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Melges 24 Sails
Lake Geneva YC is five miles away from the little town of Zenda in Wisconsin, home of Melges Boatworks and the legendary Harry "Buddy" Melges, winner of Olympic medals in '64 and '72 and the 1992 America's Cup helming "America Cubed". The Melges 24 was first produced in 1993 and has become the small keelboat of choice for those who want fast, fun and very competitive racing. This year's US Nationals was the third largest one since the boat's inception and the turnout of 45 boats reflected the great spirit in this wonderful class. Eight races were raced under the stewardship of PRO Hank "The Tank" Stuart and his team who did a great job in the shifty lake conditions. North Sails-powered boats took the majority of the top ten places overall including the top four places. INTERVIEW WITH WINNER BORA GULARI
Bora, please tell us when did you start sailing and your most memorable moments.. One of my favorite memories was when I was young racing against my mom. One time she was really kicking my butt in a race, I begged for her to wait for me and she did. As soon as I caught up I took off and said see-ya! I was about 6 years old at the time and I will remember that trick if I ever race against my own kids. Another favorite memory is winning the Moth world championship with both my parents there watching. You now have won the 2009 Moth Worlds, the Yachtsman of Year Award in 2010, and now the Melges Nationals 2011, just to name a few awards. What were the key factors that attracted you to the Melges 24 Class? The Melges 24 was launched 18 years ago. What are the features that you likethe most about the Melges 24? At the last race at the Nationals, you traded places with the second place boat several times during the race. The event was decided at the finish line. How do you keep yourself and the crew heads cool and composed, under such tight situations? If you could point your Melges 24 Nationals win to three key factors, what would these be? Do you have any tuning or sail setup secrets that you would like to share with our Melges 24 friends? This is the first time you used North Sails. Any comments you would like to share? What are your future plans for the upcoming Melges 24 sailing season? Thank you Bora! TOP TEN RESULTS (FINAL, After eight races) Full results on http://documents.clubexpress.com/documents.ashx?key=riB8hNmq7Wx3kB2Z%2bI4BkWBGJuBfAjcNyaxcUKiip7S6g7Bw3877mA%3d%3d
For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
Melges 24 Sails
Lorenzo Bressani And Uka Uka Racing Team Win
2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship
Tallinn, Estonia - 12 August 2010 - Despite the willingness of both the competitors and the Race Committee to do everything possible to complete the final two races of the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship in Tallin, Estonia, the wind refused to make an appearance on the final day. After a patient wait of several hours, the one painfully light airs race which did get under way had to be abandoned part way down the first downwind leg. The lack of any racing today, meant that the placings from the previous day remained unaffected, with Italian helm Lorenzo Bressani on Uka Uka Racing confirmed as the 2010 Melges 24 World Champion. Norway's Kristian Nergaard on Baghdad took second place overall, ahead of Italy's Alberto Bolzan on Hurricane Murphy & Nye in third. In the closely fought Corinthian Division, Norway's Oyvind Peder Jahre on Storm Capital Sail Racing Team were crowned 2010 Melges 24 Corinthian World Champions, ahead of Estonian Tonu Toniste on Lenny in second and Italian Marco Schirato on La Besa in third.
At around twelve-thirty and with the deadline now looming, the Race Committee opted to at least try to get racing under way. Their chances originally looked good, but after the fleet, had made it painstakingly slowly to the windward mark and even three quarters of the way down the run, what little wind there had been simply vanished, forcing the Race committee's hand and the abandonment of the race. Equal measures of relief and delight were evident on the faces of the Uka Uka Racing crew as the realisation dawned that they had achieved what they set out to do at this Championship. For helm Bressani and team owner Lorenzo Santini this is their second Melges 24 World Championship victory together, having first claimed the title in 2008 at Porto Cervo. Tactician Jonathan McKee is also now a double Melges 24 World Champion, having won his first title with James Spithill at Key Largo in 2005. However, going one better than his fellow crew members, is trimmer and team manager Federico Michetti. Remarkably, with this victory Michetti has now won three Melges 24 World Championships - the first person ever to do so. Along with his two Uka Uka Racing victories, Michetti claimed his first Melges 24 World Title in 2005 at La Rochelle, crewing for his close friend and mentor, the late Georgio Zuccoli. Although this is Uka Uka Racing bowman Fabio Gridelli's first ever Melges 24 World Championship victory, the smile on his face tonight shows that the win tastes no less sweet than for his overachieving team mates. For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
Melges 24 Sails
Click here to download Yachting Cup Regatta Report For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
Melges 24 Sails
Report by Veronica Brown
Chris Larson and his team aboard West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes won the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship, held in Annapolis, MD from October 26-31, by an astounding 25 points. Powered by a complete North Sails inventory, Larson captured the World Championship Trophy without sailing the 11th and final race. Congratulations Bruce Ayres, Corinthian Worlds Champion!
TOP 5 CORINTHIAN WORLDS:
2009 MELGES 24 WORLDS FAQ: What North designs were used at the Worlds?
OS - Denotes "other sailmaker"
For full results, log on to: www.Melges24Worlds2009.com For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
Melges 24 Sails
Hyeres, France – 28 August 2009 - The 2009 Melges 24 European Championship came to a thrilling conclusion on the last day of racing in Hyeres. Despite overnight leaders UKA UKA Racing, owned by Lorenzo Santini and steered by Lorenzo Bressani, carrying a seven point lead into today’s single final race, the threat from second placed Alina, owned by Maurizio Abba and helmed by Nicolo Bianchi, was a very real one. To add an extra dimension to the proceedings, Franco Rossini’s Blu Moon steered by Flavio Favini, were positioned in third overall and although twelve points adrift of Alina, were well within realistic striking distance. After a short delay to allow the breeze to fill in, racing got under way under clear blue skies and in a shifty breeze which peaked at just under ten knots. In the final minute before the start, UKA UKA Racing and Alina were engaged in what they believed was their own private match race. UKA UKA Racing gained a marginal advantage in the final seconds, but as both boats prepared to bear away for the line Blu Moon saw their opportunity and coming in with speed from behind, managed to get to leeward of Alina and succeeded in forcing them almost head to wind just before the gun sounded. As Alina struggled valiantly to tack clear, Blu Moon applied a close covering tack, which slowed Alina even more. Meanwhile UKA UKA Racing had made a clean start towards the left end of the line, with the added advantage of a nice gap to leeward in which to accelerate into. As UKA UKA Racing made their way out to the left of the beat however, Alina had managed to break free from Blu Moon’s unwelcome attention and were able to find so me clear air on the right hand side of the course. Halfway up the beat their efforts were rewarded with a significant right hand shift and some extra pressure, which saw them cross almost all the boats coming from the left. At the windward mark Alina rounded second behind Alberto Bolzan at the helm of Gianni Catalogna’s Pilot Italia Hurricane. Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly helmed by Gabrio Zandona went around third, just inches ahead of Blu Moon. UKA UKA Racing made it back from the unfavoured left hand side, to round in eighth. On the first downwind leg Joe Fly moved into the lead ahead of both Pilot Italia Hurricane and Alina. By the time the leaders reached the leeward gate for the first time, bottom Blu Moon was hot on the heels of Alina and behind them UKA UKA Racing had managed to move into an overall winning combination in seventh place. When on the second beat UKA UKA Racing continued their charge up the fleet and took over fourth place, Alina’s realistic chances of challenging for the overall title had all but evaporated and their focus switched to making sure that Blu Moon could not put the required thirteen boats between them. Blu Moon of course chose this moment to attack and having crossed Alina on the beat put in a close cover tack. This sparked a frantic tacking match between the two boats on the approach to the second windward mark with the match race continuing on to the spreader leg. Blu Moon sat waiting with sails flapping hoping to lure Alina to their windward side and the two boats sailed lower and lower before eventually having to tack to make the spreader mark. At this point Alina found an opportunity to break free from Blu Moon with a gybe on to port leaving the Swiss boat to continue on st arboard to the left side of the course. As the leaders arrived at the finish, Pilot Italia Hurricane took their fourth race win of the week, elevating them to fifth overall. Joe Fly finished in second to lock down their fourth place overall with Norwegian Arne David Anderson’s Corinthian entry, Tork Racing Team steered by Peder M Berntsen, delightedly taking third. As UKA UKA Racing approached the line in fourth place it was clear to see the mixture of relief and elation on the crew’s faces. Crossing the line to cheers from the spectators they all jumped instantly to their feet in celebration of their confirmation as 2009 Melges 24 European Champions and winners of the Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy. Their win creates a piece of unique Melges 24 history, as Lorenzo Bressani becomes the first helm to ever hold the World and European titles concurrently. As UKA UKA Racing made their way ashore, attention quickly turned to the battle for second place overall being waged behind them. Blu Moon, who had made good progress down the left of the course, crossed the line in ninth place and could only watch in hope and count the boats finishing between them and Alina. Things were not immediately clear as Alina came across the line amidst a pack of at least four boats and only the Race Committee could say for sure in which position they had finished. In the end it turned out that their nineteenth place finish was good enough for them to retain second place overall. By a margin of just two points Blu Moon’s ninth earned them the final podium position. Overnight Corinthian Division leaders, the Norwegian Storm Capital Sail Racing Team syndicate with their helmsman Sivert Dinneche, cruised to a thirty-one point overall Corinthian victory, despite their untypical seventeenth place today, and claim the Menno Meyer Corinthian Trophy and a Tacktick Maxi. Like their counterpart winners in the main division, the new Corinthian Melges 24 European Champions have established their place in Melges 24 history as the first crew to hold the World and European titles at the same time. Seventh today and second overall in the Corinthian division was Mikael Johansson at the helm of John Christian Eriksson’s Swedish entry Aqua Racing. The final top three overall Corinthian place was taken by Germany’s Roudolf Houdek on Secret Men’s Business, by way of a second place in the final Championship race. At the prize giving International Melges 24 Class Chairman Guenter Tzeschlock thanked COYCH and its many volunteers; the sponsors Vile d’Hyeres, Conseil General du Var, Conseil Regional PACA, Office du Tourisme d’Hyeres, Eurovoiles, Quantum Sail Design Group, Brasserie Le Tocco, X Voiles – Russo and Ricoh, and Tacktick; the International Jury and of course all the competitors for making this a truly spectacular event. As the 2009 Melges 24 European Championship drew officially to a close, the attention of the Melges 24 class now turns to their forthcoming World Championship in the USA at Annapolis, Maryland this coming October 23-31. UKA UKA Racing will hope to defend their world crown and will lead a strong contingent of European teams making the trip to Annapolis. With several top name American teams also known to be already in training for the regatta, it looks like yet another classic Melges 24 Championship is on the cards. Further information about the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is available from www.melges24worlds2009.com. FULL RESULTS OVERALL AND CORINTHIAN North Notes:
For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts. Melges 24 Sails
Brian Porter with John Porter, Harry Melges, and Andy Burdick wins the 2009 Melges 24 Nationals in San Francisco! Top 10 Results:
For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts. Melges 24 Sails
North Melges 24 Sails Win BIG at the Annapolis NOOD Championship For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts. Report courtesy Melges 24 class Showdown In Nappy Town, Santini's Uka Uka Racing Wins Annapolis NOOD
As the International Melges 24 works its way up to the 2009 World Championship (October 23-November 1), 21 competing teams considered the Annapolis NOOD a formal dress rehearsal. Reigning kings of the Melges 24 remain supreme. Lorenzo Bressani at the helm of ITA-787 Uka Uka Racing for owner Lorenzo Santini challenged and won the NOOD by an impressive 18 points over second place finisher Argyle Campbell on USA-795 Rock n' Roll. Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on USA-679 Gannet was third. Three days and seven races later, never once did Bressani even come remotely close to letting go of his lead. For second through fifth positions, it was a completely different story. The likes of Kristen Lane on USA-623 Brickhouse 623, Arthur Ansov at the helm of Hunt Lawrence's USA-769 Team Peacemaker, Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on USA-679 Gannet and Argyle Campbell on USA-795 Rock n' Roll continuously fought for final position. Friday's medium-to-heavy air conditions left Lane in second overall and Ansov in third. However, Saturday and Sunday's conditions went from light to lighter and usually is a sure fire method for shaking up the results. Former Melges 24 North American Champion Campbell was the only other competitor besides Bressani to leave a string of single digit finishes awarding him with second place overall. The last time third place finisher Von Blumencron competed in the Melges 24 was last October during the Melges 24 North American Championship where he finished tenth ove r all. He won this weekend's position on countback points to Annapolis local and long-time Melges 24 sailor Henry Filter on USA-721 Wild Child. Ansov was fifth. The top three competing teams took home some awesome gear, special thanks to U.S. Championship Series title sponsor SLAM. Top Ten Results View Full Detail Reports, Photos and Results Coverage From Sailing World
Melges 24 Sails
Dave, tell us about your Team? I had a blast sailing with you guys! This was your first regatta driving your own boat; Can you elaborate on how you pulled this together and found success? We avoided the packs at either ends and favored a “third of the line” approach that allowed us to create huge holes to leeward that we used to generate speed, punch through the line at max speed and provide a nice buffer on the leeward boats that were unable to pinch us off. It goes without saying that a good start is a slippery slope because you will usually be in a position to control your own destiny and go where you want to go. The leeward hole can often make-or-break your race in big fleets. Another factor in our success was the trust created between crew and driver. My sole job was to go where my crew told me to go as quickly as possible. Too often I see drivers looking around and not paying attention to their boat speed. It is impossible to make the boat go fast if you’re not giving it 100% attention. I’ve learned that eight eyeballs on the rail looking at the racecourse are plenty and there is nothing I can add by looking as well. My crew did an excellent job of making calls and we all know sailors like Hutchinson or Ullman wouldn’t be who they are if they didn’t have people looking around for them. Great regatta Dave! Thanks for having me on the boat; I am looking forward to sailing with you again in the future.
Melges 24 Sails
We are excited to report a wonderful success story on the Melges 24 fleet at the St Pete NOOD this past weekend! David O’Reilly of Charleston placed second in his first Melges 24 event. David took delivery of an AP3 Main, J7K jib and a Max Runner, needless to say he was extremely happy with the sails and how they performed, and is looking forward to his next regatta. David had Nick Turney, Russ O’Reilly, Josh Putnam, and Emily Pulos crewing for him. Top 5:
For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
Current World champion, Uka Uka Team, with Lorenzo Bressani at the helm and Jonathan McKee calling tactics dominated the 2009 Rolex Key West Race Week. Uka Uka showed a world champion performance, by winning the first race and never looking back. It was impressive to see this team in action, always going fast, with awesome crew work, and solid tactics, consistently in the top 5 on all races competing against a very talented fleet. The Uka Uka Team used the North AP-3K main, J-7K jib, Dynakote Max Runner and Power Reacher. Top 10:
* partial North inventory Don't miss the video coverage of the regatta at youtube.com/IM24CA. For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
When the venue was announced for the 2008 M-24 Worlds I thought to myself this is it!! The biggest M-24 regatta ever held in the class was on the cards, my prediction was to exceed the La Rochelle Worlds in 2000 which if my memory is working some way right was approx 125 boats. Porto Cervo in Sardinia almost made it in numbers with the final total being 114 boats from roughly seventeen countries, what a fantastic turn out. If you ever get the opportunity to race in Porto Cervo this is a must do venue! What a club for starters, I have to say they did a fantastic job running the regatta and everything ran like clock work. We were blessed with two of the Worlds best race officers in Hank Stewart and Peter “Luigi” Reggio. If you ever want to see how race officers should operate these are the guys to watch, flawless is the only way to describe them…….. As in 2007 I was racing with the Team Barbarians from the UK. Owner Stuart Simpson has been in the class from year one and was sailing his 14th or 15th consecutive season in the class. Sailing with our regular team of Jamie Lea and Justin Chisholm we were really looking forward to the regatta. With so many boats in the field they split the fleet into four groups and sailed qualifying rounds to separate the fleet into Gold and Silver. Then carrying all your points forward another six races were held to determine the final winners, as it turned out the wining team from Italy had it sewn up after race eleven but just to prove it wasn’t an accident they went out and finished 2nd in race twelve! They made it look so easy winning by 32 points just to prove a point!
Second overall went to a new team under the command of Alberto Bolzan, sailing ITA-727 Pilot Italia for Gianni Catalogna. These guys got off to a flying start winning the Pre-Worlds and dominating the start of the event with a 2,1,3,1,7,4 score line! Now that really is a flying start, again there was a common thread with this team as they were also powered 100% by North Sails. Despite using a rival sail brand to win the 2006 World Championships with Nicola Chelon Alberto recognized the versatile nature of the North Sails and knew what he wanted for 2008. These guys had a few small hiccups towards the end of the series but still sailed beautifully to take a very well deserved 2nd overall, nice sailing guys. Luca Valerio, sailing ITA-722 Alina Helly Hansen for Maurizio Abba also sailed a truly inspired series. With my good friend and North Sails colleague Daniele Cassinari calling tactics these guys surprised a few of the teams with their speed. I really do not know how he does it but one minute they are safely tucked away behind you sailing in dirty wind, the next minute there they are hoisting spinnakers whilst you’re still on the wind! I wish I knew the secret but if you ask Daniele all he says with a smile “It must be the sails!” As he uses the same sails as me and the rest of our customers I think there has to be a little more to it! Well done guys and of course Roberta who keeps all the boys in check, a great performance well done. So that’s the top three overall taken care of, what more can I say? Well over in the Silver fleet the story also seems to be following a similar pattern! 1,2,3* overall were using North Sails to power to the front of the Silver fleet where the racing was as close and competitive as the Gold fleet. I think it’s safe to say that the Melges 24 class enjoyed it’s regatta in Porto Cervo! It was a great venue for our American friends to visit and many of them took the opportunity to visit other Italian cities before the long trip home. I think if in a few years time the class is lucky enough to go back to Porto Cervo we will see lots more teams crossing the Atlantic to sail in what is arguably the top sailing location in Europe. Final thought: Out of the forty sails used in the top ten boats thirty three were provided by North Sails, I think the message is very clear if you want to go fast, GO NORTH. Sail Fast for 2008. For information on our fast Melges 24 sails, please contact the North Melges 24 experts.
For more information on Melges 24 sails, contact the North Melges 24 experts. |
Congratulatiosn Bruce Ayres (photo) for winning the 1st place in the Corinthian Division followed by 2nd place Othmar Mueller and 3rd place 
Congratulations must go to Lorenzo Santini and his helmsman Lorenzo Bressani for creating a team of true champions. Of course they wouldn’t get anywhere without the other crew members and a big hand to Federico Michetti, Francesca Prina and tactician Francesco Bruni for a great job. The nice thing for us all here at North Sails was that these guys were powered by North Sails 100%. Using our standard designs these guys beat all comers into submission over the six days of intense competition. The reason they chose North Sails was the fact the sails are so versatile across the range and not just specialist heavy weather sails. Looking at the range of conditions they encountered it looks like a very wise choice.
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