Melges 24 North American Championship - Overall
by International Melges 24 Class Association 26 Jan 08:57 PST
January 23-25, 2026
The 2025 Melges 24 North American Championship concluded Sunday with three races sailed under beautiful conditions on Biscayne Bay. Sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a steady 8-10 knots of breeze (a little lighter than forecasted), the stage was set for an exciting final day, expertly delivered by PRO Carol Ewing and her race management team.
Two defining storylines emerged on the last day of racing. Christian Schwoerer at the helm of Nika, took command in the opening race of the day, showcasing consistency throughout the regatta to secure a fourth-place finish overall. However, the big headline belongs to Harry Melges IV at the helm of Zenda Express, who captured his first major intercontinental Melges 24 title to become the 2025 North American Champion, marking a historic milestone for the class. With his victory, Melges IV joins his father, Harry Melges III, who won the prestigious North American Champion title in 2002, making them the first father-and-son duo in Class history to each hold the North American Championship title.
"It was a fantastic weekend in Miami with really tight racing right to the final race," said Melges. "The fleet is incredibly competitive right now, and winning in conditions like that with this team makes it even more special. It's a new lineup, but everyone sailed exceptionally well together-Allan Terhune, who, along with Cate Muller-Terhune, is now a new owner of Melges Performance Sailboats, as well as Will Huerth, Colleen O'Brien, and Ripley Shelley, were outstanding. The energy in the Melges 24 class is high as we keep building toward the Worlds later this year."
Entering Sunday with a singular objective, Melges and his crew delivered when it mattered most. After posting a sixth-place finish in the first race of the day, the team closed the championship in dominant fashion with back-to-back wins in races eight and nine to seal the deal. Drew Freides racing Pacific Yankee, finished second overall, while overnight leader Bora Gulari at the helm of Mavi rebounded from a challenging race seven, posted a 10-6-2 scoreline to secure third place. Former U.S. National Champion Geoff Fargo, at the helm of Sentinel, rounded out the top five.
The Melges 24 Class extends its sincere thanks to BACARDÍ, and in particular Event Director Sara Zanobini, for exceptional event organization and continued support, as well as to PRO Carol Ewing and the entire race management team for delivering outstanding racing throughout the weekend. The Class is also grateful to Sail 22 for providing invaluable time on the water, and most especially to all competitors for their commitment, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm.
Beyond championship honors, the event also marked the conclusion of the 2025 Melges 24 North American Sailing Series. Peter McClennen, racing Gamecock, clinched the overall series title for the very first time. His eighth-place finish at the North American Championship proved just enough to edge out Fargo by two points after ten qualifying events. Steve Boho's The 300 rounded out the podium in third.
In the Corinthian standings, Scot Zimmerman's Bad Idea secured the 2025 Corinthian North American Sailing Series title. Kevin Shockey's Wombmates Racing finished in second, and Tom Vigrass's Tomfoolery clinched third, completing a hard-fought season-long battle within the Corinthian Melges 24 North American fleet.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Melges 24 North American Sailing Series will kick off in just a few weeks at the Sailing World Regatta Series in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving as the Melges 24 Midwinter Championship, where nearly 20 boats are already registered. It will be no surprise to see the fleet grow to as many as 25, and it will set the stage for one of the most competitive and Corinthian-focused events of the season.
The road to Harbor Springs' Melges 24 World Championship has started!
The 2025 Melges 24 North American Championship was held in conjunction with Bacardi Winter Series Event No. 1, organized by the Bacardi Regattas in co-operation with the International Melges 24 Class and US Melges 24 Class Associations.