20, pushing teams into full planing mode on Day One. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year finalist Travis Odenbach (NY) and Hannah Lee Noll (FL) cruised across the finish line in Race 1, exceeding 16+ knots. Race 2 was claimed by overall event winners Austin Ando and Jack Sutton (SC), with Race 3 awarded to youth team Adam Biwer (WI) and Martha Hughes (MN), and Race 4 won by Ricky Welch and Mitchell Martin (MS).
“With the distance-to-line, there wasn’t any line sag, so you’re fighting for your spot in every race,” explained Ando. “ While the fleet is competitive, it’s still a fun, relaxed vibe. The more the merrier!”
“The fact that we can fit 100 boats on a line is just an amazing experience because you’re racing against so many different levels of competition that you could go from the back of the fleet all the way to the front of the fleet depending on how you work your way through it,” said Eliot Caple (MD), crewing for Top Grand Master Scott Steele.
Day Two of the event started much lighter, in the range of six knots, offering sore sailors some reprieve from hiking. Two quick races introduced a throwout to shake the leaderboard, securing Austin Ando and Jack Sutton’s overall win. Alex and Lorie Stout stole the show in Race 5, putting on a MasterClass on light-air tactics, big-fleet maintenance, and patience. The final race of the regatta went to Event 1 winner Cole Schweda (WI), with crew Hank Seum.
“I missed out on the youth sailing circuit, so this is by far the biggest fleet I’ve ever sailed in. We’re sailing with people I raced against in college, national champions, and world champions,” added Ando’s crew, Jack Sutton (SC). “If you’re not drinking the Kool-Aid, you’re missing out!”
Full results and photos are available on melges15.com. The Winter Series continues with Event 3 February 22-23, and the Midwinter Championship March 21-23. Coach Paris Henken will lead clinics before each regatta. Charter boats are available for the remaining events and can be reserved on melgeswatersports.com.
Footage highlights from Day One.
Hop onboard with Esteban Forrer & Jeremy Herrin for Race 3 of the 2024-25 Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2 with 109 boats.