Melges 15 Class Welcomes Vakaros to 2023 Winter Series

Melges Performance Sailboats is thrilled to welcome Vakaros as a sponsor of the 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series in Jensen Beach, FL.

Vakaros is a leading manufacturer of sailing instruments, including the Atlas 2. The Atlas 2 combines world-class internal sensors with a high-contrast display to offer Melges 15 sailors a single-instrument solution to give high-quality data both on and off the water. For a Melges 15, this means boat speed, heel, trim, heading, and more, all on a single screen. For an added boost, the Atlas 2’s LED Array can be configured to show heel angle, time-to-start, and shift tracking.

The Melges 15 Class prohibits pinging the line, but the Atlas 2’s new class-compliant mode restricts functions in accordance with the rules. If there is ever any doubt, the Atlas 2 creates an uneditable log file with verification of what settings were available and when. This allows sailors to use the Atlas 2 legally on their Melges 15 and to unlock full capabilities when used in other classes, such as the E Scow, A Scow, and Melges 24.

The Winter Series kicks off with its first event January 7-8, 2023 at the US Sailing Center of Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL. The Vakaros team will be onsite for the M15 Winter Series to run data-driven debriefs with insight from Atlas 2’s data logging.

SAVE 5% ON THE ATLAS 2
Vakaros and Melges are partnering to offer M15 Class members an exclusive 5% discount on the Atlas 2 through December 15. Use code “M15WSATLAS” to save and receive free shipping!

Melges 15 hull care, What’s legal?

Taking care of the bottom of your Melges 15 is key to ensuring the boat keeps its competitive edge. Below are some best practices to make sure your maintenance regime falls within the class rules.

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Can I wet sand the boat?

You are allowed to wet sand the bottom of your Melges 15 with up to 600 grit sand paper. This will make the area you are sanding match the factory bottom finish of your boat.

Is Polishing/ buffing your boat legal?

No, you may may not polish or buff the bottom of your boat. Polishing is considered sanding with a sandpaper grit finer than 600grit, a scotch brite pad finer then very fine, machine or hand buffing with polishing compound.

Can I wax the bottom of my boat?

Yes, you may apply a protective wax to the bottom of your boat so long as the wax does not contain any cutting/ grit compound that would smooth the finish of the hull past 600 grit. Liquid and paste waxes are legal so long as they don’t contain polishing or cutting compounds.

What is the best way to prepare for a regatta?

We recommend cleaning your bottom with soap and water and not applying any wax before regattas.

I sail in dirty water, how should I protect my boat?

Applying some wax can reduce marine growth and discoloration.

Melges recommended waxes:

Scotchgard™ Marine Liquid Wax

3M Perfect-It™ Boat Wax

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If you have questions about proper maintenance and upkeep, email sales@melges.com. If your boat needs service or repairs, contact the Melges Team in Zenda, WI by calling 262-275-1110.

Join the Pacific Northwest Circuit

Brian Savery traveled from Bellingham, WA to Sarasota, FL for the Winter Series.

The Melges 15 Class calendar features three new events as part of the Pacific Northwest Circuit. Filled with world-class venues and scenic landscapes from the Gorge to Lake Washington, the Melges 15 offers a versatile platform for the region’s waters.

With the Boat of the Year announcement, Melges has seen interest exploding in all parts of North America. With the support of local dealer, West Coast Sailing, the PNW has seen great interest from families and couples looking for a simple boat to enjoy a day on the water.

The Melges 15 Class is excited to add three new events to the calendar.:

• April 23-24, 2022 Puget Sound Spring Regatta Seattle, WA

• July 30-31, 2022 CGOD Cascade Locks, OR

• September 24-25, 2022 Dale Jepson One-Design Bellingham, WA

The Melges Team spoke with owner Brian Savery about the local sailing scene and what his plans are for the season.

“I had my first Melges sailboats experience after college back in Boston on a Melges 24. Then moved out here in 2007 and sailed very consistently on 24's with Paul "Krak" Arnston, and a few others. We love the boat and bought Melges 24 #246 a few years ago. With our growing family of three boys now ages 1 month-3.5 and limited free time, the Melges 15 makes much more sense because we can be on the water and going fast in no time. After growing up sailing 420s and Vanguard 15s, I feel like this is the dinghy I always wanted to sail.”

Sailing in the Gorge. Photo by Sean Trew

Melges: What does the sailing scene look like at your home club?

Brian: In Bellingham, we sail at the Community Boating Center, which is a great resource for people learning to sail and kayak. Actually, the Melges 15 is kind of a great step up for these sailors and we get lots of interest from them. We also have a very active 505 fleet for the more "experienced" sailor, which we race with on Tuesday nights in the summer. For the average sailor though who just wants to hop in and go fast, the Melges 15 is a great middle ground. We can go as fast downwind in planing conditions as most of the 505s but are much more stable and comfortable. And now with 3-4 Melges 15s in town, we can definitely say this is the fleet on the rise.

Melges: Who do you sail with primarily?

Brian: My wife, Amanda, is a mother and doctor with limited free time. To quote Amanda, "It's such an easy boat for a beginner to pick up, go fast, and have fun all at the same time".

I also sail with Scott Wilson who I help coach the Bellingham High School team with. He is in the photo with me sailing at the Gorge.

Melges: What are the perks of having an M15 in Washington?

Brian: It's such an easy boat to jump in and trailer around to places like the Gorge or Seattle. The other nice part is you can get all types of wind from just a breath to 30+ knots, and the boat responds well to everything. We have so many epic sailing venues on the West Coast with a growing fleet, we really look forward to getting to sail at all of them.

Melges: What kind of opportunities are there for regatta travel in the region?

Brian: We have 3-4 regattas this year with one last year. Everything is a bit more spread out naturally compared to say New Jersey, but you get to experience sailing in many different environments.

Melges: What is your favorite venue and why?

Brian: Bellingham Bay is one of the most beautiful places to sail with the San Juan islands and Mount Baker in the background. But it's hard to beat sailing at the Gorge with its consistent winds and upwind current, which just gives you more time downwind!

Melges: What events do you plan on racing this season?

Brian: We traveled about as far as you can go in the continental US for the Winter Series in Florida! Then we have 3-4 local regattas on the schedule and are discussing Nationals in Charleston. Really the can't-miss event for out of towners is the Gorge regatta midsummer.

To view the full list of Melges 15 events, visit melges15.com/events.

Melges 15 Class Wraps Up Winter Series in Sarasota

Sarasota, FL delivered spectacular conditions for the 2022 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship. After nine races, the overall series was won by Eddie Cox and Molly Ziegler with Ripley Shelley and Harry Melges IV crowned Midwinter Champions.

Sixty-four boats competed over the three-day event on the Bay - more than double the registrations in 2021. Two countries and 25 states were represented. The large turnout comes on the heels of the Melges 15 launching worldwide with a second builder in Portugal.

Finishing third in the event were the 2021 Winter Series and National Champions, Emily and John Haig (Beach Haven, NJ). “It doesn’t feel like that long ago that we got our boat and were racing against a dozen boats in New Jersey,” said Emily. “Now we’re here in Florida for the second Winter Series with almost 70 boats.”

The Winter Series relocates to Jensen Beach, FL for 2023. The three events will be run out of the US Sailing Center of Martin County,  known for consistent breeze and great sailing.

Sarasota Gears Up for Midwinter Championship

The Melges 15 Class is in Sarasota, FL for the Midwinter Championship, the third event of the 2022 Winter Series. Sixty-seven boats are set to compete at the final event in Sarasota. 

This is the first Winter Series for Rich and Amanda Horton (Columbia, SC). “There aren’t many classes that attract this many boats,” said Rich. “The biggest event we had sailed was the M15 Nationals with thirty boats. Now we’re out here with 67 boats, which is so much fun and we’re learning a lot.”

“I’ve never done this before, and the Winter Series gives you something to look forward to,” added Amanda. “You’re going on vacation every four weeks - you’re in the warm weather and hanging out with new friends.”

The Class has its sights set on the US Sailing Center of Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL for the 2023 Winter Series. With more than 80 boats eager to sail the 2022 Winter Series, the Class expects the upward trend in registration to continue as boat sales boom across the country. 

Follow the action from the three-day event starting Friday, March 25 on the Melges Facebook and Instagram accounts. Results will be posted to Regatta Network. Learn more about the Melges 15 Class and read daily recaps on Melges15.com.

2023 Winter Series Moving to Jensen Beach, FL

The Melges 15 Class is excited to announce the 2023 Winter Series is moving to Jensen Beach, FL. The three-event series will be hosted by the Class at the US Sailing Center of Martin County, famous for its outstanding breeze on Florida’s East Coast.

The sailing center offers a fantastic, central location for hosting the growing Melges 15 Class. With more than 80 boats eager to sail the 2022 Winter Series, the Class expects the upward trend in registration to continue as boat sales boom across the country. 

Save the dates for the 2023 Winter Series:

• Event 1 January 7-8, 2023

• Event 2 February 25-26, 2023

• Midwinter Championship March 24-26, 2023

The Melges/Quantum Sails Zenda Team will host a clinic the day prior to each regatta. More information and registration will be available in Summer 2022. 

Melges 15 Available Worldwide

MARCH 9, 2022 (Zenda, Wisconsin): Melges Performance Sailboats is proud to announce the worldwide launch of the Melges 15 through its partnership with Nelo and dealers around the globe. Boats will be available for delivery starting in Spring 2022. 

Springboarding from its launch in May 2020, the Melges 15 has seen exponential growth in North America and was awarded Sailing World’s Boat of the Year title. More than 275 boats are sailing around the US with another 200 on the way to new owners. 

The Melges 15 offers an exciting doublehanded platform that appeals to a wide range of sailors from youth to adults. Melges conducted extensive research and product testing to produce a comfortable environment for both the skipper and crew. The deeper cockpit takes the load off the sailor’s knees helping them feel locked into the boat while the high boom and gnav vang system work together to make the boat easier to maneuver.

The asymmetric spinnaker offers an additional performance element while the single-pull launch and retrieval system makes handling the sail easy and fast. The eager to plane hull shape makes downwind sailing a fast, fun ride. 

Based in Porto, Portugal, Nelo is in a prime location to supply the European market with Melges 15s easily and efficiently. Bringing Nelo onboard for production also keeps the purchase cost low while providing a local resource for new owners. In combination with Nelo’s steady supply of high-quality boats, Melges dealers enhance the exponential growth that the Melges 15 has already experienced in North America. 

Find the full list of dealers by visiting Melges.com. For more information on the Melges 15, visit Melges15.com or email sales@melges.com.