Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments BFD 2024 Leaderboard

Melges 24s lake-bound for state title

by Lisa Ratcliff 2 Feb 2021 22:43 PST 6-8 February 2021
Nixon family on Accru - Melges 24 NSW Championships © Ally Graham

Three-time Australian Melges 24 champion Chris Links is putting the finishing touches on a revamped boat and oiling his joints as he prepares to return to the tough one design class after a lengthy break.

The NSW Melges 24 fleet will join the Adams 10s on New South Wales' Lake Macquarie this coming weekend, February 6-9, and the two classes will share space and on-water race management for their respective three-day titles.

Nationals for both classes were scheduled this weekend but travel restrictions for interstate competitors put a halt to the Melges 24 2021 Australian Championship. Instead, they'll run their NSW Championship only, off Lake Macquarie Yacht Club on the lake's eastern shore, and a national title later in the year.

New co-owners Heath Walters and Chris Links will join the Melges 24s with a rebuilt boat. What was Dan O'Connell's Kowabunga, dismasted during a wild day at the 2020 class nationals in Adelaide, is now Sydney boat Banta, and this weekend will mark its racing debut under the pairing of seasoned Melges 24 sailors.

"The hull was originally Kevin Nixon's bought in the US then Dan took it to South Australia. We bought it off the insurance company and we've done a major repair on the rig. It's quite a good boat," said Links, who has been flat-out with work and is happy to set expectations on the lower side. "I haven't sailed these boats since the nationals in Melbourne about three years ago; I'm going to be very rusty, but we'll dig up a crew and we'll be there!"

Many gearing up for this weekend's series are keen for some competitive one design sailing after the Rolex Sydney Hobart was cancelled late last year. "It's been hard to do any sailing with Covid," Links said. "Most classes cancelled their nationals, so to do a series in the Melges 24 is brilliant."

Long-time class member and worthy competitor both nationally and internationally, Kevin Nixon, will be on the start line for the six-race series with Accru and a mostly family team.

"While the Melges 24 is seen as a Grand Prix boat around the world, it attracts family teams," Nixon said. "This regatta may be small in numbers, but most teams will have some family connection. Heath Walters has always sailed with some or all of his four boys. Stalwart families the Kendalls and Nixons have been sailing together in the class for nearly a decade and family members Steve O'Rourke and Burke Melia have a boat each and race against each other at Cronulla Sailing Club."

On sharing Lake Macquarie Yacht Club's race management resources with the Adams 10s Nixon adds, "Running two one design classes at the same time is rare in Australia but popular overseas, especially in the USA at Charleston Race Week and in Miami. It creates a festival atmosphere. It's not done to promote one class over the other, just enjoy sailing your own boat against your class competitors then get-together and mingle as a larger group back at the club."

LMYC race officer Ross Aherns will oversee the on-water schedule for both fleets on a shared race course with separate starts. Up to 15 Adams 10s will vie for their national championship over three days, February 6-9, with results available daily via LMYC lmyc.com.au. Defending national champion Tom Braidwood and his Adams 10 Backchat is one of the hot prospects.

The Melges 24s will also race Saturday to Monday. For their daily results go to www.topyacht.com.au/db/kb/1351

Related Articles

Multiple 2025 Melges 24 ranking circuits heat up
Collectively more than 100 team entries have hit the starting line in pursuit of glory With summer in full swing, the 2025 Melges 24 racing season has hit its stride across North America, and the momentum is building. Posted on 23 Jun
Melges 24 US Nationals open for entries
Online Registration is officially open for Pensacola event in November The U.S. Melges 24 Class is thrilled to announce that Online Registration is officially open for the 2025 U.S. National Championship, hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) on November 14-16, 2025. Posted on 18 Jun
Melges 24 European Sailing Series rankings update
48 teams from 11 nations have already contributed to a dynamic and diverse leaderboard The 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series is well under way, with three competitive events completed and the season heating up ahead of the World Championship in Trieste. Posted on 10 Jun
Melges 24 European Sailing Series event 3 overall
Dark Energy takes the win in Riva as Melgina claims the Italian title The final day of a thrilling regatta in Riva del Garda delivered everything the Melges 24 Class is known for: tight racing, changing leads, and a nail-biting finish. Posted on 25 May
Melges 24 European Sailing Series event 3 day 2
With the Ora fading, Dark Energy steps on the gas in Riva Even with the famed Ora breeze softening slightly, Day 2 of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series third event at Fraglia Vela Riva kept the momentum going. Posted on 24 May
Melges 24 European Sailing Series event 3 day 1
After a spectacular day of racing, Melgina leads the ranking in Riva At the end of three high-intensity races, the early lead belongs to Paolo Brescia's Melgina (ITA854), whose consistent scores of 1-2-6 place them at the top of the provisional standings. Posted on 24 May
Melges 24 European Sailing Series event 3 preview
27 teams heading to Riva del Garda Are you ready for some Melges 24 action? A total of 27 boats, representing top teams from across Europe and the United States, are heading to Riva del Garda for the third event of the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Posted on 21 May
Melges 24s launch 2025 Great Lakes Season
Muskegon YC promises first-class race management, scenic shoreside amenities, top-notch hospitality The 2025 Quantum Sails Melges 24 Great Lakes Cup Series kicks off in full force on May 17-18 with the highly anticipated Muskegon Spring Championship, hosted by Muskegon Yacht Club. Posted on 12 May
Melges 24s at Trogir overall
Champions crowned in Trogir: Razjaren and Panjic take top honors The curtain came down on a thrilling weekend of Melges 24 racing in Trogir as Ante Cesic's Razjaren claimed victory at the second event of the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series and was officially crowned the Melges 24 Croatian Champion 2025. Posted on 5 May
Melges 24s at Trogir day 2
Light winds limits the day to one race The second day of racing at the 2025 Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Trogir — also the final and decisive act of the 2025 Luki Baustoffe CRO Melges 24 Cup — turned into a waiting game as the fleet faced calm conditions for most of the day. Posted on 3 May
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsAllen Dynamic 40 FooterC-Tech 2020 Battens 2 728x90 BOTTOM