{"id":862,"date":"2020-02-26T16:41:54","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/?p=862"},"modified":"2020-02-26T16:41:54","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:41:54","slug":"melges-24-southbound-2020-world-championship-early-entries-close-on-march-1st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/2020\/02\/26\/melges-24-southbound-2020-world-championship-early-entries-close-on-march-1st\/","title":{"rendered":"Melges 24 Southbound – 2020 World Championship, Early Entries Close on March 1st"},"content":{"rendered":"

February 26, 2020 – Charleston, S.C. USA –\u00a0<\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Bacardi Invitational Regatta<\/a>\u00a0(March 5-7) is the final\u00a0Winter Series<\/a>\u00a0event, and the first on the\u00a02020 U.S. Melges 24 Class Association National Ranking Series<\/a>. Bacardi anticipates welcoming as many as 30 entries, and will set the stage for fierce competition.<\/p>\n

Sperry Charleston Race Week<\/a>\u00a0(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.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0World Championship<\/a>\u00a0is 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.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Reigning Melges 24 World and European Champion Maidollis of Gianluca Perego with Carlo Fracassoli at the helm. Photo \u00a9 Pierrick Contin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
2018 World Champion Andrea Racchelli sailing Altea. Photo \u00a9 Zerogradinord<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
2019 North American Champion Travis Weisleder racing Lucky Dog. Photo @ Bill Crawford – harborpictures.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u00a0Gian Luca Perego<\/a>\u00a0with multiple champion\u00a0Carlo Fracassoli<\/a>\u00a0at the helm of his now massively famous\u00a0Maidollis<\/em>, 2018 World Champion\u00a0Andrea Racchelli<\/a>\u00a0sailing\u00a0Altea<\/em>, 2019 North American Champion\u00a0Travis Weisleder<\/a>\u00a0racing\u00a0Lucky Dog<\/em>, 2019 U.S. Melges 24 National Champion\u00a0Michael Goldfarb<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Warcanoe<\/em>, reigning Canadian National Champion\u00a0Roger Counihan<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Jaws<\/em>, and 2019 U.S. National Ranking Champion owner\u00a0Kevin Welch<\/a>\u00a0sailing\u00a0MiKEY<\/em>\u00a0with the legendary Jeff Madrigali at the helm.<\/p>\n

\"\"
2019 U.S. Melges 24 National Champion Michael Goldfarb on Warcanoe. Photo \u00a9 Pierrick Contin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
2019 U.S. National Ranking Champion owner Kevin Welch sailing MiKEY with the legendary Jeff Madrigali at the helm. Photo @ Pierrick Contin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Reigning Canadian National Champion Roger Counihan on Jaws. Photo \u00a9 Len Strahl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Returning to the Class after a three-year break is 2020 Melges 24 Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta winner\u00a0Peter Duncan<\/a>\u00a0sailing\u00a0Relative Obscurity<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n

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2020 Melges 24 Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta winner Peter Duncan sailing Relative Obscurity. Photo \u00a9 Paul Todd – outsideimages.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0Register Online<\/a><\/p>\n

Official 2020 Melges 24 World Championship Website<\/a><\/p>\n

Online Registration<\/a><\/p>\n

#2020m24worlds #melges24worlds #melges24<\/p>\n

Melges 24 on Facebook<\/a>
\nMelges 24 on Instagram<\/a>
\nMelges 24 on Flickr<\/a>
\nMelges 24 on YouTube<\/a>
\nMelges 24 on Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE 2020 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SPONSORS<\/p>\n

The 2020 Melges 24 World Championship is proudly supported by\u00a0Mount Pleasant South Carolina<\/a>,\u00a0High and Dry Boat Works<\/a>,\u00a0Coral Reef Sailing Apparel<\/a>,\u00a0Sail22<\/a>,\u00a0Vakaros<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Northern Michigan Melges 24 Fleet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE MELGES 24
\nThe Melges 24 is designed by Reichel\/Pugh<\/a> and built by Melges Performance Sailboats<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joy Dunigan
\n<\/strong>2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer
\n<\/b>U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, Administrator<\/strong>
\n<\/b>Mail: communications@usmelges24.com<\/a>
\nMobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
\nSkype: joysavannah<\/p>\n

Piret Salmistu
\n<\/strong>2020 Melges 24 World Championship Press Coordinator
\n<\/b>International Melges 24 Class Association\u00a0Administrator & Media Coordinator
\n<\/strong>Mobile\/WhatsApp: +372\u00a0507 7217
\nMail:\u00a0piret@melges24.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

February 26, 2020 – Charleston, S.C. USA –\u00a0With 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/42583084732_c4f187846d_k.jpg?fit=2000%2C1060&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p91hJ2-dU","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/862"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=862"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":871,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/862\/revisions\/871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melges24.com\/Worlds2021\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}