Melges 24 World Championship 2025 at Yacht Club Adriaco - Day 1
by International Melges 24 Class Association 23 Sep 2025 10:41 PDT
20-27 September 2025
Good things are worth waiting for, and that was the adage at the opening day of the Melges 24 World Championship 2025, which ended without any races in the scoreline. The weather in Trieste proved too unstable, with storms in the morning followed by a complete lack of wind.
After three hours of waiting and two unsuccessful attempts to start, PRO Giancarlo Crevatin, assisted by International Melges 24 Class Association Event Coordinator David Bartol, was forced to abandon racing for the day.
So, nothing on the scoreboard yet at Yacht Club Adriaco, chosen by the International Melges 24 Class Association to organize this eagerly awaited World Championship, in collaboration with the Italian Melges 24 Class. Two factors combined to delay the show: the vagaries of the weather on one hand, and the eagerness of the fleet on the other. Seventy boats, impatient for the first-ever Melges 24 World Championship held on the Adriatic, pushed hard at the line. Until now, the highest-level honors awarded on these waters have been the European Championships in Portorož (2021) and Split (2024).
"With seventy boats on the starting line in such a dynamic class as the Melges 24, it's only natural to expect crowds in the prime starting spots. I'm convinced that using technologies like RaceSense we could have started a race today. Without that, the black flag becomes the only tool to manage such enthusiasm," commented Dave Ullman, 2007 Melges 24 World Champion and now coach of Geoff Fargo's Sentinel (USA).
"This is a particularly anticipated and emotional event, and it showed clearly during the two starting attempts, when crews' impatience forced two general recalls. I believe it's time for the Melges 24 Class to adopt technologies to assist in controlling starting procedures. Days like this are part of the game - the key is to maintain focus," said Manu Weiller, tactician on Dark Horse (USA), the 2024 edition of the Melges 24 owned by American Cuyler Morris.
Their comments come just a few weeks before the International Melges 24 Class Association's World Council is scheduled to vote on the introduction of start-line technology and equipment to help automate procedures. RaceSense is not being used at this event as it is not yet class legal; despite strong efforts, the required rule change could not be approved by World Sailing in time. The system is expected to be in use from 2026 onwards.
"It was a really tough day. When the breeze filled in, it was always tricky - both in direction and in intensity. That didn't stop us from fighting hard whenever we were called into the starting procedure. From this first skirmish, we could already sense how exciting this championship will be. Tomorrow may also bring challenges according to the forecasts, but I am confident the weather will eventually give us great racing conditions," said Mikaela Wulff of Finland, Olympic bronze medalist in London 2012, now racing aboard Vladimir Prosikhin's Nika (MON).
The 2025 Melges 24 World Championship will resume tomorrow, with the first warning signal scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
Racing can be followed live: streaming coverage is available 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.
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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: