Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Melges 24 World Championship– How do you compete on another continent?

by Kevin Nixon on 1 Nov 2016
Now to the water and fun can start! - Melges 24 World Championship Pierrick Contin / IM24CA
With the 2016 Melges 24 World Championship in Miami Florida fast approaching, and around 35 of the 100+ participants arriving from outside the USA, the big question for the overseas teams is: How do you compete on another continent? At first glance, the costs can seem astronomical, but there are many ways of doing it.

Shipping your existing boat is obviously the preferred option for most people. The up side is that you get to sail your own familiar boat, set up the way you like it and ready to go when it arrives at the venue.

Depending on what part of the world you are coming from, and going to, the cost can vary greatly. Europe to Miami and back is not too much of a problem as a large number of shipping lines use this route on their way to Australasia via the Panama Canal.



From Australia it can be much more expensive as the shipping route typically circles around through China and Japan before heading back across the pacific, through the Panama Canal and finally back up the East coast of the USA. You are pretty much paying for the time your boat is on the ship.

If you decide to ship, the easiest method for boats on a trailer like the Melges 24 is to Roll-on/Roll- off (RORO). These are usually Car Carrying ship delivering new cars, trucks and boats from manufacturers to other parts of the world. You simply deliver your boat to the departure port at your end and then later pick it up at the receiving port. As to be expected, with all this convenience comes the highest cost to transport boats around the world.



Placing you boat in a shipping container can be the least expensive way to ship it, but for a boat like the Melges 24 it may require you to modify the trailer to allow the boat to rotate and fit into the container. It is also going to take the best part of a day to load and unload and may require a crane or fork lift to get it in and out. In the USA logistics services such as One Design Services help transport boats to and from events as well as load and unload the containers. Container shipping can be around half the cost of Roll-on/Roll-off but is a lot more work.



Considering the logistics and costs of shipping, chartering a boat may seem like a more practical thing to do. Boats are offered at different price points depending on their age and condition. You can generally check a boat out by having the owner send photos of critical items like the hull, keel and rudder. You are however always going to have to spend a few days modifying control lines to you standards or setup.



When chartering you usually bring your own sails, and most times, it is a good idea to bring your own ropes, shrouds and forestay just to minimize the chance of breakages. Other costs may be the transport of the boat to and from the regatta if out of town, excess baggage charges on your flights for sails and equipment, and perhaps some extra days accommodation while you prepare the boat.



The final option, and not necessarily the most expensive (presuming you don't mind having capital tied up in a second boat), is to purchase a new or second hand boat from the region you are going to sail in. Use the boat for the World Championship and then either sell it or ship it home to upgrade your existing boat. If you offset the cost you would have spent on Chartering you may find this is a good option. Many Melges 24 sailors from outside the Americas keep a boat in the USA and fly in a couple of times a year to do a regatta. Boat storage and transport throughout the USA is reasonably affordable.





EFG Sailing Team goes to Miami from Swiss Performance Sailing on Vimeo.

C-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOMPalm Beach Motor YachtsMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTER

Related Articles

Armstrong Foils Demo Days return for 2025
Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Armstrong Foils is proud to announce the return of Armstrong Demo Days for 2025. Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros.
Posted today at 5:41 am
International 5o5 Euro Cup Leg 2 at Lake Garda
Stunning scenery, fresh water and great Ora breezes Between May 29th and 31st, 41 505's from 10 countries arrived in the small town of Riva at the Northern end of Lake Garda in Italy for leg 2 of the 2025 505 Euro Cup series.
Posted today at 5:29 am
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 1
Austrians Prettner and Flachberger tip into early lead Keanu Prettner with Jakob Flachberger (AUT) were locked in a light air duel with defending European Champions Hernan Umpiere with Fernando Diz (URU). The two teams were tipped by their fellow competitors as the ones to watch in light winds and delivered.
Posted on 3 Jun
New Dynamic Range of T-Shirts and Shorts
Just the ticket at sea and on shore Packing for a weekend away on the water and having fun onshore has never been easier, thanks to the new range of Dynamic shorts and t-shirts from Henri-Lloyd.
Posted on 3 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 1
Top level consistency gives 2024 champions a strong start in Baiona The 2024 overall circuit champions, Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing, lead the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP after two good races on the beautiful but challenging race area off Baiona on the NW corner.
Posted on 3 Jun
Getting excited for the Van Isle 360
Quoting a famous line from Pink Floyd's "Time" As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, I find myself thinking about the last time I did this race, a certain Pink Floyd song, and the great adventuring, sailing and time with friends that awaits.
Posted on 3 Jun
5.5 Metre titles head to Poland for the first time
Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship to be held back to back Over the next 12 days the International 5.5 Metre Class heads to Sopot in Poland for the Scandinavian Gold Cup and World Championship. It is the first time the class has held any of its major events in Poland.
Posted on 3 Jun
Robert Burke on HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility
Robert Burke discusses the upcoming closure of HRCS's Dyckman Marina facility Community sailing organizations are a fantastic and affordable way of drawing new sailors into the sport. Unfortunately, the Hudson River Community Sailing is being forced to close one of its two locations in January.
Posted on 3 Jun
Mirror dinghy Tuning Guide with Ben McGrane
A detailed guide to maximising speed with Hyde Mirror Sails Continuing the new series of tuning videos from Hyde Sails, One Design Sales Manager Ben McGrane gives a detailed guide to maximising speed with Hyde Mirror Sails.
Posted on 3 Jun
Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang for larger yachts
Specifically sized for yachts measuring between 50 and 55 feet A rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing, preventing the boom from falling into the cockpit or onto the coach roof. Equipped with gas springs, it automatically elevates the boom upon release of the kicking strap.
Posted on 3 Jun