U.S. Melges 24 Class Association Brings Live Charleston Race Coverage To Internet

Charleston, S.C. , (April 5, 2009) - U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) President Travis Weisleder today announced an exclusive agreement with the producers of On-The-Water Anarchy to bring live coverage of every race at 2009 Charleston Race Week to the internet. "Charleston Race Week has become the biggest sportboat event in U.S. history, and we're incredibly excited that our members and supporters have come together to make video coverage of every start, mark rounding and finish of the Melges 24 fleet possible," said Weisleder. "Love it or hate it, the producers of On-The-Water Anarchy create the most exciting webcasts of this kind of racing on the internet, and their coverage of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship was riveting. We expect more of the same in Charleston."

Live webcasts will begin at 11:00 eastern standard time on Friday, April 17th and can be viewed online at Sailing Anarchy with clips archived for later viewing. "Our audience is diverse and enthusiastic. It will include competitors, their friends and families, racers of all kinds of boats, fans of the class, the sailing industry and media staff unable to attend the event,” said coverage producer Alan Block. Block added, "OTW Anarchy attracts extensive interest from overseas and we expect significant viewership from Italian, French and Scandinavian Melges 24 sailors as well as prospective owners and crew."

The USMCA arranged the exclusive live coverage, bringing together a group of companies with a track record of supporting Melges 24 racing. "We are proud to show off why Charleston, S.C. has become the 'sailing capital of the south' to a wide international audience," says Ned Goss, president of Ocean Sailing Academy, who also title sponsored the 2008 Melges 24 National Championship last September. "We want everyone to see the youth, growth and strength of our local fleet while showcasing the beautiful conditions on Charleston Harbor," said Goss.

2009 National Championship sponsor Latis Yachting Solutions and USMCA Championship Series title sponsor SLAM in association with San Diego apparel supplier Point Loma Outfitting have also helped bring On-The-Water Anarchy to Charleston. "We've been supporting live coverage of Melges 24 events for more than a year and our customers tell us they absolutely love it!" said Latis owner John Woodruff.

Point Loma Outfitting owner Tom Carruthers agrees, "For every Melges 24 at Charleston, there are twenty that couldn't make it, along with thousands of folks who have a history with this great boat," he said. "It's a pleasure to be able to help all those people get their sportboat racing fix from this innovative live internet coverage."

An amazing 101 of more than 180 total entries at 2009 Charleston Race Week are sportboats - the lightweight, high-speed breed of racing sailboat typified by the Melges 24. Once again, it will be the largest single class at the event with up to 40 entrants comprising some of the most talented racers in the country.

All competitors are reminded that the entry deadline for the 2009 Charleston Race Week event closes this Thursday, April 9. If you want to race in the coolest one design fleet on earth, then there is no time to waste. Register Online.

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Tune-in to Sailing Anarchy for all the latest racing, beginning on April 17, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. EST - LIVE from Charleston Race Week. Visit the official 2009 Charleston Race Week Website for full results and more interesting event information.

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). Also bookmark the Official Blog of the Melges 24.