Diversified Melges 24 World Championship 2024 at San Francisco Yacht Club - Overall
by International Melges 24 Class Association 25 Aug 2024 19:25 NZST
17-24 August 2024
Congratulations to Don Wilson and his Convexity team for capturing the 2024 Diversified Melges 24 World Champions title. Alongside Wilson, tactician Jeremy Wilmot and crew members Ian Liberty, Edward Hackney, and Tomas Dietrich executed a brilliant campaign on San Francisco Bay, showcasing their skill and tenacity throughout the event.
In the esteemed Corinthian Division, a big congratulations goes to Ante Botica and his Mataran 24 team from Croatia, who secured their second consecutive Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion title. The winning crew included Ivo Matic, Mario Skrlj, Samir Civadelic, and Boris Bakotic.
Rounding out the World Championship podium, Bora Gulari secured second place with Kingspoke, while newly crowned U.S. National Champion Geoff Fargo helmed Sentinel to a strong third-place finish, capping off a thrilling week of racing.
High-Stakes Showdown on the Final Day
After four days of fiercely competitive racing on Berkeley Circle in San Francisco Bay, the fifth and final day promised a dramatic showdown between Convexity and Kingspoke. With only one point separating the two, the stakes were sky-high going into the final race.
Bora Gulari, known for thriving under pressure, came out blazing in Race 11, taking an early lead and securing the win. This victory placed him just one point behind Wilson, setting up a nail-biting finale. In the final race, while Gulari and Wilson engaged in a tense match race of their own, Geoff Fargo seized the opportunity, surging ahead to claim his second victory of the World Championship. Fargo's ecstatic Sentinel team crossed the finish line first in Race 12, followed by Andrew Picel's Takeoff in second and Sandra Askew's Flying Jenny in third.
Meanwhile, Gulari's Kingspoke team made a final, determined push to overtake Wilson on the last downwind leg. Although Gulari managed to edge ahead, it wasn't enough to close the crucial 1-point gap, and Wilson's Convexity ultimately secured the championship by the narrowest of margins, earning a place in the history books and an engraving on the prestigious Melges Performance Sailboats Trophy.
Peter Karrie's Nefeli took 4th place overall, demonstrating impressive consistency throughout the regatta. Just behind in 5th place was Brian Porter's Full Throttle, a veteran team with a remarkable history in the class, adding yet another top finish to their legacy.
Anthony Kotoun's Stepping Razor finished the regatta in an impressive 6th place overall, earning the Zarko Draganic Perpetual Trophy as the top-performing rookie owner.
Corinthian Division Standouts
In the Corinthian Division, Ante Botica's Mataran 24 clinched the title and The Challenge Henri Samuel Corinthian World Trophy with consistent top finishes throughout the event. Duane Yoslov's Looper and Kent Pierce's Average completed the Corinthian podium, finishing 15th and 16th overall, respectively.
Praise for the Organizers
"Hats off to The San Francisco Yacht Club, its Race Committee, and all the volunteers," said PRO Mark Foster. "We had excellent conditions for all 12 scheduled races, with only one U flag and a brief 10-minute postponement due to light winds. Everything ran like clockwork, and I couldn't be more proud of the entire team!"
The International Melges 24 Class, in conjunction with the U.S. Melges 24 Class, extends heartfelt thanks to The San Francisco Yacht Club—its staff, hospitable membership, Regatta Chair Matthew Sessions, and Forrest Gay, who ensured every detail was perfect for all competing teams.
A Festive Finish
The 2024 Diversified Melges 24 World Championship concluded with a festive sailors' dinner at SFYC, where the camaraderie of the Melges 24 class was on full display. Stalwart Brian Porter summed up the event's spirit: "Thank you all for being here. It has been a great event, a super challenge—twelve competitive races on SF Bay... you did it, and you were great, just like SFYC. Racing here has been fantastic—I'm even considering moving to Tiburon!"
Looking Ahead
The next event for the International Melges 24 Class is the 2024 European Championship in Split, Croatia, from September 27 to October 5. The next opportunity to battle for the World Championship titles will be in Trieste, Italy, in late August or early September 2025—dates to be confirmed soon.
2024 Diversified Melges 24 Worlds Overall Results: (top ten, 12 races, 1 discard)
1. USA 868 - Convexity - Don Wilson - 38 points
2. USA 820 - Kingspoke - Bora Gulari - 39 points
3. USA 856 - Sentinel - Geoff Fargo - 57 points
4. GER 859 - Nefeli - Peter Karrié - 67 points
5. USA 849 - Full Throttle - Brian Porter - 68 points
6. USA 619 - Stepping Razor - Anthony Kotoun - 69 points
7. USA 829 - Raza Mixta - Peter Duncan - 73 points
8. ITA 865 - Bombarda - Andrea Pozzi - 83 points
9. USA 830 - Straightarrow - Chelsea Simms - 89 points
10. USA 863 - Dark Horse - Cuyler Morris - 95 points
Corinthian Division Overall Results: (top three, 12 races, 1 discard)
1. CRO 649 - Mataran 24 - Ante Botica - 111 points
2. USA 855 - Looper - Duane Yoslov - 154 points
3. USA 549 - Average - Kent Pierce - 174 points
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