Diversified Melges 24 Worlds female sailors
by International Melges 24 Class Association 14 Aug 2024 10:35 PDT
20-24 August 2024
On the occasion of the Diversified Melges 24 World Championship in San Francisco (18-24 August), the Melges 24 Class will feature notable, stalwart female participation: a tradition for this unstoppable one-design class for more than 30 years.
Starring in the lead role, at the helm, are four strong, determined women in the spotlight at Worlds.
At the event organized by the San Francisco Yacht Club, along with the International Melges 24 Class Association, these ladies will be equally divided among professionals and Corinthians crew.
Among the pro-teams, Chelsea Simms is ready to rock along with the Straightarrow crew, the boat she has owned along with her husband George 'Bear' Peet, since 2022. Chelsea has some great experience in the class, having started sailing with super competitive Bruce Ayres' Monsoon in 2018. She has some strong link with the International Melges 24 Class Association, for which she holds the role of Vice Chairman for the Americans in the Executive Committee.
Also Flying Jenny will count on a woman at the helm, Sandra Askew will rely on the very experienced crew, led by Volvo Ocean Race winner Robert Greenhalgh. Sandra can't wait for the first warning signal: "That is fantastic news regarding the four female helms. However, I like to be regarded as a sailor, and I don't think about my gender being a factor. I bought my first M24 in 2020. I love the boat because it's super responsive, and the fleet allows no mistake. Racing against the best sailors in the USA is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I believe the M24 Corinthian fleet is one of the best fleets in sailing currently, but in San Francisco, I will have a full pro international with two Brits and two Aussies, and I need as much help as I can," stated Sandra Askew.
Looking at the Corinthians, two teams to watch are Tinka and Committed.
Tinka will be helmed by Kathrin Wagner whose first Melges 24 sailing dates back to 8 years ago along with Manfred Schmiedl's Brio at Santa Barbara Yacht Club. Accustomed to sailing with an entirely female team, a challenge she has pursued since racing a Melges 24, at the Diversified Melges 24 World Championship will feature a half-and-half team due to the unavailability of two historic crew members.
The fourth woman at the helm, which is no less important for this reason, a bonafide Class stalwart, will be Sallie Lang on the aforementioned Committed. Sallie learned how to sail with her dad along the coast of Maine on a Cape Dory 14, a little catamaran: fundamental moments for the birth of her passion for sailing. "I think for me one of the best things about sailing growing up was learning independence and the ability to control a large machine all on my own".
Sallie has been helping since 2016, spending a lot of time to involve more women as skippers, and the reasons for loving the Melges 24 are a great endorsement for the class: "First, pure fun. We live in a big, windy area, and this boat is just so much fun planing in the big breeze. It is such a responsive boat. It's really like sailing a big dinghy. It's such a thrill. Secondly, the competition is fierce. You are constantly challenged. Thirdly, I feel like we are continually improving and learning. For me, I have never gotten bored with this boat. Frustrated, yes, but not bored. There is always more to learn".
The teams from Canada, Croatia, Germany, Italy, and the USA will gather in San Francisco to compete for the coveted Melges Performance Sailboats Trophy and the Challenge Henri Samuel Corinthian World Championship Trophy from August 17 to 24.