Making Waves on the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay offers no shortage of waterfront activities and provides a plethora of options for every type of boater. Known as the sailing capital of the U.S., Annapolis is home to some of the newest Melges 15 Class members.
The Chesapeake Bay offers no shortage of waterfront activities and provides a plethora of options for every type of boater. Known as the sailing capital of the U.S., Annapolis, MD is home to some of the newest Melges 15 Class members.
Annapolis had eleven boats convoy down to Jensen Beach, FL this month for the first event of the 2023 Winter Series where we touched base with new owner Sara Morgan-Watters on the latest developments for the east coast boats.
The Chesapeake is the largest estuary in the country. “It is very convenient to sail out of Annapolis, especially for small boats. You only have to sail a few minutes or less than a mile from the club and you'll find yourself in raceable areas of the Severn River,” said Watters.
With its storied maritime history, the city’s sailors quickly picked up on the Melges 15. “We started as a group of individuals from different clubs (well, mainly two) who caught wind of this awesome boat and either tried sailing an event or bought the boat right away,” noted Watters. Severn Sailing Association and Eastport Yacht Club members have been the most involved in leading the charge with the local scene alongside Annapolis Yacht Club.
“I became a member of EYC in August because I had just bought an M15 and knew they would allow me to keep it there. SSA and EYC are next-door neighbors. They have the best launching venues in Annapolis since they are situated right on the river.”
“Now that at least five SSA members are M15 owners, they have just submitted their request to be a recognized fleet there, which will make it easier for members to store their boats and for the club to host events!” she added. “EYC has also shown much support and is enthusiastic for members to keep their boats on the lot.”
When it comes down to it all, Annapolis sailors have a strong passion for dinghy racing and it is home to some of the country’s most notable college teams including the Naval Academy, St. Mary’s, and Old Dominion. “There's an appetite for double-handed dinghy sailing to complement the more traditional keelboat racing most college alumni sailors tend to gravitate to in our area,” Watters explained. “You're also seeing a lot of older generations from the J/70, Viper, J/80, or J/22 classes who are enjoying M15 as owners, which provides a fun and fast relief to bigger keelboat racing.”
As for the upcoming summer on the Bay, you’ll find active social and on-the-water scenes for the M15 Fleet with more one-design events in the works. “There's about 12 of us with boats and many more who are excited about the boat and looking to buy one! The M15s will be racing during the summer on Tuesday nights during the Tuesday Evening Sailing One Design (TESOD) hosted by Severn Sailing Association. You'll see them racing against Snipes, 420s, FJs, and other dinghies with a main and jib sail as a fun summer sailing option. The M15 had its own fleet at the Hospice Cup Regatta this past fall with seven boats racing and we expect more this year.”
Melges 15 Winter Series Takes Over Jensen Beach
The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series Event One featured record turnout, glamorous conditions, and a rocking social scene in downtown Jensen Beach, FL.
The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series Event One featured record turnout, glamorous conditions, and a rocking social scene in downtown Jensen Beach, FL.
With seventy boats on the line, it was the largest class event to date in such a short time since the boat’s launch in Spring 2020. “This event has been a great opportunity to see what this fleet is all about,” remarked Bryan Stout. “I don’t think any of us had seen a fleet of this size before and for something that came out so recently, we’re all learning together. We feel like we came in with good experience and we’re coming out even better.”
Saturday’s races were followed by a Vakaros Atlas 2 debrief with tracks and analytics from racing for a great discussion among the competitors. Melges hosted a happy hour afterward complete with tacos, complimentary beer, and Ron Abuelo Rum tasting.
The competition wrapped up on Sunday with plenty of shakeups across the fleet in consistent wind and sunny skies. Congratulations to Melges 15 veteran Emily Haig, with Zoey Fisher on their overall win followed by Jonathan Bailey and Suzanne Ackley, and Geoff Becker and Monica Morgan. Haig has been involved with the Class since the first event occurred in her hometown of Beach Haven, NJ.
The Winter Series fun continues February 25-26 and March 24-26 in Jensen Beach. Full results and photos are available on melges15.com.
Record Numbers Open 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series
The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series kicks off this weekend, January 7-8, with a class record-breaking 79 boats registered.
The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series kicks off this weekend, January 7-8, with a class record-breaking 79 boats registered. Hosted by Melges in Jensen Beach, FL, there are seven races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
The weekend features a great social scene with happy hours and debriefs hosted by Vakaros featuring the latest technology from the Atlas 2.
The Winter Series based at the US Sailing Center of Martin County offers consistent breeze and flat water throughout the winter months. The fierce competition will be on full display in the large lineup paired with the vibrant social scene of downtown Jensen Beach.
This weekend marks the first of three events continuing February 25-26 and culminating in the Midwinter Championship March 24-26. Awards will be presented to the top competitors overall as well as individual age groups, youth skippers, and female skippers.
Follow the action on the Melges Facebook and Instagram. Results will be posted on Clubspot and available on melges15.com.
Save the Date: 2023 National Championship
The Melges 15 Class is thrilled to announce the 2023 National Championship will take place September 29-October 2, 2023 at Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, NY.
The Melges 15 Class is thrilled to announce the 2023 National Championship will take place September 29-October 2, 2023 at Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, NY.
The weekend will kick off with a clinic led by Melges/Quantum Sails Zenda followed by three days of racing.
The 2022 Melges 15 season is in full swing with a record number of entries for the Winter Series in Sarasota, Florida. The Spring calendar features new events on the East Coast and the start of the Pacific Northwest circuit.
Rig Tuning 101
The experts at Melges are here to help you get your boat up to speed with this easy-to-follow tuning tutorial.
The class experts at Melges put together a video reviewing rig tuning tips and go-fast settings for various conditions. Extensive testing, race data, and experience were used to develop these easy-to-follow settings. The tuning guide is another valuable reference for Melges 15 sailors.
Shop the accessories shown in the video:
California Dreamin' - Meet Long Beach's Melges 15 Fleet
The Melges 15 is continuing its record growth across the U.S. with Alamitos Bay Yacht Club among the newest fleets popping up on the West Coast.
The Melges 15 is continuing its record growth across the U.S. with Alamitos Bay Yacht Club among the newest fleets popping up on the West Coast.
Melges tuned in with Nick Kofski from Long Beach to get the lowdown on the budding Melges 15 scene out West. Kofski, a former Viper and Vanguard sailor, took delivery of his new Melges 15 this Fall.
“Alamitos Bay Yacht Club is one of the main venues for dinghy sailing in the Los Angeles area with solid fleets among the Lasers, Viper 640s, Lidos, and Sabots. The fleets are made up of all types from world champions and Olympians to the regular weekend cruiser types.”
Originally from Chicago, Kofski knew a few friends who had purchased Melges 15s and were enjoying the Winter Series. “Speaking with my friends, the M15 looked like a fun fleet that was affordable to get into and might fill a void at our club as well. So we got a few guys together and lined up an order.”
The void Kofski alluded to was the declining participation in a few of the one-design fleets at his club. “The big numbers at the Winter Series and across the country were especially encouraging for us as we were looking to start a new fleet. We had a few club members moving away from the once-dominant classes and looking for a new design that would tick all the boxes.”
“Long Beach has perfect conditions for the M15 with the normal breeze around 12-16 knots and small sea state on most summer days. It’s a fairly simple boat with a manageable kite that is easy for crews to deal with. It also has great speed for the size and cost of the boat - it’s sorta hard to beat.”
A reflection of the Melges 15 Class nationwide, the ABYC owners come from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and levels of experience. “Our owners run the gamut ranging from their 30s to their 60s, with a few families already sailing with their kids that are in the junior fleet. There are a few couples and friends sharing boats too.”
From holiday regattas to weeknight racing and premiere annual events run out of ABYC, there’s no shortage of activity for the Melges 15 fleet to engage with. A few short weeks after receiving their boats, the fleet was racing in the Turkey Day Regatta. “Six of us are brand new owners and the other traveled from nearby,” said Kofski. “We saw winds from 5-24kts, so it was great for all of us newbies. We had a blast with lots of lead changes and very close racing for all.”
In addition to local events, Kofski hopes to do some traveling on the East Coast and is heading to the Winter Series next month. “We’re stoked to see 70 boats on the line,” added Kofski.
Join the Melges 15 Class out West in 2023:
June 23-25, 2023 Long Beach Race Week Long Beach, CA
July 29-30, 2023 Pacific Coast Championship (CGOD) Cascade Locks, OR
Interested in starting a new Melges 15 fleet at your club? Email sales@melges.com.
Book Your Melges 15 Winter Series Storage
Melges offers all-inclusive concierge services to make your regatta experience as seamless as possible.
Melges offers all-inclusive concierge services to make your regatta experience as seamless as possible. Flying in last minute? We'll have your boat rigged for you when you arrive. Enjoy hassle-free takeoff. We'll de-rig and move your boat to storage after the event. No trailer? No problem. We'll move your boat to-and-from the storage facility for one low price.
BOAT ONLY STORAGE
Car topping or having your boat transported to FL? Melges will arrange for your Melges 15 to be stored inside on a monthly bases and transport your boat to and from the event site. Full pre-event rigging and post-event de-rigging services are also available for an additional fee. Boats will be transported to and from the storage facility arriving no later than Friday morning for Events 1 and 2 and Thursday morning for Event 3 (Midwinters).
BOAT ON TRAILER STORAGE
Melges will arrange for your Melges 15 to be stored indoors on a monthly basis. You can choose to transport your boat to and from the storage facility between events or have Melges transport your boat to and from Jensen Beach. This option is for Melges 15 owners who have a single-boat trailer.
BOX TRAILER STORAGE
Melges will arrange for your Melges 15 box trailer to be stored on a monthly basis. You can choose to transport your trailer to and from the storage facility between events or have Melges transport your trailer to a from Jensen Beach.
QUESTIONS?
The Melges Team is here to help you have a great regatta! Send an email to sales@melges.com or call 262-275-1110.