2019 Melges 24 North American Championship hosted by Grand Traverse Yacht Club charts a course for success

April 17, 2019 - Traverse City, Mich. USA - The 2019 Melges 24 North American Championship (NAC) hosted by the Grand Traverse Yacht Club (GTYC) in Traverse City, Mich. taking place August 15-18, has climbed to an impressive 36 teams registered several months in advance of the entry deadline. It is anticipated that 50 or more teams will be registered by the start of the NAC - the pinnacle 2019 Melges 24 event in North America.
 
"The Grand Traverse Yacht Club in partnership with the U.S. and International Melges 24 Class Associations as co-organizers, are really excited to be hosting the North American Championship. There are many teams that have committed and still need to register. If teams register prior to the first entry deadline of May 31, they can still take advantage of the early entry fee," says Scot Zimmerman, NAC Event Chair and owner of Melges 24 Bad Idea"The Midwest district has always been a hotbed for Melges 24 racing, and 2019 will prove just that. We have a host of Midwest events leading up to the NAC that will bring out the best in local talent, but also attract some of the Worlds best race teams."
 
2019 Charleston Race WeekMelges 24 fleet at the Sperry Charleston Race Week 2019. Photo (c) U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, usmelges24.com
 
The NAC is also Event No. 6 on the U.S. Melges 24 North American Ranking Series. Two events have concluded and the intensity of the competition is already at a very high level. Series leader and recently crowned Sperry Charleston Race Week Champion Travis Weisleder at the helm of Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team will be in attendance, and Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champion (2017) K.C. Shannon sailing Shaka are ready to go.
 
Lucky Dog / Gill Race Team USA8582019 Sperry Charleston Race Week Champion Travis Weisleder at the helm of Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team.  Photo (c) Mauro Melandri /Zerogradinord
 
Preparations are in full swing from all aspects of the Championship. The GTYC and a dedicated group of volunteers are actively making plans to accommodate teams for two days of practice and tuning followed by three extravagant days of world-class, championship racing on the warm waters of West Grand Traverse Bay.
 
 
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ABOUT THE MELGES 24
The Melges 24 is best known for its competitive disposition, yet fun and easy-to-sail personality. Since its inception, to this very day, it remains the leader in high-performance, one design sailing. Melges Performance Sailboats joined forces with Reichel/Pugh to deliver the ground-breaking Melges 24 in 1993. They pioneered the next frontier of competitive yacht racing by integrating high-tech materials and concepts used in the America's Cup into a sportboat that was fun, affordable, easy to rig, set-up and tow. Named Boat of the Year in 1994 by Sailing World Magazine, it raised the bar and set the standard in the performance keelboat category. For delivery and purchasing a new Melges 24, visit melges.com. For more information, please visit the official website of the International Melges 24 Class Association at melges24.com.
 
ABOUT THE U.S. MELGES 24 NATIONAL RANKING SERIES
Organized and managed by the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA), the National Ranking Series (USM24NRS) features a total of eight high-profile, world-class events happening in the U.S. and Canada. Specifically, the Series is designed to promote local, as well as international participation across all six districts that make up the U.S. Melges 24 Class and beyond. To learn more about the USM24NRS, visit the Official U.S. Melges 24 National Ranking Series Website for a full list of events, results and news. The USM24CA is a recognized National Class Authority of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), melges24.com.
 
For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or class specific information about the Melges 24 at the 2019 Melges 24 North American Championship, please contact:
 
Joy Dunigan
2019 Melges 24 North American Championship Press Officer
U.S. Melges 24 Class Association, Communications Director
Email: communications@usmelges24.com
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah

Piret Salmistu 
2019 Melges 24 North American Championship Press Coordinator
International Melges 24 Class Association Administrator, Media Coordinator
Mobile: +372 507 7217
 
2019 Melges 24 North Americans organizers