CARLOAN.COM US NATIONALS PREVIEW (STAND BY FOR VIDEO COVERAGE ON LINE!)

Preparations for the 2005 Carloan.com Melges 24 U.S. National Championship are in full swing in Annapolis, Maryland at the famous Annapolis Yacht Club. Thirty-nine Melges 24 teams are competing in what truly will be one of the most exciting Regattas in 2005. Teams are traveling from all over the U.S. and some, from as far away as Great Britain - each and every one ready to capture the title of U.S. Melges 24 National Champion.

As usual, the Melges 24 Fleet is pulling out its collection of sailing rock stars: 2002 Melges 24 World Champions Jeff Ecklund and Harry Melges, III; 2005 St. Petersburg NOOD Champion John Bertrand; 1999 U.S. National Champion Brian Porter; 1999, 2000 & 2001 MCSA (Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association) All District Team Member Bora Gulari; 2004 Silver Medallist Charlie Ogletree and 1996 Olympic Silver Medallist, double U.S. National Champion Morgan Reeser.

And this is just the icing on the cake. The Melges 24 Fleet is over-populated with an number of very, very talented amateur teams and drivers: 2004 Melges 24 North American Champion Argyle Campbell; Bob Dockery is currently listed in first place on the International 2005 World Ranking; 2005 Gulf Coast Champion Travis Weisleder; 2004 Detroit NOOD Melges 24 Champion Chuck Holzman; 2004 Southeast District Champion Ryan Hamm and 2004 Chicago NOOD Melges 24 Champion Mike Dow.

With a Fleet this deep in talent and skill, the next logical question might be who will win? Well, we will all have to wait and see. It is too early to even begin to speculate. One of the coolest aspects of this boat is that anyone can sail the Melges 24 but, the key to winning in a fleet with this kind of experience and determination is all about knowing, understanding and respecting the meaning of consistency and endurance.

The Melges 24 Fleet is ready for three days of intense racing action beginning this Friday April 28 and will continue on through until Sunday May 1. Teams are weighing in on Thursday, April 27 as well as fulfilling their registration duties.

Full Reports will be published each day at www.usmelges24.com.

Full Results will be published at www.sailingworld.com.

T2P.TV will be issuing full video from each day's racing at www.t2p.tv.