Game on at Melges 24 US Nationals

The U.S. Melges 24 Class will crown its 29th National Champion when it hosts the 12-race series on November 11-13 in Pensacola, FL. The 34 entrants include the industry’s freshest, hottest young sailors, Class veterans and stalwarts to some of the most competitive all-amateur teams.

Atop the list of runners and riders in the open division is eight-time, defending champion Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle. Porter acquired the record-breaking achievement last year in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

Shaking it up further is an assortment of professional sailors shifting into the driver seat as Taylor Canfield helms Laura Grondin’s renamed Dark Energy ‘B’ Team, Victor Diaz de Leon takes the helm of 2022 Melges 24 World Champion Peter Duncan’s Raza Mixta, and Chris Rast 2015 World titlist driving 2019 U.S. National Champion Michael Goldfarb’s WarCanoe ‘B’ Team.

Among the 15 teams in the Corinthian division are 2022 Corinthian Canadian National Champ Dan Berezin on Surprise, Corinthian Bacardi Winter Series Champions Megan Ratliff with her brother Hunter skippering Decorum (2020/2021), and Geoff Fargo on Sentinel (2021/2022), and Tony Stanley’s Hermes and Brent McKenzie’s Ex-Kahn.

With Tropical Storm Nicole set to reach hurricane strength as it approaches Florida’s east coast, the anticipated track has it bending up the coast rather than extending across the state toward Pensacola. However, the storm’s width may reach the panhandle to offer sporty northerlies.

Event details – Entry list – Facebook