Official Melges 24 Blog

Calling all Corinthians! The 2009 Gold Cup takes place on August 22-23 in Traverse City, Mich. With potentially twenty teams scheduled to compete, there will be a Corinthian Competition as well. Be sure to have your USMCA Corinthian Declaration Form submitted by this Friday, August 7. View The Current List Of Corinthian Entries.

For those teams interested, Download a USMCA Corinthian Declaration Form and e-mail to USMCA Executive Secretary Joy Dunigan, or fax to +1 (912) 756-6728 to qualify. Your form must be received by the USMCA in order to qualify for the U.S Nationals Corinthian division.

Skippers may send in the completed USMCA Corinthian Declaration Form with only their signature, or the signature of their team representative for submission. The other members of the crew will be prompted at weigh-in to sign the declaration form.

Please remember that all competitors must be 2009 USMCA Class Members for this event. Join the USMCA today!

Are you anticipating participation at the 2009 Coastal Living Sail Newport Regatta on July 10-12?

Now is the time to get your entry in, as well as secure your accommodations. For those of you who have sailed in Newport this time of year you know that finding affordable place to stay can be tough. USMCA Northeast District Governor JC Raby has provided this nice list of options Check it out!

Get The Details…

In an amazing final day of racing on San Francisco Bay, Brian Porter on USA-749 Full Throttle won a three-way tie for first place to win a record-setting fourth U.S. National Championship title, a first in U.S. Melges 24 Class history. Also, tied for first place was Vince Brun on USA-553 Bailout and in third was Dave Ullman on USA-505 Pegasus 505. Each of the top three teams carried 20 points a piece.

Stay tuned to the official website of the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association. Full story is forthcoming…

View Full Results

Special thanks to San Francisco photographer Serge Zavarin for sending along these shots.
View Photo Gallery

Seems one of the major trends in sailing these days is to bring it closer and closer to land, and that is exactly what Autonet Mobile will be doing at the 2009 U.S. Melges 24 National Championship beginning tomorrow, Friday June 12. Watch, see and witness the racing for yourself courtesy of Autonet Mobile.

Read The Full Article…

The 2009 Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD Regatta gets underway today. There is simply no better way to be kicking off the spring sailing season, not to mention the racing calendar in the Northeast as we work our way up to the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, October 23 – November 1.

Drum roll please! Twenty Melges 24s are officially signed-up and ready to go, but we know for a fact there are more coming. Among those expected to compete are teams headed for the Worlds, each specifically taking a very serious look with firm evaluation. 

Lorenzo Bressani aboard Lorenzo Santini’s ITA-787 Uka Uka Racing is in attendance and are no doubt in full preparation mode for Worlds. This team, at least for now, appears to have an untouchable talent for winning. It seems as though almost anything Santini puts his finger on turns to gold. He and Bressani are not only Melges 24 defending World Champions, they’ve also just came off of a fresh win in Key West — AND last week in Malcesine, Italy they won for the first edition event of 2009 Audi Sailing Series.

Kristen and Peter Lane, from California with their formidable double Brickhouse 539 and 623 efforts are quite prepared — Mark Ivey, Charlie McKee, Brian Hutchinson, Mark Stube, Matt Noble and Scott Norris will be seen working it out as they march ahead to Worlds. The general report this morning from Kristen Lane is the fleet is really excited about this event.

“The conditions yesterday were very similar to what we had at the North American’s last year.” commented Lane. “We are very happy we made the trip here as it’s going to be an extremely valuable education on the Chesapeake Bay.”

Simon Strauss on USA-757 Simplicity, 2007 Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on USA-679 Gannet, USMCA Southeast District Governor Steve Kopf on USA-773 Blur-Pacific Energy Ventures are all in attendance with the goal of ramping up to Worlds.

View Full List Of Entries

We want to know who you think will make the grade in Annapolis on the USMCA Forum.

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.

The U.S. Melges 24 Class announces title sponsor Autonet Mobile for 2009 U.S. National Championship, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, Calif. and publishes Notice of Race.

San Francisco, Calif., (April 9, 2009) – The U.S. Melges 24 Class is proud to announce Autonet Mobile as the title sponsor of the 2009 U.S. National Championship being held on June 11-14 in San Francisco, Calif., hosted by the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club.

Autonet Mobile turns your car into a WiFi hotspot. Any passenger in the vehicle can connect to the internet at broadband speeds using any WiFi-enabled device, including netbooks, laptops, PSPs and iPod Touch devices. Operating from its corporate headquarters in San Francisco, Calif., Autonet Mobile has built the very first high-speed data network for cars.

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