Melges 24’s –  Descend on Geelong

The new to Australia Melges 24’s are making their presence felt as they hold their first National Titles at Skandia Geelong Race Week  in Victoria, Australia,  26-28 Feb 08.

All owners are relatively new to the M24 and are learning  about how to get the most out of their yacht and crew.  Skandia provides them with their first taste of One Design Fleet racing in this class. 

The Australian Sports Boat Association have welcomed the Melges 24’s. 

Last year one M24 competed in the National Sports boat Championships at Geelong, this year they make up a quarter of the fleet, giving each competitor a result in both Sports boats and One Design.

Co-operation with the Sports boats allows owners to compete and build their local fleet as well as Regatta race M24’s anywhere in the world.

Melges 24 crew’s jobs are made easier by the massive amount of online support and information available from the huge European and American  fleets. 

The Reichel/Pugh Design M24 is appealing to a vast range of people.  There is a large number of yachties out there who grew up racing through the classes of flying ants, cadets, skiffs, J24’s etc.  They have excellent sailing knowledge and ability and as a result  are now the core crew on larger racing yachts,  it’s these guys who are now keen to test themselves back on the wood in a super quick, easy to sail One Design International Class that is affordable to maintain, store and transport in comparison.  They get to sail with their family or mates making the regatta experience extremely competitive and enjoyable.

John Hall (Anarchy) the Melges Queensland Agent  is racing with sons Andrew and Tim,  Coming together for some competitive racing.

Team Faz on “Vitesse” – dubbed the Melges Mafia is also an entire family experience with David and his 4 boys, having crew available is never a problem.

Heath Walters the Melges builder in Australia will be in the Mafia for this regatta with some sibling rivalry as brother Murray Walters steps onto the newest M24 “No Comment”.  Fellow RPAYC member and new owner Mark Bernandinis has his young daughters as Geelong cheer squad.

Heath Townsend (Kaito) with family in tow from WA has  won as the Skandia Passion competition.

Owners Bruce Leslie (Matilda) and Phil Chapman and crew deep  in pre regatta preparations,  all boats look set for great event.