2015 Melges 24 World Championship preview

by International Melges 24 Class Association on 19 Jun 2015 2015 Melges 24 World Championship – A maritime market town in the el dorado of Denmark - Middelfart, the venue for the most important event of the year for the Melges 24 fleet, has ten days to wait while around 500 sailors will fill the marina and town. Championship will take place from June 30 until July 5 in Middelfart marina organized by Match Racing Denmark along with Middelfart Sailing Club in cooperation with International Melges 24 Class Association.

The entry list stands at 96 teams from 18 nations: Austria (three), Czech Republic (one), Denmark (18), Estonia (two), Finland (two), Great Britain (three), Germany (18), Hungary (two), Italy (five), Lithuania (one), Netherlands (five), Norway (17), Slovenia (one), Switzerland (four), Slovak Republic (one), Sweden (nine), Ukraine (three) and United States of America (one).

While the size and geographical spread of the championship fleet is significant, the number of Corinthian (no professional sailors allowed) crews competing at this year's championship is also remarkable. With 50 entries, the Corinthian division makes up more than 50 percent of the fleet - this is definitely greatest testimony to Melges 24 racing in general as well to the wonderful venue, which is the perfect base for a holiday for the active bonvivant and the child at heart.

As is the norm at major Melges 24 championships, professional and Corinthian crews will race against each other in a single fleet for the overall Melges 24 World Championship title, with the Corinthian results being extracted to determine who wins the Corinthian World Championship title.

The chase for the World Champion title is reflected in a very competitive entry list: Due to the high level of the fleet, the sailing rock stars involved, and considered the many variables of the sailing world, is not easy to identify just one favorite.

Certainly among the eligible candidates to the success in Middelfart waters, we can include the US entry Air Force One with 2013 Moth World Champion Bora Gulari at the helm, with Olympic Champion Jonathan McKee calling tactics and many times Melges one-design classes' World Champion Federico Michetti, involved as trimmer.

And again, Audi Italia Sailing Team's Audi Tron, from three years at the top of the Melges 24 ranking lists and winner of the 2015 first European Sailing Series' event in Portoroz and Audi tron Sailing Series' Act 1 in Loano. Riccardo Simoneschi will sail with 2014 Melges 24 World and European Champion Gabriele Benussi in the afterguard. Also to be observed the Suisse entry of EFG, helmed by Chris Rast on the podium's top spot in Audi tron Sailing Series Act 2; Italian Gianluca Perego's Maidollis, helmed by 2012 Melges 24 World Champion Carlo Fracassoli with a solid lineup; the Swedish guys of GKSS, with match race specialist Staffan Lindberg at the helm and Czech former Olympian on Laser Standard, Martin Trcka on ICZ/Rodop.

In the middle earth between the favorites and the outsiders we find Italian Angelo Di Terlizzi's Marrakesh Express, winner in Audi Tron Sailing Series Act 3 along with helmsman Matteo Ivaldi, 2014 Melges 24 European Champion on Blu Moon and past Olympic 470 competitor (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000); from UK Gill Race Team, with the many times Laser Sb20 World Champion Geoff Carveth at the helm.

For the success in the Corinthian division will fight Estonian Lenny of the two times 470 Olympic medalist and 2014 Corinthian European Champion Tõnu Tõniste with, at least, former World Champion Norwegian Storm Capital Sail Racing with Øyvind Jahre at helm and 2013 Corinthian European Champion Team Kesbeke/Sika/Gill with Ronald Veraar, a past Laser class international campaigner.

Current rankings of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series - overall and Corinthian/Pro-Am division, Audi Tron Sailing Series and Doyle Sails Nordic Trophy can give a good summary about the fleet racing in Europe.

Competitor registration, boat measurement, equipment inspection and crew weigh-in for the Melges 24 World Championship will take place June 27 - 29 with practice racing scheduled for June 29. Racing in the championship series is scheduled to start on June 30 and runs through to July 5.

The official Melges 24 Worlds 2015 event hotel is Hindsgavl Castle. The many thousand square meters of the castle will be converted to the clubhouse for the Melges 24 World Championship sailors during this event. The opening ceremony will also take place at Hindsgavl Castle on Monday, June 29.

All racing days will be covered with live streaming and English commentary and tracking as well. More detailed information about the options will be shared with the pre-event press release on June 29.

View the list of entries, HERE
For more information, visit the official event website.

Event dates
Saturday 27 to Monday 29 of June: Measurement and registration
Monday 29 of June: Practice race and the Opening Ceremony at the Hindsgavl Castle
Tuesday 30 of June to Sunday fifth of July: 2015 Melges 24 World Championship
Sunday 5 of July: Closing Ceremony