International Melges 20 Miami Winter Series - Home Cookin'

by Melges 20 on 9 Dec 2016 When the Melges 20 first emerged as a top level one-design boat in 2009, it quickly called Coconut Grove and Biscayne Bay its winter home for its great mix of perfect sailing conditions and family friendly surroundings.

Eight years later, the Melges 20s are returning for the 2016/2017 Winter Series, and Biscayne Bay will once again serve as the perfect battle ground for the first Winter Series event as the final stop on the 2016 World Series Standings.

With a solid mix of North American and international teams, the fleet for the December event will be a showcase of veteran teams that will be looking to assert their experience, and talented newcomers that will hope to upend the status quo.

New owner Tim Pitts got a taste of Melges 20 sailing last spring, purchased a used boat and is making Miami his home this winter, 'My partner Joe Ferra and I joined the M20 class to sail against the great competition that exists and we're happy to be here in Miami. We are enjoying the weather and enjoying the fleet, and hope to just get around the course and stay competitive. We are looking forward to making new friends at the bar and picking up some pointers from the top boats.'

Headlining the veteran teams, Drew Friedes and his Pacific Yankee team look to continue their impressive 2016 season with a win in December, while keeping their long term world championship goals on the horizon, 'After finishing second in the worlds in Italy we have some unfinished business. This is the beginning of our preparation for the 2017 World Championship taking place in Newport, Rhode Island in October. We hope to improve during each event leading up to the Worlds, so that we can hopefully, finally beat a very talented Pinta team along with a very deep fleet. Our goal is always to learn and to improve at each event and it starts here in Miami.'

And with most of North America and Europe headed for a deep freeze, a strong contingent of international teams could not resist the sunshine and crystal blue waters of Biscayne Bay. Longtimer Melges 20 sailor Rhonda Joyce on Grinning Streak continues her Melges 20 odyssey and the Russian teams of Oleg Evdokimenko, Igor Rytov and Vladimir Prosikhin will look to enjoy their first regatta in beautiful Miami. Rounding out the international competition is longtime Melges sailor Edoardo Pavesio from Italy and Bo Boje Pedersen from Denmark.

Racing begins on Friday, December 9th and with a forecast featuring stiff northerly breezes, the Melges 20 fleet will get a hearty welcome from its home waters on Biscayne Bay.

Standing Tall

The 2016 World Series Ranking also draws to a close in Miami with Daniel Thielman's Kuai, Joyce, Rob Wilber Cinghiale and Freides all in contention for potential high honors on the intercontinental stage. View 2016 North American World Series Standings here. Check out the big picture for 2016 and to view the Overall World Series Ranking click here.

Marchin' to the worlds

As the first North American stop, the December Winter Series event will serve as the first event in a long ramp up to the 2017 Worlds in Newport, Rhode Island. Sanctioned events in North America include:
• Miami Winter Series Event #2 - Febraury 3-5, 2017
• Miami Winter Series Event #3 - March 3-5, 2017
• Melges USA Training Regatta - Newport, RI - May 5-7, 2017 (non-sanctioned)
• Sail Newport Regatta - Newport, RI - July 7-9, 2017
• US Nationals - Newport, RI - August 17-19, 2017
• World Championship - Newport, RI - October 2-7, 2017

2016/2017 International Melges 20 Miami Winter Series :: Event 1 - Current Entries
 

	Sail Number	Yacht Name	Owner's Name	Home Port	Yacht Type	Length
1.		USA 238	AFFORDABLE MISTRESS	Brian Henke	Naples, FL, USA	Melges 20	20
2.		USA 290	BLIND SQUIRREL	John Brown	Philadelphia, PA, USA	Melges 20	20
3.		USA 414	CINGHIALE	Rob Wilber	Branford, CT, USA	Melges 20	20
4.		ISV 1315	CRUZAN RHODE	Timothy Pitts	Newport, RI, ISV	Melges 20	20
5.		USA 008	FRA MARTINA	Edoardo Pavesio	Torino, ITA	Melges 20	20
6.		CAN 214	GRINNING STREAK	Rhonda Joyce	Toronto, Ont, CAN	Melges 20	20
7.		USA 7676	KUAI	Daniel Thielman	San Francisco, CA, USA	Melges 20	20
8.		USA 280	MERGA	Drew Wierda	Holland, MI, USA	Melges 20	20
9.		USA 226	MIDLIFE CRISIS	Jay Golison	Long Beach, CA, USA	Melges 20	20
10.		USA 228	MIDNIGHT BLUE	Jason Michas	Long Island City, NY, USA	Melges 20	20
11.		RUS 261	NIKA	Vladimir Prosikhin	Monaco, MON	Melges 20	20
12.		USA 250	OLEANDER	James Wilson	Rye, NY, USA	Melges 20	20
13.		USA 300	PACIFIC YANKEE	Drew Freides	Pacific Palisades, CA, USA	Melges 20	20
14.		USA 14	RED SKY SAILING TEAM	Paul Reilly	Chicago, IL, USA	Melges 20	20
15.		RUS 296	RUSSIAN BOGATYRS	Igor Rytov	Moscow, RUS	Melges 20	20
16.		USA 306	TALISMAN	John Bailey	Rowayton, CT, USA	Melges 20	20
17.		DEN 150	UPUPUP	Bo Boje Pedersen	Copenhagen, DEN	Melges 20	20