Regatta Report: SDYC Spring Dinghy
Regatta Report by Morgan Paxhia
Emily and I first did a demo day on the Melges 15 in September 2024 at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, CA. Our sail was only about 30 minutes and we were instantly psyched about this boat we had been hearing so much about with the big East Coast fleets. Our initial impressions: fun, fast, and simple.
This past February, we chartered a boat for the Winter Series Event 2 out of the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. We signed up for their clinic prior to the regatta so we could learn more about the setup, boat handling, and glean any other tips and tricks from the Melges Team. The Winter Series was an incredible experience racing against 94 boats with a lot of serious talent.
A cool innovation we got to experience was the Vakaros Atlas 2, which has a software program called RaceSense. During starts, this program provides start time to all boats, tells you distance to the line, and if you are over the line at the start. We were OCS twice and the instrument makes it very apparent as your screen only displays “OCS” and red LED lights illuminate until you clear yourself. We also had compass heading, GPS speed, and heel angle. Great data package and a real game changer for the sport of sailing and the race committee.
In March, I took delivery of our new Melges 15 USA 846, now named Enigma. We chose the name in memory of our dog Dory, whom we recently said goodbye to after 14 years.
Emily flew down on Friday of the SDYC Spring Dinghy Regatta, and we got in a few hours of practice. Pablo Aguilar and crew from Mexico, who finished second in the event, were with us for the practice session. We had good upwind speed while they were quick downwind, which was consistent throughout the regatta as they were the fastest downwind boat out there.
We raced in San Diego’s South Bay with the Navy shipyard behind us and Coronado waterfront to weather. SDYC got in four races on Day 1 and three races on Day 2. We had a pretty classic SD weekend of blue skies and a modest sea breeze of 8-12 knots, max 14 knots for a little bit each day.
Our objectives were to continue learning the boat, be active with weight and controls, communicate nonstop, and have fun. The breeze was shifty off the Coronado shore, so we quickly learned that we could be pretty aggressive with tacking on the shifts, keeping the bow pointing toward the mark. This really helped us to be in the top 3-5 boats at each windward mark. We learned a lot downwind with weight placement, kite pressure, and using our weight to help turn the boat up and down. The angles downwind can be significant, and we learned that you work just as hard sub-planing as planing to get as much VMG as possible. Emily worked the boat nonstop — the sails and communicating. Upwind, Emily was on the compass and head-out-of-the-boat, and I took on that role downwind.
Next up, Cal Race Week May 31-June 1, Long Beach Race Week June 20-22, and the West Coast Championship September 13-14! We are in the process of building the SD fleet with Mission Bay Yacht Club as the primary home, and we look forward to being a regular in their weekly Thursday Night Thing. Please reach out if you are interested in learning more about the boat and participating in the fun - morganpaxhia@gmail.com.
2025 Melges 15 Great Lakes Championship Registration Open
Registration is open for the 2025 Melges 15 Great Lakes Championship August 22-24 at Charlevoix Yacht Club in Charlevoix, MI. Competitors can save $50 on the entry fee through July 20, 2025.
One year after the National Championship in Traverse City, the fleet is heading one hour north to compete in Charlevoix - a bustling harbor town with iconic beaches, towering sand dunes, and a charming downtown. Racing will be held on Lake Charlevoix, the third-largest inland lake in Michigan, with 56 miles of shoreline.
“The Melges 15 has brought new energy to our club, attracting younger sailors and reigniting the enthusiasm of our PHRF sailors, who are joining the fun, too!” observed Valerie Snyder, CYC member.
“Over the last few years, several of our teams traveled to Florida for the Melges 15 Winter Series, and many of us competed in the Melges 15 Nationals in Traverse City,” said CYC Commodore Suzanne Balter. “This year, we will start our Thursday night club racing at the end of May, host a Melges 15 Invitational on June 22, and are honored to host the Great Lakes Championship in August.”
Three days of racing are scheduled alongside Thursday practice, shoreside parties, and a fleet dinner. Competitors are encouraged to reserve housing early as it is a popular tourist destination. Accommodation options range from camping at Fisherman's Island State Park to hotels and vacation rentals.
The U.S. Championship Series consists of class-sanctioned events aimed at elevating competition, supporting regional fleets, and fostering camaraderie among racers.:
East Coast Championship May 30-June 1 • Centerport, NY • Centerport Yacht Club
Inland Championship July 21-August 1 • Excelsior, MN • Minnetonka Yacht Club
Great Lakes Championship August 22-24 • Charlevoix, MI • Charlevoix Yacht Club
West Coast Championship September 13-14 • Marina del Rey, CA • California Yacht Club
U.S. National Championship October 3-5 • Long Beach Township, NJ • Brant Beach Yacht Club
Fleet-building promotions are available for 2025. Click here to request a quote for a new boat, or email eddie@melges.com to schedule a demo at your club.
Emily & John Haig Win 2025 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship & Overall Series
Father-daughter duo Emily and John Haig (NJ) clinched victory at the 2025 Melges 15 Midwinter Championship March 21-23 at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL. Their impressive performance secured not only the Midwinter Championship title but also their third overall Winter Series win.
Competing against a stacked fleet of 96 teams from across the U.S., the Haigs demonstrated consistency and skill in the fourth and final event of the 2024-25 Winter Series. In total, more than 180 teams from 27 states traveled to the newly opened Melges Watersports Center throughout the season, marking another successful year of high-caliber competition in the Melges 15 Class.
“Five years ago, my dad and I started at the boat every time so we could hear the Race Committee calling times. Now we have the Vakaros units that count down the clock for us and tell us if we’re over in a ninety-plus boat fleet,” explained Emily regarding the evolution of the Winter Series since 2021.
The regatta kicked off with the most stable conditions of the weekend, as winds started at 7 knots and built to puffs of 18 knots. Jordan Wiggins and Min Min Kelly (FL) took an early lead, claiming victory in Race 1. Claudia Bartlett (TX), sailing with her husband John, delivered a standout downwind performance to capture her first win of the series in Race 2. Brothers Kamron and Quinn Kaiser (WI) claimed Race 3 before Emily and John Haig secured a crucial win in Race 4 to close out the day.
“Now I can retire from sailing,” Claudia joked. “We’re in the old, old people division. But we don’t care because age is just a state of mind. So John and I have been sailing together since we got married 25 years ago.”
On Day 2, light morning winds gave competitors time to enjoy volleyball, dolphin watching, and paddleboarding before the afternoon sea breeze filled in. Once racing resumed, the fleet took on three additional races. Siblings Michael and Lauren Ehnot (NJ) made their mark by winning back-to-back races, while Event 1 winners Cole Schweda and Meta Simon (WI) secured a win in the final race of the day.
The wind showed up late to the party on Sunday, resulting in no further races being contested.
Top Couple and past Olympian Brianna Searle commented, “Seeing the amazing class and facility was awesome to experience. Every racer should experience this because it’s very rare that you get to compete against 100 boats.”
Save the dates for the 2025-26 Melges 15 Winter Series at the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL: November 22-23, January 3-4, February 21-22, and the Midwinter Championship March 20-22. Registration and hotel blocks will be announced soon on melges15.com.
Final Showdown of the Melges 15 Winter Series
The 2024-25 Melges 15 Winter Series celebrates a record-breaking season after welcoming 184 teams to four events. The series concludes with 92 teams competing for the Midwinter Championship at the Melges Watersports Center on March 21-23.
Teams traveled from 27 states while New Yorkers flocked in droves to the Series, bringing a host of 18 teams from across the state. The crew of Jeff Sullivan, Billy Farmer, and Travis Odenbach (NY) send their boats south in a custom-built box trailer for the season.
“We only have to move the boats twice a year. Melges has made it really easy to store and transport everything so we can fly down from the frigid north to enjoy a weekend on the water,” explained Sullivan. “When the trailer is loaded in November, we are going south not only to race but for our family vacation, so we can’t forget the most important items: beach toys, scooters, pool floaties, kids' lifejackets, and backup car seats.”
One of the largest divisions has been the family division, making up 20% of the teams competing. David Poquette (IL) has been racing with his 14-year-old, Evan, and this marks their third Winter Series event.
“Getting on the water with my son, who was initially afraid of competitive sailing—what an entry point! Evan has only sailed in four regattas, with two of them here at the Melges Watersports Center,” explained Poquette. “It’s been an amazing experience, with a great family vibe and all levels of experience on the water—super competitive, but in the right way! This is some of the best sailing I have ever been part of, and sharing it with my son is incredible.”
Twenty-nine teams are in contention for the overall series championship after competing in all four events. This series edition marked a notable change for the scoring, where a team drops its worst score every six races.
Two-time Overall Series winner Emily Haig (NJ) has been part of the Melges 15 Class since 2020, initially racing with her father, John. Now, she competes against her sister, Dana, and they alternate sailing with their father as part of a two-boat family program.
Each regatta has been preceded by a clinic led by the Melges Team and special guest coaches, including Olympian Paris Henken and Harry Melges IV, Ripley Shelley, Kyle Navin, and Louisa Nordstrom from American Magic. However, coaching doesn’t end at the start of the regatta. The Melges 15 Class allows for on-the-water coaching as long as it is available to all competitors. Many sailors have approached the coach boat between races for tips on technique, tuning, and tactics.
Melges Coach Eddie Cox stated, “The Melges 15 Class is committed to offering all competitors access to world-class coaching and instruction. It has been wonderful to see so many teams take advantage of the clinics and learning opportunities here at the Melges Watersports Center.”
The Midwinter Championship features three action-packed days of racing Friday-Sunday, with results, photos, and videos shared on melges15.com. For more information about the Melges Watersports Center and its offerings, visit melgeswatersports.com.
Welch & Martin Dominate Melges 15 Winter Series Event 3 as Competition Heats Up
The third event of the Melges 15 Winter Series saw 92 teams compete, shaking up the overall series standings. Ricky Welch and Mitchell Martin (MS) dominated the event, securing the overall win with an 18-point lead. Dueling father-daughter duos Dana and John Haig (NJ) and Mason and Mark Zagol (CT) claimed second and third place, respectively.
Sailors traveled from 21 states across the U.S. to participate in a one-day clinic with Class Coach Paris Henken, followed by two days of competitive racing on Florida’s Space Coast. Among them were some of the newest Melges 15 owners, siblings Morgan and Emily Paxhia from San Diego, CA, who chartered a boat to immerse themselves in the class culture.
“Vela LA did a demo day in the Fall, and within the first 30 minutes of sailing the boat we were like we gotta get one of these. We have a core group of buyers, including ourselves, and we’re building a program down there - weeknight racing, local events, and there’s a whole Cal State Championship being organized, which is great,” said Morgan. “Since September, we’ve been discussing some events we could do to familiarize ourselves with the boat and the class. We thought this event would be a great chance to get out and learn more about the boat and be around a big fleet. It’s super easy to charter a boat - it makes it great for West Coast folks or really people coming from anywhere to come down and be able to sail.”
The first day of racing featured a shifting easterly breeze at 7-15 knots—just enough for sailors to enjoy exhilarating downwind planing. As Sara Morgan Watters (MD) put it, “That’s really what we’re here for.”
Welch and Martin set the tone early, winning Race One. The Paxhias found their rhythm and claimed victory in Race Two, while the Haigs secured Race Three. With Sunday’s forecast predicting lighter conditions, PRO AJ Schweda pushed for four races to ensure a full regatta. Fittingly, Race Four was won by his son, Cole Schweda, sailing with Hank Seum.
After a long day on the water, competitors were welcomed ashore with cold drinks, hot pizza, and music. Coach Henken led a debrief as sailors relaxed on the beach, reviewing the day’s highlights.
As forecasted, Day Two began with light air. However, the Race Committee managed to squeeze in a single race as the breeze filled in. Ryan Keenan and Ava Cohen, currently sitting second in the Overall Series standings, claimed the fifth and final race.
Consistency proved key to Welch and Martin’s success. With finishes of 5-2-11-2, they secured the regatta win. We couldn’t make any mistakes and had to try not to be too risky—especially on the starting line,” said Welch.
He added, “The guy sailing with the two girls, with three people, was just awesome to see. We were talking about it all weekend!”
Coming in at a combined weight of 305 pounds, 11-year-old Clara Reali skippered with her father, Kevin, and friend, Kaitlin Thomley, representing the first boat to compete with three people at a Class-sanctioned event. Thomley handled the jib on the upwind and sheeted the main upwind while Reali trimmed the spinnaker downwind.
“I think the tendency is to put the kid in the front of the boat, but if you give the kid the tiller, there’s a lot of physicality that the adult can manhandle in the rest of the boat. If people are curious, don’t be afraid to let the kid drive,” said Kevin.
Full results and photos are available on melges15.com. The Winter Series concludes with the Midwinter Championship March 21-23. Coach Paris Henken will lead an intensive two-day clinic before the final regatta of the series. Charter boats are sold out for the event, but new boats are available for Summer 2025.
94 TEAMS RALLY FOR EVENT 3 OF MELGES 15 WINTER SERIES
Ninety-four teams are set to compete in the third event of the Melges 15 Winter Series, taking place February 22-23, 2025, at the newly opened Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, FL.
The regatta weekend kicks off with a one-day clinic on Friday, led by Class Coach Paris Henken and Melges Watersports Director, RJ Porter. Among the participants is 12-year-old Adi Lacroix (WI), who attended the previous two clinics and sails alongside her father, Josh.
“Adi absolutely loves Paris, her coaching style, and the overall clinic experience,” said Josh. “These clinics provide a great opportunity for learning and growth, maximizing time on the water. We believe they’ve been the highlight of the weekend. Adi even said she would come just for the clinics, regardless of whether there was a regatta or racing!”
Since opening in September 2024, the Melges Watersports Center has quickly become a hub for sailing and watersports. This weekend marks the ninth regatta hosted at the facility. In addition to competitive events, the Center offers educational opportunities such as foiling camps and introduction to racing classes. Members of the Center can also enjoy weeknight racing, and kayak and paddleboard rentals are available for hourly or daily use.
The Center maintains a fleet of charter boats, making it an accessible option for sailors traveling to the area. Morgan and Emily Paxhia (CA), part of the growing San Diego fleet, have taken advantage of the charter program just a week after the purchase of their new boat.
“Chartering was a great way to participate in an East Coast event while continuing to build our fleet in San Diego,” said Emily. “The Melges team makes the process incredibly easy. The Watersports Center is an outstanding platform for getting sailors on the water, no matter where they come from.”
Momentum is also building overseas, with the Melges 15 recently announced as the platform for the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club’s prestigious Endeavour Trophy this October in Essex, UK. The invitation-only event will feature some of Europe’s top sailing talent.
Overall Series frontrunner Cole Schweda (WI) holds a substantial lead and had a strong showing at last weekend’s Sailing World Regatta Series event in St. Petersburg, FL. Meanwhile, Leopold Brandl and Olivia Tuzel (NY), Jack Sutton and Austin Ando (SC), and Ryan Keenan and Ava Cohen (FL) are all aiming for a top-three position ahead of the Midwinter Championship in March.
The Winter Series Event 3 will feature two action-packed days of racing on February 22-23, with results, photos, and videos available at melges15.com. For more information about the Melges Watersports Center and its offerings, visit melgeswatersports.com.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR 2025 EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP
2024 East Coast Championship in Annapolis, MD
Registration is open for the 2025 Melges 15 East Coast Championship May 30-June 1 at Centerport Yacht Club in Centerport, NY. Competitors can save on the entry fee through April 10, 2025.
Long Island has been a hotbed of activity for Melges 15 Class growth in 2024-25, with nearly two dozen new boats being delivered to American Yacht Club, Pequot Yacht Club, Noroton Yacht Club, and Indian Harbor Yacht Club.
“After years of searching for the right boat to reorganize Centerport Yacht Club's most passionate racers, several members agreed to jump into the Melges 15 together. A number of design aspects drew us in, and the experience has been better than any of us imagined,” said Regatta Chair and 2023 U.S. National Champion, John Storck.
“The boat has been a wonderful platform for our diverse fleet to thrive and grow. We are thrilled to host the 2025 ECCs and welcome everyone to our Club, nestled in beautiful Northport Bay.”
Three days of racing are scheduled alongside shoreside parties and a fleet dinner.
The U.S. Championship Series consists of class-sanctioned events aimed at elevating competition, supporting regional fleets, and fostering camaraderie among racers.:
Midwinter Championship March 21-23 • Merritt Island, FL • Melges Watersports Center
Inland Championship July 21-August 1 • Excelsior, MN • Minnetonka Yacht Club
Great Lakes Championship August 22-24 • Charlevoix, MI • Charlevoix Yacht Club
West Coast Championship September 13-14 • Marina del Rey, CA • California Yacht Club
U.S. National Championship October 3-5 • Long Beach Township, NJ • Brant Beach Yacht Club
Fleet-building promotions are available for 2025. Click here to request a quote for a new boat, or email eddie@melges.com to schedule a demo at your club.