Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Trieste and YC Adriaco ready to welcome Melges 24 fleet
by International Melges 24 Class Association 20 May 16:09 BST
21-24 May 2026
Melges 24 World Championship 2025, Trieste, Italy © YCA | Giovanni Tesei
The second leg of the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series is fast approaching.
Following the season opener in Opatija, Croatia, which concluded with the victory of Paolo Brescia's Melgina ahead of Ante Cesic's Razjaren and Taki 4 helmed by Niccolò Bertola - the best-performing Corinthian team - the specialists of this iconic one-design, designed by Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design over thirty years ago, are now looking towards Trieste and Yacht Club Adriaco, hosts and organisers of the second event of the season from May 21 to 24.
The regatta will also count as the opening stage of the Melges 24 Italian Trofeo Gaudì, a national circuit dedicated to the memory of former Melges 24 World Champion Gaudenzio Bonini, who tragically passed away in a mountain accident a year and a half ago.
"Returning to Trieste for the first Italian event of the European Sailing Series makes us truly happy," says Paolo Brescia, owner of Melgina and Vice Chair Europe of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA). "Not only because it represents continuity with one of the most spectacular recent events for the Melges 24 Class - the 2025 World Championship - but also because it offers us the opportunity to return to Yacht Club Adriaco, whose warm hospitality always makes us feel at home. Racing in Trieste is always a unique experience for us: here, you are immersed in a glorious setting that perfectly reflects the city's deep connection to the sea."
The favourable late-spring conditions, which usually guarantee pleasant temperatures and reliable thermal breezes, together with the reputation of the organising yacht club - host of the successful 2025 Melges 24 World Championship won by Peter Karrie's Nefeli - have boosted participation numbers and attracted many of the top teams that will compete in Friuli Venezia Giulia at the Coppa Tito Nordio regatta.
In an entry list largely made up of Corinthian teams, those to watch include the reigning and former Corinthian World Champions Zhik Race Team, led by Miles Quinton and Taki 4 helmed by Niccolò Bertola; the German team White Room, owned by the Michael Tarabochia family; and the Hungarian team Chinook, led by Ákos Csoltó, with numerous notable successes over the years.
"It is wonderful to be returning to Trieste for the Melges 24 European Sailing Series hosted by YC Adriaco, which brings Zhik Race Team many beautiful memories from the 2025 World Championship," says Miles Quinton, owner of Zhik Race Team. "We love Trieste, especially as one of our crew, Sara, is local, and we always enjoy the club's hospitality, so we are really looking forward to the event this weekend. We are also excited about racing again with the Vakaros RaceSense system, which proved very successful during the first ESS event in Opatija."
Several other teams are equally eager to compete in Trieste, ready to fight until the very end despite the high level of competition expected at the start.
In Trieste, where the organising club will host an After Race Party each day following the sailing programme, racing will take place from Friday to Sunday (May 22-24), with eight races scheduled and one discard in effect after the fifth race.
Weather forecasts are unanimously predicting a sunny weekend characterised by warm temperatures and light thermal winds.
Please note that, starting this year, procedures at regattas organised by the International Melges 24 Class Association are being monitored using the Vakaros RaceSense system. The system made its debut at the season opener in Opatija, where it was highly appreciated by competitors.
More details of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series available at: melges24.com/europeansailingseries