Official Melges 24 Blog

Scott Nixon aboard USA-751 Quantum Racing has won the highly-contested Melges 24 division at Charleston Race Week 2009. Among his crew, are 2008 North American Champion companions Amy Ironmonger and Brian Janney. After three days and nine races while competing against some of the best sailors in the world, Nixon is officially the very first to win back-to-back Charleston Melges 24 titles — as a helm and as a tactician. In 2008, he called the shots for winner USMCA President and IMCA Vice Chairman (US) Travis Weisleder. 

Currently a resident of Annapolis, Md., Nixon is no stranger to Charleston. His expertise and local knowledge paid big dividends this weekend. He lived in Charleston from 1993 to 1995 as the coach of the College of Charleston sailing team.

Going into the last day of racing Argyle Campbell on USA-795 Rock n’ Roll from Newport Beach, Calif. was seated in the overall lead, only one vital point ahead of Nixon in second place. In third, also one point out was day one regatta leader John Kolius from La Porte, Tx. on USA-776 KO Sailing.

With the potential for three more intense races on tap for the final day only, the 31-boat strong Melges 24 fleet went back to racing under semi-overcast skies and breeze on conditions.

South Carolina native Robbie Wilkins on USA-725 Vamoose took control early in the first race rounding the top mark in first, followed by Nixon challenging for second with Simon Strauss on USA-757 Simplicity. Beyond the top three the rounding was tight as Wilkins, Strauss and Nixon vied for position. Nixon, knew that an early jump on the fleet would swing the scoreboard in his direction as he pulled out ahead of Strauss, then Wilkins for the win. Strauss hung in for second, in third was another hot, young Melges 24 local racer, David O’Reilly on USA-700 ARDOR/C.R.E.A.M, Wilkins settled for fourth.

The last race of the event found Kolius with the pressure required to maintain a win and a second place overall position. He pulled across the finishline some two to three boat lengths ahead of USMCA Southeast District Governor Steve Kopf on USA-773 Blur-Pacific Energy Ventures in second. Strauss had an outstanding day with a third place finish.

The U.S. Melges 24 Class would like to thank 2009 U.S. Championship Series title sponsor — SLAM. Congratulations to the top three winning teams as they will take home some sweet, race ready embroidered gear. We are especially thankful to all the teams that competed, especially to those that traveled from the West Coast and overseas. Many special thanks to the event organizers — Brad and Meaghan Van Liew with staff for delivering an outstanding event.

TOP TEN RESULTS
1.) Scott Nixon, Quantum Racing; 3-1-[11]-2-4-3-9-1-4 = 26
2.) John Kolius, KO Sailing; 1-5-4-2-[15]-8-2-10-1 = 33
3.) Argyle Campbell, Rock n’ Roll; 5-4-2-3-5-1-[12]-11-10 = 41
4.) John Pollard/Jens Wathne, Party Girl; 13-7-6-7-8-2-1-9-[14] = 53
5.) Steve Kopf, Blur-Pacific Energy Ventures; 10-3-10-9-3-6-11-[18]-2 = 54
6.) Simon Strauss, Simplicity; 15-2-1-[32/DNF]-20-5-7-2-3 = 55
7.) Peter Lane, Brickhouse 539; 9-14-5-10-1-4-[19]-12-5 = 60
8.) Henry Filter, Wild Child; 2-10-7-[14]-10-9-8-6-9 = 61
9.) David Dabney, CharlestonEyeDoctor.com; 8-[19]-12-5-2-17-6-5-8 = 63
10.) David O’Reilly, ARDOR/C.R.E.A.M.; 6-12-[21]-11-7-12-3-3-15 = 69

Full Results
Charleston Race Week 2009 was event number five of thirty SLAM U.S. Championship Series events and the third 2009 North American Ranking event on the International Melges 24 Schedule. There are many more high-powered Melges 24 events coming your ways soon. Everyone is reminded of:

2009 Annapolis NOOD - April 24-26
Annapolis Yacht Club; Annapolis, Md.

2009 Seattle NOOD - May 15-17
Seattle Yacht Club & Corinthian Yacht Club; Seattle, Wash.

2009 Autonet Mobile Melges 24 U.S. National Championship - June 11-14 – ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
St. Francis Yacht Club; San Francisco, Calif. 

2009 Melges 24 World Championship - October 23 – November 1 – ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Eastport Yacht Club; Annapolis, Md. 

MEDIA PLAY
Check it out! A host of commentary, photos and videos are all available online:
Official Event Web Site

Video Coverage  
Racing 
Friday: Recap and Promo
Saturday: Recap and Promo

Forums and Commentary

Photo Gallery

A windless Saturday morning was in store for 174 racing boats, including 23 Melges 24s, on Charleston Harbor today, but the warm sun more than made up for a little delay. Racers decided after a delay of more than one hour (due to the lack of wind) to start swimming and sunbathing. Chuck Coyer, a mobile yacht rigger who is sailing Race Week with local hotshot Melges 24 team Blur said, “It was easy to get a little too relaxed – when the racing started it was extremely tough and mentally taxing, a real gear shift from working on a sun tan for two hours.”  Blur sits in sixth position, the top local boat in the competitive grand prix Melges class, owned by Isle of Palms resident Steve Kopf.

Harbor Currents Deliver Challenge 
The hot Melges 24 Quantum Racing didn’t have any such trouble. The all-pro crew has been on an unmatched winning streak in the marquis fleet, winning last year’s North American Championship and currently training for October’s World Championship. This crack crew also includes a local – Charleston’s Amy Ironmonger, a hot commodity in the sailing world. “It was really a different game than yesterday, with lots of transitions,” she commented. The team is only one point out of first, and Amy is “pleased to see that our tuning and skill level is coming together so well as we get ready for Worlds.” Even after being over the line early in the final race of the day, Quantum was able to catch and pass 22 other boats and salvage a ninth place in the race.

Tomorrow’s forecast calls for more wind and comfortable temperatures as the racers fight to win honors for their fleet and more than $10,000 in prizes from Raymarine, Gosling’s Rum and the rest of Charleston Race Week’s generous sponsors.  “As far as I can tell, almost every fleet is still up for grabs tomorrow,” said Race Director Brad Van Liew.  “No one is walking away with victory without a fight and once again, Charleston Race Week is providing great competition across the board.”

After the first day of racing, La Porte, Texas’ John Kolius on USA-776 KO Sailing takes the lead at Charleston Race Week 2009.

With a scoreline of 1-5-4, Kolius is one point ahead of Argyle Campbell’s USA-630 Rock n’ Roll with Andy Burdick on tactics. In third, it’s no surprise Scott Nixon on USA-751 Quantum Racing along with a portion of the same crew that won the 2008 North American Championship four points further back.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS
01.) John Kolius, USA-776 KO Sailing
02.) Argyle Campbell, USA-630 Rock n’ Roll
03.) Scott Nixon, USA-751 Quantum Racing
04.) Simon Strauss, USA-757 Simplicity
05.) Henry Filter, USA-721 Wild Child
06.) Kristen Lane, USA-623 Brick House 623
07.) Steve Kopf, USA-773 Blur-Pacific Energy Ventures
08.) John Pollard/Jens Wathne NOR-789 Party Girl
09.) Guy Mossman, USA-786 Riot Act
10.) Peter Lane, USA-539 Brickhouse 539

FULL RESULTS

Don’t forget to tune-in to these following links for more LIVE coverage tomorrow.

Event
Live Video
Live Commentary and Photos

Get online NOW! You have two opportunities and two options to watch the 31-boat srtong fleet of Melges 24s go racing in Charleston…

DO IT NOW!

Event: www.charlestonraceweek.com
Live Video:  http://www.sailinganarchy.com/tv/sa_tv.php
Live Commentary and Photos:  http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showforum=49

The forecast is calling for some breeze on conditions, match that with a deep and talented fleet and you’ve got the best Melges 24 racing in the world — happening NOW in Charleston, S.C.

A preliminary scratch sheet is posted on the 2009 Charleston Race Week Web Site, schedule of events, storage, launch and haul pages have also been updated. Register NOW – It’s Your Last Chance!

U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) President Travis Weisleder today announced an exclusive agreement with the producers of On-The-Water Anarchy to bring live coverage of every race at 2009 Charleston Race Week to the internet. “Charleston Race Week has become the biggest sportboat event in U.S. history, and we’re incredibly excited that our members and supporters have come together to make video coverage of every start, mark rounding and finish of the Melges 24 fleet possible,” said Weisleder. Read full article >>>