2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series - Southern teams dominate as Northern events heat up
by International Melges 24 Class Association 3 Jul 2025 10:53 BST
Team Bagdad Prospects (NOR600), led by Hans Herman Nergaard, with crew Alexander Hylen Klippenberg, Jacob Undrum, Tomas Mathisen, and Emil Bauck - Grundig Hanko Race Week 2025 © KNS / Trond Teigen
With five ranking events completed in the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, the standings showcase fierce competition, particularly driven by the Central and Southern European fleets.
While northern regattas in Denmark and Norway are just beginning to add their weight to the season, the current top 10 primarily reflects strong performances from earlier events in Croatia, Italy, Austria, and Norway.
Although the recent Danish event, Struer H-Båd Eliteserien, does not count towards the series ranking due to insufficient entries, it featured intense racing among eight competitive teams. Torben Mauritzen's Itsi-Bitsi claimed the overall victory.
The northern circuit intensified during the legendary Grundig Hankø Race Week in Norway, where Hans Herman Nergaard's Team Bagdad Prospects emerged victorious. Close competition was seen with Peder Jahre's Storm Capital and Herman Horn-Johannessen's Rett Rundt Hjørnet completing the podium, underscoring the high-level sailing on the #RoadtoTonsberg, which will host the 2026 European Championship.
Meanwhile, on the stunning Lake Attersee in Austria, 13 teams from four countries participated in the Melges 24 Austrian Open Nationals, hosted by Segelclub Kammersee. Six races were sailed in varied but manageable alpine conditions. The German Michael Tarabochia's team, White Room, helmed by Luis Tarabochia, secured the event win with consistent top-three performances across six challenging races. Chinook (HUN850), led by Akos Csolto, achieved second place overall following a strong Day 2 performance. The title of Austrian Champion went to team AUT502, skippered by Michael Luschan, which tied on points with Chinook, but secured the national title and completed the event's podium.
A quote from Tarabochia's team sums it up: "We know the lake and have been coming back for many years. It was great to race against teams from Hungary and Italy again. The battles were intense but fun — we're thrilled with the win and grateful to the fleet for the great competition."
Mid-Season rankings reflect tight competition
Currently, the Croatian teams lead the charge with Razjaren (CRO867), skippered by Ante Cesic, topping the leaderboard after consistently strong performances, accumulating 78.75 points. Luka Šangulin's Panjic (CRO803) closely follows with 77.5 points, having maintained strong results throughout the season. The Hungarian Chinook (HUN850), led by Akos Csolto, now holds third place with 63.75 points after a standout performance in Austria.
Dino Orioli's Daito Nano (ITA748) remains within striking distance at fourth place (62.5 points), while Miles Quinton's Corinthian team Zhik Race Team (GBR694), helmed by Geoff Carveth, currently ranks fifth with 56.25 points. The top 10 further includes Taki 4 (ITA778), Mataran 24 (CRO649), Strambapapa (ITA689), White Room (GER677), and Fjonda (CRO742).
Special recognition goes to the youth team Fly YCA (ITA579), skippered by Kim Magniani from Yacht Club Adriaco. As the only team to have competed in four events, they sit just outside the top 10 in 11th position with 37.5 points, highlighting their consistent dedication and promising potential.
The Corinthian division features intense competition within the overall top ten. Currently leading this group in third place overall is Chinook (HUN850), helmed by Akos Csolto, with 63.75 points after impressive consistency. Not far behind is Zhik Race Team (GBR694), owned by Miles Quinton and helmed by Geoff Carveth, currently fifth overall and second-best Corinthian with 56.25 points. In sixth place overall is Taki 4 (ITA778), helmed by Niccolò Bertola, on 55 points, followed by the reigning Corinthian World Champion, Ivo Matic' Mataran 24 (CRO649), with Ante Botica at the helm, holding seventh place overall and fourth among Corinthians with 47.5 points. Rounding out this competitive Corinthian top five is the recent Austrian event winner White Room (GER677), helmed by Luis Tarabochia, in ninth overall with 38.75 points, setting the stage for an intense remainder of the season.
Road to Trieste - World Championship anticipation builds
With just under three months to go, anticipation is rising for the highlight of the Melges 24 season: the 2025 World Championship in Trieste. Remarkably, 72 teams have already registered, underscoring the excitement and competitiveness surrounding this prestigious event.
The Melges 24 European Sailing Series continues its momentum with the next stop-Trofeo Gaudi Act 2 in the South at Marina Monfalcone, Italy (July 4-6). This will further intensify the competition as teams prepare for the ultimate test at the World Championship.
Upcoming northern events, including the Danish National Championship in Middelfart (August 29-31) and the Norwegian Open in Fredrikstad (September 4-6), will also provide crucial opportunities for northern teams to assert their standings.
Stay tuned as the season continues to deliver excitement, competition, and remarkable sailing performances.
Struer H-Båd Eliteserien 2025, Denmark - Results
Grundig Hanko Race Week 2025, Norway - Results
Melges 24 Austrian Nationals 2025, Attersee, Austria - Results
Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2025: (top ten after 5 events)
1. Razjaren (CRO867) - Lukasz Podniesinski / helmsman Ante Cesic - 78.75 pts
2. Panjic (CRO803) - Luka Šangulin - 77.50 pts
3. Chinook (HUN850) - Ákos Csoltó - 63.75 pts (Corinthian)
4. Daito Nano (ITA748) - Dino Orioli - 62.50 pts
5. Zhik Race Team (GBR694) - Miles Quinton / helmsman Geoff Carveth - 56.25 pts (Corinthian)
6. Taki 4 (ITA778) - Marco Zammarchi / helmsman Niccolò Bertola - 55.00 pts (Corinthian)
7. Mataran 24 (CRO649) - Ivo Matic / helmsman Ante Botica - 47.50 pts (Corinthian)
8. Strambapapa (ITA689) - Michele Paoletti - 42.50 pts
9. White Room (GER677) - Michael Tarabochia / helmsman Luis Tarabochia - 38.75 pts (Corinthian)
10. Fjonda (CRO742) - Goran Ivankovic - 38.75 pts
Full results, upcoming events, and registration info: www.melges24.com/europeansailingseries