Northshore Yachting Appointed as Builder of Melges 24 For Asia Pacific Rim

Sydney, Australia - It was announced today that Northshore Yachting have signed an exclusive license agreement with Melges Performance Sailboats (Zenda, Wi., USA) to build and distribute the Melges 24 — the world’s premiere high performance, one design sportboat throughout the Asia Pacific market.

Designed by Reichel Pugh Yacht Design (San Diego, Ca., USA), the Melges 24 is undoubtedly the most popular racing yacht in the world. Making this class of boat more accessible to the Asia Pacific sailor has been a long-held desire of Harry Melges, president of Melges Performance Sailboats.

“In choosing our Asia Pacific partner, we wanted to work with a company that not only shared our commitment to quality and craftsmanship when building the Melges 24 to the strict one design formula, but also shared our passion for sailing with and developing strong fleets — locally and internationally,” commented Melges. “Quite clearly we have found such a partner with the team at Northshore.”

Since its introduction in 1993, the excitement generated by this America’s Cup inspired boat has been phenomenal. Today, over 650 boats are sailed around globe, primarily in the United States and Europe. More than 120 Melges 24s recently lined up for the start at the 2006 Melges 24 World Championship in Hyeres, France.

Heath Walters, managing director of Northshore Yachting, a company best known for building the Northshore range of yachts, believes that one of the key attractions of the Melges 24 class is its international appeal.

“The Asia Pacific sailing scene has always been keen on sportboats, but no single design has been able to gain class size beyond their own countries,” said Walters. “The Melges 24 is a class that has established a strong presence within the United States and Europe, which in turn will allow sailors within our local market to enjoy such a boat, simultaneously racing them on the international circuit.”

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ABOUT THE MELGES 24

The Melges 24 is the ultimate, the maximum in high performance, one design racing. Manufactured by Melges Performance Sailboats (melges.com) in Zenda, Wi., USA and Devoti Sailing (devotisailing.com) in Europe, it is also designed by world-renown Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design, Inc. (reichel-pugh.com) in San Diego, California.

The Melges 24 measures 24 feet in length, sports a 670 sq. foot asymmetrical spinnaker and possesses high-tech, cutting-edge America's Cup inspired features such as a carbon fiber spar, rudder, bowsprit and vertical keel fin. It entices some of the world's greatest and most well-known sailors to compete against one another including multiple Olympic Medallists, Sailing World Champions, Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup sailors and helmsmen.

To date, over 650 boats are sailed competitively around the world. Half of the entire fleet exists in the United States while the remaining national classes are spread out over 18 European and Asian countries proving that it demands an international audience.

The Melges 24 is supported globally by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA). The Association is made up of Melges 24 owners from all over the world and claims ownership to one of the most admired and visited class web sites in the sailing industry — www.melges24.com.

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For further information, contact Heath Walters, managing director of Northshore Yachting via email at sales@northshoreyachts.com.au or call (+612) 999-76633.