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 of the newest Melges 15 owners, siblings Morgan and Emily Paxhia from San Diego, CA, who chartered a boat to immerse themselves in the class culture.
“Vela LA did a demo day in the Fall, and within the first 30 minutes of sailing the boat we were like we gotta get one of these. We have a core group of buyers, including ourselves, and we’re building a program down there - weeknight racing, local events, and there’s a whole Cal State Championship being organized, which is great,” said Morgan. “Since September, we’ve been discussing some events we could do to familiarize ourselves with the boat and the class. We thought this event would be a great chance to get out and learn more about the boat and be around a big fleet. It’s super easy to charter a boat - it makes it great for West Coast folks or really people coming from anywhere to come down and be able to sail.”
The first day of racing featured a shifting easterly breeze at 7-15 knots—just enough for sailors to enjoy exhilarating downwind planing. As Sara Morgan Watters (MD) put it, “That’s really what we’re here for.”
Welch and Martin set the tone early, winning Race One. The Paxhias found their rhythm and claimed victory in Race Two, while the Haigs secured Race Three. With Sunday’s forecast predicting lighter conditions, PRO AJ Schweda pushed for four races to ensure a full regatta. Fittingly, Race Four was won by his son, Cole Schweda, sailing with Hank Seum.
After a long day on the water, competitors were welcomed ashore with cold drinks, hot pizza, and music. Coach Henken led a debrief as sailors relaxed on the beach, reviewing the day’s highlights.
As forecasted, Day Two began with light air. However, the Race Committee managed to squeeze in a single race as the breeze filled in. Ryan Keenan and Ava Cohen, currently sitting second in the Overall Series standings, claimed the fifth and final race.
Consistency proved key to Welch and Martin’s success. With finishes of 5-2-11-2, they secured the regatta win. We couldn’t make any mistakes and had to try not to be too risky—especially on the starting line,” said Welch.
He added, “The guy sailing with the two girls, with three people, was just awesome to see. We were talking about it all weekend!”
Coming in at a combined weight of 305 pounds, 11-year-old Clara Reali skippered with her father, Kevin, and friend, Kaitlin Thomley, representing the first boat to compete with three people at a Class-sanctioned event. Thomley handled the jib on the upwind and sheeted the main upwind while Reali trimmed the spinnaker downwind.
“I think the tendency is to put the kid in the front of the boat, but if you give the kid the tiller, there’s a lot of physicality that the adult can manhandle in the rest of the boat. If people are curious, don’t be afraid to let the kid drive,” said Kevin.
Full results and photos are available on melges15.com. The Winter Series concludes with the Midwinter Championship March 21-23. Coach Paris Henken will lead an intensive two-day clinic before the final regatta of the series. Charter boats are sold out for the event, but new boats are available for Summer 2025.