Update From Down Under

The Australian Melges 24 Class is really starting to make headway and with the Antipodean season now fully underway the boats are putting in some excellent performances at events around the country.

Airlie Beach Race Week 11-18 August

With 18 entrants in the Airlie Beach Race week held inside Australia’s Famous Great Barrier Reef this was a great kick off to the new season. The weather was as usual prefect with the 18kt trade winds blowing trough during the week. With Melges 24’s finishing 3rd and 6th in the handicapped fleet the boats really turned heads. Some of the Melges 24 teams travelled over 4500km to compete which really shows the level of commitment of the fleet down under.

Audi Hamilton Island Race Week 19-28 August

The Race Committee from Avalon Sailing Club headed by Commodore Geoff Foggerty, chartered a Melges 24 under the name of Melges Team Avalon. They started the regatta with a huge win in race 2 sailing well above there weight. Audi Hamilton Island Race week is on in the last week of August each year and we are looking to have some more boats for charter next year as well as looking forward to welcoming the existing Melges 24 owners to this great event.

Heaven Can Wait Race

Australian Melges 24 owned by Heath Townsend from Western Australia, Won the "Heaven Can Wait" One lap dash around Lake Macquarie last Saturday. This was a great result after starting last in the fleet due to a Brain Explosion by the crew and forgetting the sail battens and having to go back for them! With Good sailing and committed crew hiking the team from Doyle sail loft sailed through the fleet to victory

"What a great day for us with plenty of downwind sailing ! NICE !!!!" Shaun Bennett and Heath Walters were ecstatic with the result and are looking forward to the St Hellena's cup,1050km away, in early October.

For further information about Melges 24 sailing in Australia please visit WWW.MELGES.COM.AU or E-mail Heath Walters