2024 Melges 15 East Coast Championship to set sail in Annapolis
by Morgan Kinney 7 Jun 00:09 NZST
June 7-9, 2024
Melges 15 East Coast Championship © Morgan Kinney
The stage is set for the Second Annual Melges 15 East Coast Championship, June 7-9, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland. The highly anticipated event has attracted 28 teams from across the East Coast, including sailors from New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
As part of the Championship Series introduced in 2023, these class-sanctioned regattas aim to elevate competition, promote regional fleets, and foster a sense of camaraderie among racers.
Annapolis, renowned for its rich maritime history and vibrant sailing community, boasts burgeoning Melges 15 fleets at several clubs, including the Severn Sailing Association, Eastport Yacht Club, and Annapolis Yacht Club.
The event marks a significant milestone for the host club, Severn Sailing Association. The Melges 15 fleet’s compliance with strict membership and regatta participation requirements led to its new class sanction at SSA, enabling the fleet to organize annual events, club racing, and offer boat storage at the club.
SSA Fleet Captain Bryan Stout expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming championship. “It's a wonderful chance to really establish our fleet's presence in the Chesapeake Bay,” remarked Stout. “I'm happy to see all of the hard work we have been doing over the last couple of months come to fruition. Thanks in no small part to the volunteer efforts of SSA, the Annapolis M15 Fleet members, our wonderful sponsors, and of course Ron Steele, who is hosting a big party Saturday night.”
Eight races are scheduled for the three-day event. The Melges Team will be onsite coaching and providing daily event coverage on the Melges 15 Facebook and Instagram channels. Results will be available on www.melges15.com/results. For a full schedule of events featured in the Championship Series visit www.melges15.com/championship-series.