US Melges 20 National Championship to take place on Charleston harbor

by International Audi Melges 20 Class Association on 17 Apr 2015 The International Audi Melges 20 Class Association (IAM20CA) is thrilled to be holding one of its major class events in conjunction with Sperry Charleston Race Week (CRW) this weekend. The seventh edition of the U.S. National Championship will take place in the waters of Charleston harbor on April 17-19 and play host to more than twenty well-versed teams originating from towns and cities all across the U.S. and Canada.

In the words of IAM20CA President Rob Wilber, 'Charleston is the premiere showcase for one design racing, and from that perspective it's a perfect venue for Nationals.'

Event Director Randy Draftz and the entire Race Week staff have expressed great enthusiasm over the past few months in preparation for Nationals and has gone to great lengths to make it simply spectacular.

In an effort to be fully prepared and ready for the stiff competition that lies ahead, boat measurement started on Tuesday (14 April), with a Wednesday afternoon Charleston Harbor Current discussion conducted by Crayton Walters and Lenny Krawcheck at the Carolina Yacht Club sponsored by Melges USA. Free beer and drinks flowed while teams listened closely for any advice on how to navigate one of Charleston's most feared, yet sometimes embraced components - the current. If anyone knows anything about Charleston's wild and sometimes relentless, yet potentially rewarding current its Walters and Krawcheck.

Standing by to absorb the loads of valuable information and tips is a name well known throughout A Scow country - Brian Henke racing his Affordable Mistress Audi Melges 20 who sorrowfully missed the raging Melges Rocks Regatta in Miami last month, but instead put Charleston on his 'must-do' list. 'I can tell already this is going to be a really great regatta,' said a very excited Henke. 'It's the first time we've raced in Charleston and since we missed Miami, we just know it's going to be one of the most fun regattas we've ever raced.'

Thursday marked not only the final day of measurement checks, but also registration where teams confidently declared their winning combination of sails and crew.

New faces, fabulous places

Amongst all the excitement of the forthcoming championship is the very extended red welcome carpet to some new faces in the fleet. The IAM20CA is proud to welcome new owner John Murphy on Solas from Milwaukee, WI. Charleston is the first time that John and members of his family (Jack and Bridget) will competitively race their Audi Melges 20. Other new characters and long-time great old friends of the Melges family are making an appearance as well.

2013 Melges 24 World Champ Brian Porter is looking forward to taking his famous Full Throttle for a spin around Charleston harbor. Robbie Wilkins has signed up his Vamoose campaign and last, and by no means least - the lovely Ms. Amy Ironmonger will sail on Heathen. Amy is a Melges 24 North American Champion crew member and has had sailing in her veins since she was a very young. She is joined by several Charleston locals who are well-known in their own right - David Dabney and Jeff Gentzen. In 2009, Amy gave an interview to then Melges 24 Class Admin, Fiona Brown. Read more about this awesome girl here. The Class is thrilled to have her sailing with the fleet this weekend.

Media coverage - Join us online

As with other Audi Melges 20 events around the world, the latest racing updates will be posted online at the Official Audi Melges 20 Facebook page. Be sure to also follow the fleet on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Tune in for the latest racing information, results, video interviews, and photos. Race reports, press releases and photos will also be available online each day post racing at melges20.com.