I have written and re-written a memo to you every day this week; only to have current events change the situation.
First of all, I wish for all of our sailors and support staff and their families to be healthy.
What I am here today to say is that the status of our World championship is top of mind and an everyday pursuit to come to the best outcome for the entire class.
Please bear with us and an answer will be forthcoming shortly. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.
My best to you and your families,
Laura Grondin Chair International Melges 24 Class Association
February 26, 2020 – Charleston, S.C. USA – With the 2020 Melges 24 racing season well-under way in North America, the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) in conjunction with U.S. Melges 24 Championship Events, Inc. and Regatta Management, are in full-on preparation mode for the upcoming World Championship taking place on May 1-9.
Leading the fleet up to the start of Worlds is a succession of high-profile events. These regattas are expected to draw not only a high number of entries, but perhaps begin to offer insights as to which teams will do the best on the challenging waters, currents and conditions of Charleston, South Carolina.
Sperry Charleston Race Week (April 23-26) concludes just a few days before the start of the World Championship, and is being hailed as the ‘real’ Pre-Worlds. With 45 entries received thus far, the Melges 24 is the largest Class in attendance.
The World Championship is expected to fetch that number and more. With 38 teams already registered representing seven countries (Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the United States), the speed, the fun and fantastic competition that comes along with the Melges 24 will be highly concentrated – supersonic toxic.
2019 North American Champion Travis Weisleder racing Lucky Dog. Photo @ Bill Crawford – harborpictures.com
As always at Worlds, the ultra-competitive mix of teams form a very long and distinguished list of returning Champions. All signed up and ready to go are 2019 – defending World Champion owner Gian Luca Perego with multiple champion Carlo Fracassoli at the helm of his now massively famous Maidollis, 2018 World Champion Andrea Racchelli sailing Altea, 2019 North American Champion Travis Weisleder racing Lucky Dog, 2019 U.S. Melges 24 National Champion Michael Goldfarb on Warcanoe, reigning Canadian National Champion Roger Counihan on Jaws, and 2019 U.S. National Ranking Champion owner Kevin Welch sailing MiKEY with the legendary Jeff Madrigali at the helm.
Returning to the Class after a three-year break is 2020 Melges 24 Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta winner Peter Duncan sailing Relative Obscurity. The last time Duncan sailed the Melges 24 was in 2016 at the Miami Worlds where he finished top ten. According to Duncan’s tactician Victor Diaz de Leon, their strategy is to get reacquainted with the boat as quickly as possible and stay in the breeze.
The Melges 24 Class is synonymous for its all-amatuer Corinthian Division that undoubtedly will be as competitive and popular as ever in Charleston. With entries still being accepted, the entrants who qualify are yet to be determined. Event organizers are encouraging all teams that wish to qualify for the all-amatuer Corinthian Division must do so as soon as possible.
Important World Championship regatta deadlines are approaching. All teams that would like to race are encouraged to register for Worlds as soon as possible. The early entry deadline for Worlds is Sunday, March 1st. Register Online
ABOUT THE MELGES 24
The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by Melges Performance Sailboats and holds a unique position among the world’s one-design sportboats as one of the most successful classes of high performance yachts. For more information, please visit the official website of the International Melges 24 Class Association at melges24.com.
For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or class specific information about the Melges 24 at the 2020 Melges 24 World Championship, please contact:
Joy Dunigan 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, Administrator Mail: communications@usmelges24.com
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah
Piret Salmistu 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Coordinator International Melges 24 Class Association Administrator & Media Coordinator Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Mail: piret@melges24.com
February 10, 2020 – Charleston, S.C. USA – With only three months to go until the start of the 2020 World Championship (1-9 May) in Charleston, South Carolina, Melges 24 teams all over the world are steadily signing up to compete. Early entry deadlines are fast approaching, and March 1st is the earliest in which teams can take advantage of the lowest entry fees. Click here to register now.
“Premier racing is what we are going for at Worlds. Charleston is a really big venue, and we have lots of options on where we can race. If you are a team that has never done a Worlds, this is your chance to experience Melges 24 racing at its most exhilarating. It is an opportunity you don’t want to miss,” says longtime Melges 24 sailor and Charleston local John Bowden.
“Randy Draftz and his race/regatta management team are the absolute best. Their goal is to make the Worlds a one of a kind event,” continued Bowden. “They are eager to address any concerns anyone has regarding racing, storage, logistics. If you have questions, they have the right answers.”
Hands down, everyone recognizes Charleston as one of the most competitive and challenging race tracks for one design, performance yacht racing. This simple fact is exactly why Charleston was selected to host the Worlds and why teams are piling onto the entry list. Teams from Canada, United States, Germany, Italy and Australia are represented so far. Click here to see the current entry list.
They want to compete at the International Melges 24 Class’ most prestigious event, but they are also pretty excited to be front and center at the 25th edition of Sperry Charleston Race Week (April 23-26). So far, 41 teams have thrown their hats into the ring making the Melges 24 Class the largest in attendance. Click here to register for Sperry Charleston Race Week.
ABOUT THE MELGES 24
The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by Melges Performance Sailboats and holds a unique position among the world’s one-design sportboats as one of the most successful classes of high performance yachts. For more information, please visit the official website of the International Melges 24 Class Association at melges24.com.
For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or class specific information about the Melges 24 at the 2020 Melges 24 World Championship, please contact:
Joy Dunigan 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, Administrator Mail: communications@usmelges24.com
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah
Piret Salmistu 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Coordinator International Melges 24 Class Association Administrator & Media Coordinator Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Mail: piret@melges24.com
The 2020 Worlds is actively seeking and accepting sponsorships. If you, or a business you know would like to get in on a very cool opportunity, reap the benefits by contacting Regatta Chairman, Randy Draftz today!
Shipping your boat to Charleston and need a place where to unpack (using forklift), put together, storage your container and then road trail the boat and trailer to the marina?
Here’s for you!
High and Dry Boatworks is locally owned and operated company to help with logistics for boats getting shipped into Charleston. It’s a great place to get some work done and also storage prior the Worlds.
November 25, 2019 – Charleston, S.C. USA – The 2020 Melges 24 World Championship will take place on 1-9 May 2020, in Charleston, South Carolina. Organized by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) in conjunction with, U.S. Melges 24 Championship Events, Inc. and Regatta Management, the 5-day regatta is predicted to be one of the most well-attended Championships in recent Melges 24 Class history.
“I am really excited about the upcoming Charleston Worlds,” says Canadian Melges 24 Class President Dan Berezin – the very first competitor to sign-up to race. “It will be a great opportunity to experience an event like the World Championship in Charleston. Competing against the best teams in the world is something not to be missed.”
Newly elected and the very first woman to serve as International Class President, Laura Grondin has raced in Charleston several times. “It’s one of my favorite racing venues: strong winds, great bars and restaurants and a highly capable race management team. With only one week separating Sperry Charleston Race Week and the Worlds, the stage is set for two fantastic regattas. Join us!”
Charleston, South Carolina is best known for hosting one of the longest-running, most-successful yacht racing events in North America – Sperry Charleston Race Week. In 2020, it will celebrate an impressive 25th anniversary, and in turn for the Melges 24 Class, serve as a monumental warm-up to its World Championship happening a few days later.
“Race week has always provided the best of all worlds – entertaining and exciting shoreside activities, superior race management, bountiful sponsorship, and the ability to provide great racing in a variety of conditions – offshore and in the harbor,” says 2020 Regatta Chairman Randy Draftz. “What has also made it successful is that we listen to the sailors. We want what they want – the best racing, under the best conditions, on the right race course. We plan to do the same for the 2020 Melges 24 World Championship.”
“Mount Pleasant is very proud to host and support the Melges 24 Worlds,” says Will Haynie, Mayor, Town of Mount Pleasant, SC. “Sailing is part of the fiber of our community, and we are honored to be among the best of the best. We thank you for bringing the Worlds here.”
Teams are encouraged to get signed up as soon as possible. March 1st is the early entry deadline. The drop-dead entry deadline is 17 April 2020.
ABOUT THE 2020 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORS
The 2020 Melges 24 World Championship is proudly supported by Mount Pleasant South Carolina.
ABOUT THE MELGES 24
The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by Melges Performance Sailboats and holds a unique position among the world’s one-design sportboats as one of the most successful classes of high performance yachts. For more information, please visit the official website of the International Melges 24 Class Association at melges24.com.
For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or class specific information about the Melges 24 at the 2020 Melges 24 World Championship, please contact:
Joy Dunigan 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, Administrator Mail: communications@usmelges24.com
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah
Piret Salmistu 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Coordinator International Melges 24 Class Association Administrator & Media Coordinator
Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Mail: piret@melges24.com
November 14, 2019 – Charleston, SC, USA – With less than six months to go until the next major Melges 24 title event – 2020 World Championship – taking place in Charleston, South Carolina, USA on May 2-9 – Melges 24 sailors from all around the worlds are welcome to register!
Use an opportunity to test the waters of the Worlds 2020 also at the preceding Sperry Charleston Race Week on April 23-26, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2020. Sperry Charleston Race Week will also act as a warm-up to the Melges 24 Worlds 2020!
October 29, 2019 – Charleston, SC, USA – There’s a lot of buzz leading up to the 25th Anniversary of Sperry Charleston Race Week, April 23-26, 2020. Organizers are planning many special events and expecting the largest turnout to date. The event continues to grow and flourish each year with new classes, race courses and innovations.
It will be a big year for the Melges 24s too! Sperry Charleston Race Week will also act as a warm-up to the 2020 World Championship happening on May 1-9.
Registration is now open so register today before accommodations fill up. There is plenty of lodging convenient to the venue and great beach houses for rent, too. It’s the perfect opportunity to combine the regatta with a family vacation in America’s No. 1 destination city!
Charleston will be hosting 2020 Worlds as the only candidate – IM24CA World Council at the Annual general Meeting 2018 was happy to read thorough bid to host the Worlds by Randy Draftz, founder and organizer of the Charleston Race Week, which under his leadership has evolved to become the largest keelboat regatta in North America.
The 2020 Melges 24 World Championship would be a stand-alone event, with the added advantage of coming on the heels of Charleston Race Week, Regatta Management’s flagship event.
Regatta Management is a full service, turn-key yacht race management company, which has proven its capacity to host and run successful, first-class international regattas. Regatta management has run several M24 events – the Miami Worlds in 2016, Charleston Nationals, Miami Midwinter Tune-Up helped with the M24 Worlds in Victoria – and consulted with the Inland Yachting Association regarding their Championship event.
SAVE THE DATES for the 2020 Melges 24 Worlds in Charleston
May 1-9, 2020
Read lots of useful information about the venue, experience, location, weather, transportation etc HERE.
Charleston is known as America’s Favorite Destination!
(Voted No. 1 city in the U.S. and Canada by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.
One of North America’s most architecturally significant destinations, Charleston sits on a peninsula overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Conceived as a “great port town,” Charleston was married to the sea from the start. Local maritime history began when the first colonists sailed into the harbor in 1670. The tales of merchant traders, pirates and naval foes who subsequently navigated these waters are among the area’s most notorious lore.
Captivating and walkable, Charleston attracts people from around the world for its cosmopolitan aura, preservation of history, cultural diversity, and exceptional culinary and shopping delights.
Renowned Culinary and Nightlife Scene
Named one of the world’s 10 Best Delicious Destinations by Travelocity, Charleston is an epicure’s dream. From hidden gems serving up local flavor to five-star spots with innovative menus, Charleston is home to a volume of world- class dining normally associated with cities five times its size. Three Charleston chefs consecutively won the esteemed James Beard Foundation Best Chef award, one of the culinary world’s highest honors. Today’s chefs are inspired by nature, harvesting from the region’s estuaries, rich with shrimp, fish, crabs and oysters, and marshlands, where rice and vegetable production thrives. Charleston also has an invigorating nightlife scene, with a wide choice of quaint historic pubs, music venues, and bars.
Shopping Mecca
From the famous King Street Shopping District to specialty shops along Market and East Bay Streets, you can find everything from trinkets and antiques to high fashion. Shopping and strip malls in the surrounding areas provide all the additional stores you could possibly need.
Vibrant Cultural Offerings
Charleston has developed a reputation as an international cultural destination. With more than 500 live performances annually, high energy festivals, popular gallery walks and outdoor concerts, the opportunity to experience theatrical, musical magic exists every day. The area is also home to many wonderful museums.
Beautiful Beaches
Charleston is more than just one of the country’s most beloved cities, it’s home to five beautiful beach towns, each with its own distinctive character, and all offer an array of outdoor activity and water sports.
Isle of Palms – Here you will find a balanced blend of full-time residents and visitors, a 1,500-acre resort, two championship golf courses and a marina.
Sullivan’s Island – The only island in the world that’s been the setting for both an Edgar Allan Poe novel and a Revolutionary War battle, Sullivan’s Island is a warm and welcoming seaside village that sits proudly at the mouth of the Charleston Harbor.
Folly Beach – Affectionately known as “the Edge of America,” Folly Beach is an eclectic, laid back beach community just 15 minutes from downtown Charleston.
Spectator and tourist facilities:
There are numerous options for touring and on-the-water excursions for family members and spectators:
• Charleston Harbor Tours
• Coastal Excursion
• Classic Boat Charleston
Kiawah Island – A 10,000-acre barrier island with 10 miles of uninterrupted beaches, Kiawah Island is home to world-class golf and an acclaimed resort.
Seabrook Island – This 2,200-acre tranquil, private island community offers championship golf, a deep- water marina, horseback riding, and wide beaches.
Charleston is the perfect locale to combine the 2020 Melges 24 World Championships and a family vacation!
