Melges 24s Turning Heads Down Under

From the Australian Melges 24 Class - MELGES 24’S a dominant presence at Airlie Beach Race Week, and Hamo, Whitsundays, Australia. The new Australian built Melges 24 AUS709 “Kaito” owned by Western Australian restaurateur Heath Townsend made its racing debut at Airlie Beach. Heath took delivery of his new boat at the West Gosford factory the week prior to the regatta and after some creative signage drove the 2000 kms to Airlie to meet family and crew.

Heaths WA crew consisted of Geoff Bishop (who supplied UK Haulsey sails), Con and Linda Keane, Kym Nesbitt and Mark Lane. Race preparation for this regatta was minimal but with a first amongst his results Heath Townsend proved to be a power force to recon with in upcoming regatta’s. The support of SLAM and Dirtydog Sunglasses meant the only thing on the crews mind was tactics.

Melges Asia Pacific AUS668, took third place overall in the Regatta. Heath Walters owner of Melges Asia Pacific commented "The tight racing between the One Design Melges 24’s, certainly turned heads, the Regatta is now fixed in our event schedule for next year with numbers rapidly building, we’re looking forward to the growth of the fleet. The Whitsunday Islands are such a spectacular place to race, with amazing aqua water, tide changes and wind variations, there are conditions to suit everyone".

"Team Avalon" a group of Committee members from Avalon Sailing Club took a Melges 24 to Hamilton Island Race Week. Impressive results on Day 3 in heavy breezes enabled them to beat two of the three Mumm 30’s over the line for First Place on corrected time.

Andrew Kendall commented "dodging through the 50 footers at 19 knots on the run, the boat went silent, what an amazing ride".

Melges Asia Pacific will deliver the next new Melges 24 to the new owner David Farrimond from Geelong after Hamilton Island. They are anticipating a strong fleet of Melges 24s and would like to mix it up with some Internationals also.