Registration Open for 2024 Melges 15 Winter Series

The Melges 15 Winter Series is returning to Jensen Beach, FL in 2024. Hosted by the Class at the US Sailing Center of Martin County, this three-event series promises the perfect blend of competitive racing and idyllic vacation vibes. Grab your gear, rally your crew, and get ready for a regatta series like no other!

REGISTER

• Event 1: January 6-7, 2024

• Event 2: February 24-25, 2024

• Midwinter Championship: March 22-24, 2024

SAVE BIG
Don't miss out on our incredible early bird offer! Register for all three events by November 1, 2023, and lock in a special reduced rate of just $625. When selecting this option, you will be manually entered into the second and third events.

FREE DELIVERY TO EVENT 1
The Winter Series is the perfect time to take delivery of your new Melges 15! Race your own boat, forge new friendships, and gain invaluable insights from fellow Class members. Start a fleet with your friends this winter and dive headfirst into the excitement that Jensen Beach has to offer. For more information on new boats and take advantage of FREE delivery to the January event, email sales@melges.com or request a quote.

STORAGE & LOGISTICS
Store your boat at our partner storage facility located approximately 20 minutes from the Sailing Center. Enjoy a hassle-free series by booking your storage and transportation in advance through Melges Sailing Supply.

CHARTERS
Interested in seeing what the Melges 15 is all about? A limited number of charters are available for all three Winter Series events. Submit the form to receive more information on rates and availability. Don't wait – these charters are sure to go fast!

Charters Available for 2023 Championship Series

NO BOAT? NO PROBLEM

Melges is excited to offer a limited number of charter boats for the Great Lakes Championship and National Championship. Charters include everything you need to race and a day of practice!

new boats available

Ready for a new boat? You can have a new Melges 15 delivered to the Nationals in Sayville, NY. Email eddie@melges.com for more information.

Registration Open for 2023 National Championship

The 2023 Melges 15 National Championship takes place September 29- October 1, hosted by Sayville Yacht Club in Blue Point, NY. Online registration is now open and the Notice of Race is available on Clubspot. 

The rapidly growing Melges 15 Class is expecting a strong turnout for the final event of the 2023 Championship Series. A limited number of charter boats will be available.

The Melges/Quantum Sails Zenda Team will be onsite to help you make the most of the event! 

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CHARTER A MELGES 15
Melges is excited to offer a limited number of charter boats for the Great Lakes Championship and National Championship. Charters include everything you need to race and a day of practice!

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NEW BOATS AVAILABLE
New boats are available in time for Nationals! Start a fleet with your friends this summer and join the action. For more information on joining the Melges 15 Class, email us at sales@melges.com or request a quote.

Melges 15s Make Splash at Long Beach Race Week

A dozen Melges 15s hit the water at Long Beach Race Week for the first time over June 23-25. Boats traveled to Alamitos Bay and Long Beach Yacht Clubs from Washington, Colorado, and all corners of California for the event. 

Kevin Thomas, from Long Beach and a member of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, purchased his Melges 15 last fall and is one of the 12 competitors who raced in the fleet. He has raced LBRW for over thirty years on many boats including CF37, Melges 24, J/109, J/105, Viper 640 and J/70. This year he sailed with his crew of eleven years, Helen Burdett – they did their first LBRW together in 2007.

“The local fleet is just getting started and [we had] a chance to sail with a couple of the guys from the Pacific Northwest and Tahoe area who have had their boats longer, so we hope to learn from them,” Thomas said. “Long Beach is a great place for this boat.”

Thompson/Taugher USA 324 sail to victory. Photo by Tom Walker

Throughout the three solid days of racing, conditions ranged from big breeze in the high teens to light conditions on the final day. Congratulations to Brad Thompson and Kevin Taugher (ABYC) on their commanding performance catapulting them to the top of the podium! 

“It helps to have a great crew and I have Kevin Taugher who is magic,” Thompson said. “It [was] a little bit of everything, we’ve had some great boat handling. [Friday] was a little different in the bigger breeze where we just powered through and basically just kept boat speed up. We were hitting 16 knots in breeze downwind and the big boat guys were clapping us on as we blew by them. [Saturday] was a little more strategic watching shifts and puffs and finding places on the course.”

“Sunday was a great conclusion to a great regatta with some 80 boats racing including a class new to us - Melges 15 - which we were thrilled to welcome,” noted LBYC Staff Commodore John Busch. 

Second Annual Kettle Cup Regatta a Resounding Success at Shore Acres Yacht Club

Regatta Report from Clay Johnson, Colie Sails

Shore Acres, NJ - The Shore Acres Yacht Club played host to the second annual Kettle Cup Regatta this past weekend on May 6-7, with ten Melges 15s competing in a thrilling display of back-and-forth racing. Participants from Barnegat Bay, Long Beach Island, and Long Island, NY, made up a competitive and diverse fleet, including parent/child, sibling, and coed teams.

On the first day, the fleet navigated a light and puffy westerly breeze, with the forecast calling for eventual wind from the southeast. PRO James Byrne decided to race in the creek, allowing the fleet to sail three exciting and unpredictable races before the breeze died and lost out to the sea breeze. The fleet then enjoyed a steady 10 knots for racing, with Little Egg sailor Jude Ryon and his father, Richie, putting on a masterclass, winning both afternoon races.

The following day saw two more races with similar conditions. Again, the decision was made to sail in the creek to get the races off before the breeze dwindled. The first race proved a little spotty at times, but all boats finished within a few lengths of each other, making for an intense finish. The fleet then waited for the sea breeze to come in, but the westerly made a final surge providing 5-8 knots of breeze for the seventh race.

The regatta was a great success, with Clay Johnson/Elizabeth Tell winning overall followed by the Ryons and Geoff Loffredo/Kristin Hess. It was fantastic to see three new teams trying out the Melges 15 - Colie Sails facilitated a demo boat, and Chris Fretz and Aidan Cunningham allowed other sailors to use their boats, too.

Shore Acres did a superb job running the event, and the organizers are already looking forward to next year's event.

Introducing the Melges 15 Championship Series

The Melges 15 Class is excited to announce its Championship Series. These are class-sanctioned and Melges-supported events designed to enhance competition, promote regional activity, and foster camaraderie among racers. 

The Championship Series highlights the premiere annual events starting with the Winter Series and concluding with the National Championship. These events have historically attracted more than 60 boats, and highlight fleet development and a vibrant social scene. Starting in 2024, Melges 15 sailors will have a consistent annual event schedule to look forward to.

“Encouraging growth on a regional level can help to build stronger local fleets and create opportunities for more frequent racing and training,” explained Eddie Cox, Melges Performance Sailboats. “And fostering camaraderie among racers can create a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages more people to get involved in the sport.”

Join the Melges 15 Class on the water this summer! Click here to locate a dealer near you or email sales@melges.com to learn more about bringing a demo Melges 15 to your club.

2023 Championship Series

• Winter Series

  • January-March

  • Jensen Beach, FL

• Pacific Coast Championship

  • CGOD Regatta

  • July 28-30, 2023

  • Columbia Gorge Racing Association • Cascade Locks, OR

• Inland Championship

  • August 4-6, 2023

  • Inland Lakes Yachting Association • Clear Lake, IA

• East Coast Championship

  • Down Bay Invitational

  • August 12-13, 2023

  • Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club • Beach Haven, NJ

• Great Lakes Championship

  • Verve Inshore

  • August 25-27, 2023

  • Chicago Yacht Club • Chicago, IL

• National Championship

  • September 29-October 1, 2023

  • Sayville Yacht Club • Blue Point, NY

Johnson & Tell Crowned 2023 Melges 15 Midwinter Champions

The 2023 Melges 15 Winter Series came to a thrilling conclusion this weekend in Jensen Beach, FL with the Midwinter Championship. Clay Johnson and Elizabeth Tell of New Jersey were crowned champions after a highly competitive series of eight races with 65 boats. Emily Haig and crew were named the top team in the overall series. 

Friday featured a full array of conditions starting with a calm morning and dialing up an exciting afternoon with the sea breeze. Geoff Becker and Monica Morgan led the day kicking off the event 1,1, 5.  

Day Two delivered much of the same conditions with a lighter 6 knots to start the day as the sea breeze filled in early afternoon piping up to 18-20 knots. The day finished with several contentious battles for first through fourth place matching points 1,2 and 3,4. A new leader emerged when Rochester Yacht Club’s Billy Farmer and Grace Benzal cracked the top ten and won race four. 

With six races completed, teams held out for the seventh race discard that would be sailed on Sunday. 

The sea breeze arrived early on Day Three delivering a steady 10-12 knots. With a tie still to be broken at the top between Johnson/Heller and Becker/ Morgan, a bullet in the final race took the New Jersey team to the top establishing a 7-point gap between them and second for the Annapolis-based Becker. Telmo Basterra and Ryan Wood rounded out the top three. 

The Melges 15 Class announced that it will be returning to Jensen Beach, FL for the 2024 Winter Series. The three events will take place January 6-7, February 24-25, and March 22-24, 2024.