All set in Trieste for the Melges 24 World Championship
by International Melges 24 Class Association 22 Sep 2025 21:41 PDT
20-27 September 2025
The countdown is nearly over. In just a few hours, the Yacht Club Adriaco will oversee the start of one of the most eagerly awaited international sailing events of the season. The warning signal for the first of twelve scheduled races is set for today at 12:30 pm.
The first official happening of the championship took place on Sunday evening at the Castello di San Giusto, where YCA President Nicolò de Manzini and Laura Grondin, Chair of the International Melges 24 Class Association, officially declared the 2025 Melges 24 World Championship open, in the presence of Roberto Dipiazza, Mayor of Trieste, and other distinguished officials.
This edition has attracted a record 71-boat fleet from 16 nations to Friuli Venezia Giulia - the largest Melges 24 Worlds in the past decade. Among the most competitive are teams from the United States, Croatia, Germany, and Italy, with several others ready to play the role of dark horses.
"The 2025 Melges 24 World Championship is taking place in Trieste, the Italian capital of the Melges 24: what more could we ask? I can't wait to see this fleet hitting the starting line on the Gulf of Trieste," said Marcello Caldonazzo Arvedi, President of the Italian Melges 24 Class.
IM24CA Chair Laura Grondin thanked first all the sailors for joining the Worlds and Yacht Club Adriaco and the City of Trieste for hosting the Melges 24 international fleet, which includes hulls #139 to the newest one, #872, which was christened here in Trieste just a few days ago.
The American fleet, which has dominated the last three editions of the Worlds for this iconic one-design designed by Reichel/Pugh more than thirty years ago, is determined to continue its run of success. Teams to watch include Dark Energy, owned by Laura Grondin with Taylor Canfield (current US SailGP helmsman) as tactician; Dark Horse of Cuyler Morris, racing a new boat and supported by Manu Weiller and Charlie Smythe; Gamecock of Peter McClennen, guided by multiple world champion Jeremy Wilmot; and Sentinel of Geoff Fargo, the reigning US champion, aiming to improve on their third place at last year's Worlds in San Francisco.
The Italians, proud to race at home, are fielding several top contenders. Paolo Brescia's Melgina, fresh from winning the Millevele in Genoa and the Coppa Tito Nordio in Trieste (the Pre-Worlds regatta), is a favorite. Former European champions Strambapapà, with Olympians Michele Paoletti, Giovanna Micol, and Giulia Pignolo, will try to capitalize on local knowledge. Former world champions Altea, with long-time owner-driver Andrea Racchelli, are also ready to contend.
From Croatia, reigning European Champion and 2024 European Sailing Series winner Razjaren (Lukasz Podniesinski / Ante Cesic) arrives as a major threat, while Panjc of Luka Sangulin, with Tomislav Basic onboard, is another strong contender.
The German challenge is led by Nefeli, with Peter Karrié and Niccolò Bianchi, fresh from their 2025 Bacardi Cup win. Also on the starting line is Nika of Monaco's Vladimir Prosikhin, multiple RC44 World Champion, sailing with Nick Asher on tactics and Olympic bronze medalist Mikaela Wulff.
The Corinthian division is equally strong. The reigning Corinthian world champions, Mataran 24 (skippered by Ivo Matic, with Ante Botica at the helm, CRO), return, along with former world champions Taki IV (skippered by Giacomo Fossati, helmed by Niccolò Bertola, ITA). Other teams to watch include Chinook (Akos Csolto, HUN), White Room (Michael Tarabochia, helmed by Luis Tarabochia, GER), Zhik Race Team (Miles Quinton, helmed by Geoff Carveth, GBR) and SWE715 of Jonas Berntsson.
Four Under-25 teams are also competing among the Corinthians, battling for the new Zerogradinord Perpetual Trophy. Two come from Yacht Club Adriaco-YCA Young Team (Kim Magnani) and YCA Racing Youth (Carolina Bontempo). Another is from the Italian XIII FIV Zone, skippered by Tristan Gardossi. They race on Ale Ali (ITA 139), the boat that won the 2001 Worlds in La Rochelle with the late Giorgio Zuccoli. The fourth contender in this U-25 division is ITA636 Foxydry, with Leonardo Centuori helming.
Racing will be followed live: streaming coverage is planned on the social media channels of Yacht Club Adriaco and the International Melges 24 Class Association, with commentary by journalist Andrea Falcon and technical input from Mauro Melandri. Meta Sail live tracking will also be available.
We are using the Official App to make communication smooth and fast for everyone-sailors, teams, and fans. Sailors can access the Notice Board, receive instant RC & OA notifications, and submit protests or requests, while fans and followers can follow live results, news, and updates to stay close to the action wherever they are. Download the app.
The 2025 Melges 24 World Championship, organized by Yacht Club Adriaco in collaboration with the International Melges 24 Class Association and the Italian Melges 24 Class, is made possible thanks to the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Municipality of Trieste, Zaccanti, Richardson, Urban Hotel Design, Sirio Outfitting, Ocean Marine, Eataly, Gill, Cantina Produttori Cormons, Saiph, Impact Sportbusiness, and RAI.
How to follow the Melges 24 Worlds 2025 in Trieste: