Record Turnout for Melges 15 Winter Series

The Melges 15 Class has returned to Sarasota, FL for the first event of the 2022 Winter Series January 8-9. With a record-setting 60 boats, the entry list features several new owners and early advocates representing 17 states.

After being named Sailing World’s Boat of the Year, the large turnout comes as no surprise to event organizer and owner, Bob Cole. “The Melges 15 appeals to so many different people that we have tons of families, couples, and friends traveling to escape the snow and cold up north,” said Cole. “When we hosted the series last year, we saw the true potential for this boat in Sarasota. The growth since last March has been awesome for the class and owners.”

The weekend kicked off with practice racing and debrief led by Melges and Quantum Sails Zenda, which will be followed by the scheduled eight races Saturday and Sunday. The Winter Series continues February 26-28 and culminates with the Midwinter Championship March 26-28. The 2022 Class calendar is listed on melges15.com/events.

Melges 15 Wins Boat of the Year

The Melges 15 designed by Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design was awarded Sailing World Magazine’s Boat of the Year! More than 375 boats have been ordered and fleets are popping up around North America. The variety of M15 sailors and wildly popular Winter Series are testaments to the boat’s design.

Read the article on Sailing World's website.

Emily & John Haig Win Inaugural Melges 15 Nationals

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 (ZENDA, WISCONSIN): Emily and John Haig (Beach Haven, NJ) were crowned the first Melges 15 National Champions on September 19, 2021, at Lake Geneva Yacht Club in Wisconsin. The father-daughter duo bested a fleet of 31 boats for the inaugural championship finishing ahead of second-place Toby and Peter Sullivan (Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN) and third-place Mike Schroff and Emily Shandley-Roberts (Chicago, IL).

A final taste of warm temperatures greeted sailors on Day One with winds up to 18 knots. The Haigs won two of the four races sailed alongside young Owen Kohut and Ian McClenathan (Lake Geneva, WI) and Schroff/Shandley-Roberts.

Eighteen youth sailors raced in the Nationals as further proof that the Melges 15 is for everyone young and old. “When you’re a junior sailor like Owen, and you get this kind of exposure to different ages and skill levels, the learning curve is off the gauge. It’s invaluable and it shows,” said Schroff, winner of Race Four.

Young Anna Regan (Minnetonka, MN) showed off her prowess on Day Two finishing 1, 2 in the sixth and seventh races. Regan commanded the fleet over three legs leading several seconds ahead of the next boat until the competition started catching up on the final downwind.

“The biggest challenge in this fleet is maintaining your lead downwind since it’s really easy to catch up,” said Regan. “I was getting really nervous when I saw boats gaining on us, and my dad kept reminding me to look in front of me and focus on what’s ahead.”

On Sunday, the forecasted light air finally descended upon the region with temperatures increasing even further into the mid-80s. With not a breath of wind in sight, the Race Committee closed the regatta. With the results standing from Saturday, the Haigs won the championship with a six-point lead.

“The competition was awesome this weekend. Every time we rounded a mark, there were different boats around us,” said Emily Haig. “It was great seeing so many other teams with father-daughters, college friends, and new owners. I’m looking forward to seeing even more new faces at the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and the Winter Series.”

With more than 275 boats sold, fleets are popping up around North America. The fleets make club racing accessible for M15 owners and feature several weekend events offering travel opportunities for visiting teams.

Next on the Melges 15 circuit are the Fall Regatta October 9-10 (Beach Haven, NJ), the Fall Invitational October 15-17 (Columbia, SC), and the 2022 Winter Series (Sarasota, FL). For a full list of events, visit melges15.com. Contact the Melges Team to learn about new boats, demos, and Winter Series charters at sales@melges.com.

Rolling Out the Red Carpet for Nationals

ZENDA, WISCONSIN (September 16, 2021): All eyes are on the Melges 15 Class hosting its inaugural National Championship September 17-19 at Lake Geneva Yacht Club in Wisconsin. Home of the testing grounds for the initial boat design, Geneva Lake is primed for the competition with southerly winds ushering in warm days and cool nights for three days of racing. 

In a field of thirty registrants, there are a number of parent-youth teams, college sailors, husband-wife teams, and lifelong friends from around the country. Several of the teams competed in the M15 Winter Series (Sarasota, FL) or are coming into town fresh from the E Scow Nationals (Torch Lake, MI). With more than 275 boats sold nationwide, half the fleet is racing their new boats for the first time. 

Geneva Lake is home to the largest fleet of Melges 15s in the country with six boats being added to the Geneva Lake Sailing School for 2022 programming. Lake Geneva Yacht Club is rolling out the red carpet for the event with post-race happy hours and a Class dinner.

Follow Melges Performance Sailboats on Facebook and Instagram as well as the Melges 15 Class Website for daily updates during the event. Awards will be presented to the overall winner as well as top female skipper, top youth skipper, and age division winners. Results will be available on the event website. 

Capping off the 2021 Melges 15 Calendar, the Class heads east for the Fall Regatta October 9-10 (Beach Haven, NJ) and the Fall Invitational October 15-17 (Columbia, SC). For a full list of events, visit melges15.com. Contact the Melges Team to learn about new boats, demos, and Winter Series charters at sales@melges.com.

New Fleet Alert! Rochester Yacht Club

Welcome to the Melges 15 Class, Rochester Yacht Club! Sitting on the Genesee River by Lake Ontario, Rochester Yacht Club is home to six new Melges 15s.

With an average age of 35, most of the owners are experienced sailors with various racing backgrounds. However, they encourage newer sailors to check the boat out.

“The best part of our fleet is that we are all learning together,” said new owner, Travis Odenbach. “So far the M15 has been minimal work and we are able to take our wives or friends out when sailing, which is key.”

While many owners were immediately drawn to the downwind performance and stability, Odenbach looked at the boat through a slightly different lens. “I have sailed fast boats in the past, so I was not too worried about the performance in the breeze, but here in Rochester, NY, it is light in the summer,” he explained. “I sailed the boat in very light winds, but I could not believe how well the boat was moving and the feel it still had in 4-6 knots.”

With an updated, user-friendly design, the Melges 15 was an attractive upgrade for the RYC Fleet. “You only needed one other person to sail, the price point was perfect for a lot of people in our area. It was time that our yacht club had a more modern boat,” said Odenbach.

The Rochester group has big plans for their new fleet including participation at the National Championship this September and a large presence at the 2022 Winter Series in Sarasota, FL.

For more information on how to get a fleet started at your club, email sales@melges.com.

Save the Dates: 2022 Winter Series

The Melges 15 Winter Series returns to Sarasota, Florida in 2022. The Winter Series features three events January-March, culminating with the Midwinter Championship hosted by the Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

The Winter Series launched to provide year-round racing for the newly-released Melges 15 Class. In 2021, more than sixty teams participated with a range of new owners and charter boats.

The Sarasota Sailing Squadron provides a scenic venue with warm water and consistent winds nestled in the protected waters of Sarasota Bay. Conveniently located between two international airports, the southern location is ideal for weekend getaways with friends and family.

The Midwinter Championship caps off the series March 25-27. The overall series trophy will be awarded to the team with the lowest score across all three events. In addition to racing the Winter Series, Melges 15 owners can race in the weekly club series hosted by Sarasota Sailing Squadron.

2022 Melges 15 Winter Series Schedule
January 8-9, 2022
February 26-27, 2022
March 25-27, 2022 – Midwinter Championship

For more information, visit melges15.com/winter-series.

Greenhouse Triumphant at Melges 15 Midwinters

SARASOTA, FL (March 28, 2021): The Melges 15s have concluded the inaugural 2021 Winter Series in Sarasota, FL. On Sunday, March 28, the new one-design class announced the first Midwinter Champions Dwight Greenhouse and crew, Max Lopez. Emily Haig and crew, John Haig, were crowned the overall 2021 Winter Series Champion after their performance at all three events.

After three days of racing on the Sarasota Bay, the 30-boat fleet was treated to 20-25 knots of southeasterly winds on Sunday.

Race One started in a manageable 12-15 knots, and quickly increased for the second downwind. Finn Burdick, Craig Laing, and Dwight Greenhouse were tangled at the top mark and for the first downwind. Young Burdick was able to slide past the teams for a first-place finish. “It can get pretty intense when it’s windy like today. You have to make sure you’re hiking out, staying in clear air when you’re around those tough teams,” said Burdick. “Once you get the boat going, you can just let it rip around the top mark.” 

The breeze picked up with gusts to 25 adding a significant chop to the turquoise water for the final race of the series. The right side of the course paid off in dividends as George Sipel moved up into the mix with the leaderboard. It wasn’t until the second downwind, that Sipel and crew, Mike Stark, kicked things into high gear to fly across the finish line ahead of Burdick and Craig Laing.

For Greenhouse, Sunday’s racing was about not losing and keeping the boat upright in the big air. “You think you’re going so fast that you’ve got to be mowing people down,” said Greenhouse. “But you look around and everyone is going just as fast; you see their bows out of the water skiing downhill. It’s incredible.”

Haig was racing with her father, John, for the entirety of the Winter Series. “Love the weather here. The wind has been really consistent at all the events,” she said. “More so, the people in this fleet have been really great to meet and hang out with.”

For series newcomer, Bob Mosby, the Midwinters was just the start of the fun he has planned for his Melges 15. “I’ve been looking forward to this event from the minute I bought the boat in July,” said Mosby. “I love the boat and the people I’ve met over these past few months. There’s a fleet growing in Columbia, SC, and more growth throughout the southeast. My wife and I have a great boat to sail, and I can’t wait to take advantage of it.”