Legal Fun

Thirty-six Melges 24 teams traveled from all over North America to the famous Columbia Gorge for what many consider the most exhilarating sailing experience of their lives. The purpose of the trip: the 2015 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship (Aug 6-9).

Three teams were from Lake Geneva, WI, next to Zenda, the home of Melges Boatworks. Teams also came from Toronto, Annapolis, Texas, Southern Cal, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Northern Cal, Washington, and British Columbia. .

It was new class VP, George Haynie of Tampa, FL who won the distance prize by traveling over 3000 miles. He said that it was beyond fun and that he will definitely do it again, next year. Actually, all of the teams gushed over the high-octane conditions which are a super fit for the Melges 24.

A blazing Full Throttle steered by 2013 Melges 24 World Champion and Rolex Yachtsman of the year and Six-time Melges 24 National Champion, Brian Porter. Photo by Joy.

Melges 24 SPEED CAMP
Met with great enthusiasm, the idea of holding the MELGSE24 SPEED CAMP before the Melges 24 US Nationals is now considered the perfect answer and the model for future events. This is what new US Melges 24 class president, Steve Boho, and many Melges 24 owners have been pushing for over the past couple years to make sure the entire fleet is up to speed so all can fully enjoy the perfect mix of sensational sailing with a spell-bindingly beautiful surrounding.

The SPEED CAMP was run by class veteran Brian Hutchinson – Melges 24 world champion and multi-class champion sailor – with help from the following sailing greats and enthusiastic Melges 24 racers: Jeff Madrigali, Olympic Soling medalist and multi-class champion; Dan Kaseler, World Speed Record sail designer, Raptor Deck producer and top Melges24 sailor/Quantum sail loft owner; Andy Burdick, Melges 24 world champion, six-time national champion and multi-scow-class champion; Sam Rogers, Melges 24 world champion and scow champion; Chris Snow, J/24 national champion and North Sails manager.

These top-level sailors helped teams at the chalk talk, from the coach boat, and by climbing on-board with teams for line-ups. After a daylong Melges 24 SPEED CAMP on Thursday, the fleet enjoyed live music and outdoor barbecue followed by a well-attended video analysis and Q & A session.

Along with training in outrageous sailing conditions, teams received another bonus for racing their Melges 24s: fleet-wide, higher-level performance, tighter racing, and more exhilaration potential from sailing an even faster boat.

Melges 24’s on the starboard layline from Stevenson to Cascade Locks. Photo by Jan Anderson of JanPix.

25.8 KNOTS!
Speaking of faster boats, Velocitek offered new instruments to the winners of the Melges 24 Speed Challenge on what many consider a perfect racetrack.

The buzz around the fleet was over Kevin Welch’s MIKEY from Anacortes which had recorded 24.4 knots in 35-knot winds at the Pre-Nationals on the previous weekend. THE 300, out of Lake Geneva had hit 23.7 knots and Duncan Stamper’s GOES TO ELEVEN from Victoria, BC (that is hull #11 out of 850 built) had clocked 22.1 knots in that same weekend.

By the end of the National Championships these teams had to bow to class veteran and former National Champion, Bruce Ayres on MONSOON, who snatched the speed prize with a sensational 25.8 knots, against a 1.5 knot Columbia River current!

Community – Big Energy, Great Fun
Did we mention the energy level of the sailors? Yes, it was very high-energy and all positive. Before every start teams shared smiles over the sensational experience they were having. As they blazed up the beats and screamed down the runs teams would wave others by at close crossings and then wave again with a big thumbs up just to be friendly. The mood was too high to worry about close calls and bother with other minor stuff. There was too much fun to be had.

It was a big family party on the water. There were teenage drivers racing against 75-year olds. There were young family teams, women-driven teams, college teams, Olympic medalists, America’s Cup sailors, and Rolex Yachtsmen of the Year, club racers and new owners all mixing it up and having the times of their lives.

Melges 24’s blazing down the “short” and fast 2-mile runs up the Columbia River. Photo by Jan’s Marine Photography.

After the racing was over this fleet of animated teams headed to the launch ramps where they showed off another Melges 24 attribute – quick launching. No boat took more than 150 seconds to pull their boat out on the ramp. In fact, at the Stevenson ramp five boats were pulled in just over nine minutes.

BIG WIND = GOOD!
The future looks bright for the Melges 24 fleet. After a week of sailing in 25-35 knot wind and experiencing the boat’s great stability at boat speeds in the mid-20’s, this Melges 24 fleet can take on anything. Next year’s Lake Garda blow-out (the “other Gorge”) and the European Championships in Hyeres, France are now on the radar along with the 2016 Melges 24 Miami Worlds. Over the weekend another two-dozen teams stepped up to register for the Melges 24 Miami Worlds Nov/Dec 2016.

Event website – Complete results – Facebook

Next up in 2015 for the Melges 24:
Big Boat Series – San Francisco, CA: Sept 17-20, 2015
Fall Championships – Lake Geneva, WI: Oct 2-3, 2015
MIAMI Invitational – Miami Beach, FL: Nov 20-22, 2015

The next world championships will be:
2016 Melges 24 MIAMI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Nov 28-Dec3, 2015
Miami Yacht Club – Miami, Florida