West Coast Melges 15 Fleet Shines at Big Dinghy Regatta

By Tim Clarke, Vela LA

The West Coast Melges 15 fleet ventured to Richmond Yacht Club for the Big Dinghy Regatta April 13-14. Teams traveled from Southern California and Washington to showcase the M15. 

With a big breeze on Saturday, the competitors put on a good show. The boats handled the conditions perfectly with wind in the high teens gusting into the twenties. Sunday was lighter with more current to deal with, resulting in plenty of lead changes. After 7 races, Brian Savery and Tim Clarke were tied for first with Brian winning on countback.

Richmond Yacht Club was a great venue and everyone was extremely welcoming, we’ll be back next year!

Charters are available for a number of upcoming events including CGOD and California Race Week. To join the Melges 15 Class at a West Coast event or schedule a demo at your club, contact Vela LA at info@vela-la.com.

Sarasota Clubs Collaborate for a Weekend on the Water

1 weekend, 2 regattas, 3 meals, 11 trophies, 20+ boats!

By Jennifer Ikeda-Faugust

Fleet 2 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron hosted its inaugural Spring Melges 15 regatta on April 14, 2024. By combining with the Sarasota Bay Cup Regatta, hosted by Bird Key Yacht Club on the 13th, participants enjoyed a full weekend of sailing.

SSS kicked off the events with practice races on Friday afternoon, followed by a Welcome Party at BKYC with an abundance of drinks and hors’ d’oeuvres.

Saturday’s breeze was sporty as over 20 competitors headed out to the race course, but becalmed after the start of the second race. A delightful dinner was enjoyed at BKYC Saturday evening.

Sunday racing started with winds on the light side, which got lighter, as about half the fleet completed the first race before TLE and competitors were sent to shore. The awards ceremony with a competitor lunch and beer was enjoyed by all at SSS.

There were a number of break-out finishes, thanks in part to the active, local fleet racing, sharing of information, and post-race debriefs. We are excited that the fleet continues to grow and improve!

For those who might like to extend your FL racing experience, keep an eye on the class calendar for events surrounding the 2024-25 Winter Series at Merritt Island, FL!

BKYC Sarasota Bay Cup Results:

1st – Michael Faugust, Jennifer Ikeda

2nd – Richard Elsishans, Phyllis Elsishans

3rd – George Conklin, Jim Silverman

SSS Spring Melges 15 Regatta Results:

1st – Chris Klotz, Annette Breton

2nd – Michael Faugust, Jennifer Ikeda

3rd– Harris Padegs, Jean-Michel Bus

Top Woman – Mimi Solum, Jeff Solum

Top “Meister” (over the age of 65) – Dan Brown, Susan Mallows

Overall:

1st –Michael Faugust, Jennifer Ikeda

2nd – Chris Klotz, Annette Breton

3rd – Rob Hudson, Mark Landwer

2024 Melges 15 Nationals Registration Open

Registration is open for the 2024 Melges 15 U.S. National Championship August 23-25 at Grand Traverse Yacht Club in Traverse City, MI.

This year’s Championship is gearing up to be the largest Nationals to date and will feature the stunning late summer backdrop of Pure Michigan’s coastline. Three days of racing are scheduled alongside shoreside parties and a fleet dinner.

Leading up to the Nationals is the Championship Series - class-sanctioned events designed to enhance competition, promote regional fleets, and foster camaraderie among racers.:

• East Coast Championship June 7-9, 2024 • Annapolis, MD

• West Coast Championship June 21-23, 2024 • Long Beach, CA

• Great Lakes Championship July 12-14, 2024 • Rochester, NY

• Inland Championship August 2-4, 2024 • Pewaukee, WI

A limited number of charters are available for the Championship Series and Nationals through Melges and its dealers. Click here to request a quote for a new boat delivered directly to the Nationals in Traverse City.

136 Boats Race in 2024 Melges 15 Winter Series

The Melges 15 Class is experiencing an unprecedented season, marked by a remarkable turnout of 136 teams participating in the 2024 Winter Series. The Midwinter Championship runs March 22-24, 2024 at the US Sailing Center of Martin County in Jensen Beach, FL.  

Ninety boats, representing a competitive field, are vying for the coveted Midwinter Championship title and the series trophy this weekend. Returning for their third event are Event 1 winners Luke Arnone and Cameron Giblin from Bay Head, NJ. As the overall series leaders, they’ll be duking it out with Event 2 winners, Keiran Searle and Declan McGranahan from Miami, FL. 

The allure of warmer temperatures and sunshine has drawn a significant number of participants southward all season, seeking respite from the lingering grasp of winter. The Sullivan Family from Minnesota has doubled their presence in the series, with brothers Toby and Josh Sullivan each helming their respective boats. 

Peter Sullivan, who alternates crewing for his sons Toby and Josh, expressed how incredible it is for them to have the chance to participate in the Winter Series. “Work Thursday, parachute into FL for a weekend of crazy good, competitive racing on the funnest boat around. We get to hang out with old friends and make new ones in this  amazing community.”

Follow the action from the three-day event starting Friday, March 22 on the Melges Facebook and Instagram accounts. Results will be posted to Clubspot. Learn more about the Melges 15 Class and view daily photos at melges15.com.

Manso/Leal Win European Winter Series Event 1

Paulo Manso and Tiago Leal won the inaugural stage of the Melges 15 European Winter Series in Cascais, PRT. Hailing from Madeira Island, Manso demonstrated resilience in overcoming challenging conditions earning firsts in all but one of the six races sailed. 

John Sheehy and his daughter Katie from the Royal St. George Yacht Club in Ireland closely trailed the leaders, starting and finishing strong in the first and last races. Local talents Joana Madeira and Diogo Pinto secured the third spot with a consistent performance, recording all top 5 finishes.

The competition in Cascais featured 14 teams representing Ireland, Switzerland, and Portugal. The Melges 15 Class, already a huge success in the US, is gaining traction in Europe through the Winter Series and last month’s appearance at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show.

The picturesque setting of Cascais provided a beautiful backdrop to the races, with a solid breeze peaking at 17 knots producing 3-meter swells. The Race Committee strategically conducted the races inside the bay, where the NW wind proved to be shiftier and gustier, offering the fleet a challenging yet exhilarating experience. 

Reflecting on their success, Manso noted, "The boat was fast, making our life easier on the race course. We managed to sail the pressure patches well on the downwinds, making the difference." 

The upcoming second Cascais Winter Series from April 12-14 promises more exciting competition with charter boats available. Email sales@melges.com to learn more about sailing the three-day regatta. 

Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2 Winner Decided in Final Race

The Melges 15 Class concluded its second of three Melges 15 Winter Series events this weekend in Jensen Beach, FL. With 78 boats on the starting line and a full range of challenging conditions, the action was intense up and down the leaderboard.

Culminating in a four-team battle in the final race for the overall regatta win, the event witnessed tight racing across different divisions.

Keiran Searle and Declan McGranahan clinched the overall honors with a bullet in the final race. Battling between second and sixth in Race 4, the team seized the lead on the last downwind leg, propelling them from fourth overall to the top of the podium.

“I have the privilege of sailing a lot of Melges boats, and this is easily my favorite,” said Searle. The duo is headed to the European Melges 15 Winter Series in Cascais, PRT April 12-14.

The standout performance of the weekend came from the husband-wife team of Claudia and John Bartlett. With Claudia at the helm, the team dominated the Grand Master and Couple’s divisions, securing top 5 finishes in all but one race.

“This weekend was what we like - lots of shifts, picking the right side of the course. Well, except for one race,” smiled Claudia, referring to a questionable tactical decision in Race 2.

The battle for the top female skipper seemed poised to also determine the overall winner between sisters Dana/John Haig and Emily Haig/Zoe Fisher. The most thrilling moment of the weekend was the photo finish in the first race, with Dana and Emily crossing the line within 2 feet of each other to claim 1st and 2nd place, respectively. Going into Day 2, it seemed like the regatta would come down to Dana and Emily, but the light and shifty conditions of the last race thwarted their plans for a family 1-2.

The top Master title went to the familiar faces of the husband-wife team Michael Faugust and Jennifer Ikeda Faugust. Members of the M15 class since its inception, they overcame an OCS and a late start in the last race to secure the top master position and 19th overall.

The Top Youth award goes to Ryan Keene and Daniel O’Farrill, winners of Race 2.

Final results from the Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2 are available at melges15.com/results.

The Midwinter Championship caps off the series March 22-24. Email sales@melges.com for details on chartering a boat or purchasing a charter boat from the fleet.

Fresh Faces Bring New Competition to Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2

The Melges 15 Winter Series is set to continue its season with the much-anticipated Event 2, taking place February 24-25 in Jensen Beach, FL. Building on the first event's success, 84 Melges 15s are gearing up for two days of competition and fun in the Florida sun.

The Melges 15 Winter Series has become a highlight of the winter sailing calendar, attracting friends and families from across North America. A number of newcomers are joining the ranks as well to bring fresh competition among mixed fleet. 

Mike Schroff and Abby Brown, celebrated their one-year anniversary of racing the Melges 15 together, with a win at the Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg, FL last weekend. While Schroff will be sailing with a new crew in Jensen Beach, he’s coming into this event with a confidence boost. 

“The Winter Series is almost three times the size of what we saw on the starting line in St. Pete,” said Schroff. “I’m excited to see how our tactics and boat speed play out in the bigger fleet. One of my favorite things about the series is how everyone is there learning and getting better together. The Winter Series stands out not only for its size and competition but also for the sheer number of entries. No other class can compare!”

The 2024 Series is powered by Vakaros’s RaceSense, a game-changing technology for race management. RaceSense can call the start with centimeter accuracy, which resulted in all races being sailed under the P-Flag at the January event. 

“The Winter Series events have by far the largest fleets we’ve ever been able to run RaceSense in,” said Will Huerth, Director of Sales at Vakaros. “We’re so excited to partner with the fastest-growing one-design fleet in sailing right now.”

For more information about the Melges 15 Winter Series Event 2, including race schedules, and participant details, please visit melges15.com/winter-series. The Midwinter Championship caps off the Winter Series March 22-24. Email sales@melges.com for details on charter boats and boats for sale at the end of the series.