2019 Melges 24 North American Championship - Preview

Kevin Welch with helmsman Jeff Madrigali on MiKEY is the current leader of the 2019 U.S. National Ranking Series © Zerogradinord / IM24CA

The biggest, most major event of the season in North America for the Melges 24 Class is now a short two weeks away from its start. Corinthian teams looking to qualify for the all-amateur division continue with getting crew member sailor classifications from World Sailing confirmed, and the selection process, scheduling and notifications for random boat measurement are well under way.

Adding fuel to the starter flames, the North American Championship (NAC) is the sixth event on the hotly contested 2019 U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA) National Ranking Circuit. Proudly to date it includes the participation of 66 teams representing all four corners of the United States, and international inclusions from Canada and Europe. View the Full 2019 U.S. Melges 24 National Ranking Results.

The NAC is also Event No. 2 on the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) North American Championship Series Circuit.

Travis Weisleder's Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team is holding second position in the 2019 U.S. National Ranking Series - photo © Zerogradinord / IM24CA

So far it has been a heated and dramatic season of racing. Italy's Andrea Pozzi at the helm of Bombarda took the first lead of the year at Bacardi's Melges 24 Winter Series Event No. 2. Then, Bruce Ayres' Monsoon and Travis Weisleder's Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team stepped up and into the top spot together, tied with equal points after Sperry Charleston Race Week. Weisleder seized opportunity at the U.S. Nationals, finishing second overall and taking a slim one-point lead.

Bruce Ayres' Monsoon is completing the provisional podium of the 2019 U.S. National Ranking Series - photo © Zerogradinord / IM24CA

Two completed events later, Kevin Welch with helmsman Jeff Madrigali on MiKEY put in the time to race the Columbia Gorge One Design Regatta (CGOD) in late July. The CGOD marked the first event on the 2019 Melges 24 West Coast Championship Series, but most importantly, catapulted Welch from fourth overall into the lead position.

Post NAC, only two events remain on the National Ranking Circuit - the California Cup hosted by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club on September 13-15, and the Canadian National Championship happens in Ontario, Canada on September 19-22.

For more information visit the 2019 Melges 24 NAC YachtScoring website.