HARRY MELGES TAKES THE MELGES 24S AT ACURA SORC

The final day of racing for the Melges 24 Class at the Acura SORC was held in glorious sunshine and 16-18 knots of onshore breeze which kicked up the classic Miami chop.

The port end paid at the start of race five and Harry Melges, Tony Weatherall and Doug Clark, helming for Paula Zubrzycki, took full advantage of the benefit offered. Argyle Campbell and Morgan Reeser were also in on the port end but a port starboard incident with Weatherall left Campbell making turns and Reeser was overeager and was caught OCS, effectively blowing his chances of winning the regatta.

The lead pack tacked off to the right shortly after the start and crossed the fleet as they headed towards the beach. Harry Melges had outstanding boat speed and height and picked the shifts perfectly to lead the fleet round the windward mark. Clark rounded second followed by Weatherall and Keith Musto.

Down the first run Melges consolidated his lead whilst the following boats jockeyed for position. At the leward mark Weatherall had managed to get past Clark while Musto had dropped back into the front of the pack. From this point forward the positions were pretty much set for the race which Melges won by a handsome margin.

Conditions for race six were almost identical and yet again Harry Melges was on fire. By the first weather mark he had several hundred yards on the fleet and was never challenged. Clark and Campbell had a private battle for second and third whilst Weathall and Reeser fought it for fourth and fifth.

The final race saw a shift just before the start leaving Weatherall, Melges and Reeser stuck on the unfavoured port end. Despite being at the far port end Musto spotted the shift tacked immediately and took transoms all the way out to the right hand side enabling him to come out smelling of roses by the weather mark.

Despite the bad start Melges had the bit firmly between his teeth by this time and worked the boat and the shifts for every inch of advantage. He had his work cut out to break through in this the closest race of the day but determination paid off and by the final weather mark he again had the lead which he defended to the line. Campbell and Clark, Weatherall, Reeser and Musto all fought it out down the final run with the race being decided on the line.

Overall a terrific event for the Melges 24 class with some great racing in big breeze and more than a few sore heads as a result of the heavy social programme indulged in by the class.
1 USA 497 Kilroy Jeff Jones / Harry Melges 11.5 points
2 USA 380 M-Fatic Neil Sullivan/Morgan Reeser 28.75 points
3 USA 364 Chippewa Dave West / Keith Musto 35 points
4 USA 457 Rock N' Roll Argyle Campbell 36 points
5 USA 495 First Crush Paula Zubrzycki / Doug Clark 36 points