Annapolis Local Hero Chris Larson Outlines His Preparations For The 2009 Melges 24 World Championship As Pusser’s Rum Confirms Sponsorship For The Event

Annapolis, MD, USA – 23 September 2009 – With just a month to go until the start of the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, being hosted by Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, from 23-31 October, both the sponsors and competitors are hard at work preparing for the event.

Pusser’s Rum is a regular sponsor of International Melges 24 events and the organisers are delighted to confirm that Pusser’s will be the Official Rum of the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Pusser’s will host the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party, held at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser’s WipeOut Of The Day competition in which the best broach/wipeout of the day will receive a special Pusser’s prize! 

"Once again, it's good to see one old and great tradition combine forces with a great but relatively new tradition - the Melges 24 Worlds, " said Charles Tobias, Chairman of Pusser’s.  “We’re looking forward to easing some after-race pain with our infamous Pusser’s Painkillers. I suppose this will be particularly meaningful to the recipients of the "Pusser’s Wipeout of the day award".”

The competitors are also making their final preparations and Melges 24 Press Officer Justin Chisholm spoke to one of the many top flight American teams preparing for an assault on the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, to find out how their particular build up to the Championship is going. ‘Local boy’ Chris Larson is fully focused on the forthcoming World Championship and happy with the progress he and his crew have achieved at this stage. “We are very much on track for this year’s Melges 24 World Championship.  Curtis Florence and Mike Wolfs will be returning from last year’s campaign while Richard Clarke will be joining us as tactician.  We’re very excited to have Richard. He’s a past World Champion in this class and we look forward to his experience and knowledge of the Melges 24. Equally important is the fact that our sponsors, West Marine Rigging, New England Ropes, McLube, Harken, as well as the City of Annapolis/Downtown Annapolis Partnership have agreed to support us once again.  Our campaign is totally dependent upon them and it is great to have behind us 100%.” Like most teams, Larson and his crew are looking for some quality time together on the water in advance of the Worlds. With this in mind, as well as sailing in the Sail 22 Tuning Regatta (8-11 October, the Eastport Yacht Club One Design Regatta (17-18 October) and the Pre-Worlds (24-25 October), they will also be putting in some additional practice time to ensure they maximise the vital on-the-water time they feel they need to be fully dialled in by the time the Worlds roll around.

Larson is clearly in no doubt about the challenge that the high quality fleet will pose. “This will for sure be one of the highest-level events ever. By my calculations the fleet will include at least four past World Champions along with three European and four North American titleholders. Annapolis will offer more of a tactical style event rather than a pure boatspeed championship. Flat water, shifty winds, and current will undoubtedly make it a very tricky event and we’re very fortunate the organizers have scheduled a six-day regatta.”

 
Theoretically, Larson’s experience of Annapolis should give him an edge over those less familiar with the Chesapeake. Asked how important he thought this local knowledge could prove to be he responded, “In many ways Annapolis is a crazy place to sail for anyone who’s not been here before. As I mentioned, we’re very lucky to have a six-day schedule, which should allow the RC to run good races.  I think you can safely bet on four of the six days being under twelve knots.  Local knowledge will for sure help us out.  There’s a saying which goes, ‘If you don’t like the weather here in Annapolis, just wait a minute. It will change before you know it.’   More than anything we just hope for good races in any conditions.”

Asked about his goals for the event Larson’s answer was characteristically forthright. ‘Well, there is only ever one goal and that’s to WIN.  We have a great team, a great boat, and great sponsors.  As long as I can get us consistently off the line in good shape, we should be in the hunt going into the last day.  We were second earlier this year in the 2009 J/24 Worlds Championships here in Annapolis and it would be awesome to seal the deal in this Championship.

”If you have not registered for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship yet please do so as soon as possible. Register Online (Corinthian crew lists need to be confirmed by 9 October absolute latest.) Bookmark the Official Event Website. View the List Of Current Entries.

THE 2009 MELGES 24 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IS SPONSORED BY: 

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor
The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner
The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet. 

Other supporting sponsors include t2p.tv, National Sailing Hall of Fame,  BoatingLaw.com, MarinaCastTV,Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser’s Caribbean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US, North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co., Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions SheSails, Inc. Quantum Sails and Kathryn M. Weber, CPA. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22. 

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Sponsorship opportunities still exist and tax deductible donations are also being accepted; please contact 2009 World Championship Regatta Chair Liz Filter if you would like to make a gift.

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Visit the official event website at www.melges24worlds2009.com for more information on the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Also, visit the Eastport Yacht Club online.

The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA)and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA).

For more information or press photos, please contact:

Joy Dunigan
U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA)
2009 Melges 24 World Championship Press Chair
Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary
+1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah

Justin Chisholm 
International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA)
2009 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer
+44 7769 938722
Skype: justinchis 

Fiona Brown
International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA)
Administrator 
+44 (0) 7711 718470
Skype: fpbrown

Nancy Noyes
Eastport Yacht Club (EYC) 
2009 Melges 24 World Championship Press Officer
+1 (410) 263-5028