Melges 24 Southbound - 2020 World Championship early entries close on March 1st
by IM24CA 26 Feb 15:56 GMT
1-9 May 2020
The starting line of the 2020 Melges 24 Worlds in Charleston is getting closer. © IM24CA / Zerogradinord
With the 2020 Melges 24 racing season well-under way in North America, the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) in conjunction with U.S. Melges 24 Championship Events, Inc. and Regatta Management, are in full-on preparation mode for the upcoming World Championship taking place on May 1-9.
Leading the fleet up to the start of Worlds is a succession of high-profile events. These regattas are expected to draw not only a high number of entries, but perhaps begin to offer insights as to which teams will do the best on the challenging waters, currents and conditions of Charleston, South Carolina.
The Bacardi Invitational Regatta (March 5-7) is the final Winter Series event, and the first on the 2020 U.S. Melges 24 Class Association National Ranking Series. Bacardi anticipates welcoming as many as 30 entries, and will set the stage for fierce competition.
Sperry Charleston Race Week (April 23-26) concludes just a few days before the start of the World Championship, and is being hailed as the 'real' Pre-Worlds. With 45 entries received thus far, the Melges 24 is the largest Class in attendance.
The World Championship is expected to fetch that number and more. With 38 teams already registered representing seven countries (Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the United States), the speed, the fun and fantastic competition that comes along with the Melges 24 will be highly concentrated - supersonic toxic.
As always at Worlds, the ultra-competitive mix of teams form a very long and distinguished list of returning Champions. All signed up and ready to go are 2019 - defending World Champion owner Gian Luca Perego with multiple champion Carlo Fracassoli at the helm of his now massively famous Maidollis, 2018 World Champion Andrea Racchelli sailing Altea, 2019 North American Champion Travis Weisleder racing Lucky Dog, 2019 U.S. Melges 24 National Champion Michael Goldfarb on Warcanoe, reigning Canadian National Champion Roger Counihan on Jaws, and 2019 U.S. National Ranking Champion owner Kevin Welch sailing MiKEY with the legendary Jeff Madrigali at the helm.
Returning to the Class after a three-year break is 2020 Melges 24 Helly Hansen St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta winner Peter Duncan sailing Relative Obscurity. The last time Duncan sailed the Melges 24 was in 2016 at the Miami Worlds where he finished top ten. According to Duncan's tactician Victor Diaz de Leon, their strategy is to get reacquainted with the boat as quickly as possible and stay in the breeze.
The Melges 24 Class is synonymous for its all-amatuer Corinthian Division that undoubtedly will be as competitive and popular as ever in Charleston. With entries still being accepted, the entrants who qualify are yet to be determined. Event organizers are encouraging all teams that wish to qualify for the all-amatuer Corinthian Division must do so as soon as possible.
Important World Championship regatta deadlines are approaching. All teams that would like to race are encouraged to register for Worlds as soon as possible. The early entry deadline for Worlds is Sunday, March 1st.
Register Online here
More information at melges24.com/Worlds2020