Melges 24 World Championship 2026 at Little Traverse Yacht Club - Day 3
by International Melges 24 Class Association 24 Sep 22:19 PDT
19-26 September 2026
Racing on Day 3 of the Melges 24 World Championship 2026 © IM24CA / Zerogradinord
A foggy morning gave way to another full day of close racing on Little Traverse Bay, with three races and plenty of movement in the standings at the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship.
After nine races, Anthony Kotoun's Wah Gwan (USA 865) has built a 20-point lead at the top of the 49-boat fleet. Duane Yoslov's Looper (USA 855) is the new Corinthian leader after a strong day that included a fifth-place finish overall in Race 8.
The Worlds are hosted by Little Traverse Yacht Club (LTYC) in conjunction with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) and the US Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA).
An early start pays off
With the breeze expected to fade during the afternoon, Principal Race Officer Mark Foster moved the first warning signal forward to 10:30 a.m. The fleet left the dock in thick fog, but visibility improved in time for racing to begin as scheduled. The breeze remained around 9 to 10 knots before softening later in the day.
"We expected the wind to fade, but it stayed with us and we completed all three races," Foster said. "It was a good day on the water, and the fleet was back at the dock at around 3:30."
Scott Nixon, Quantum Sails One Design Director and a crew member aboard Takeoff (USA 801), praised the decision. "Mark Foster made a big call by starting us an hour earlier, and it was absolutely the right one," Nixon said. "We left the dock in thick fog, but it cleared quickly and we completed three good races."
Three races, three winners
Kotoun and Wah Gwan opened the day by winning Race 7, their third consecutive bullet. Scores of 1-3-2 increased their lead to 20 points. Bora Gulari's Mavi (USA 874) won Race 8 after taking the lead on the second upwind leg.
"The breeze was lighter and shiftier than on the previous days," crew member of Mavi, Kyle Navin, said. "We made a nice pass on the right side, moved into the lead and went on to win. We were really pleased with our improvements in the lighter air."
Navin's connection to the Melges 24 goes well beyond this week's racing. "The Melges 24 is probably my favorite boat," he said. "It comes from my hometown, and I grew up sailing it. I think it may have been the first boat I ever sailed, so I always enjoy getting back out and racing one."
Race 9 belonged to Sandy Askew's Flying Jenny (USA 869), which improved through the day with scores of 20-9-1. "The lighter conditions suited us better, and our results improved as the breeze softened," crew member Robert Greenhalgh said. "It was super shifty, super tricky and an incredibly tough fleet. There's nowhere to hide."
Thursday's Corinthian wins went to Eddie Gary's Troublemaker / Gill Race Team (USA 811), Yoslov's Looper and Miles Quinton's Zhik Race Team (GBR 777) with Geoff Carveth helming, respectively.
Protest decision reshuffles the standings
After a post-race protest hearing, Peter Duncan's Shiitake (USA 864) was disqualified from Race 9. With the 50-point DSQ discarded, the team dropped from second to fourth overall with 45 points. Peter McClennen's Gamecock (USA 871) moved into second with 39 points, followed by Michael Goldfarb's WarCanoe (USA 876) with Nick Rogers helming, in third with 43. Race 8 winner Mavi is fifth with 53 points.
Looper takes the Corinthian lead
Looper moved to the top of the Corinthian standings after posting 17-5-15. The team sits 13th overall with 108 net points and holds an 18-point Corinthian lead. "It was a great day on the water," Duane Yoslov said. "The team really came together and executed everything well. It wasn't down to one person. It was all five of us working together and making the boat go fast."
Yoslov pointed to cleaner sailing and sharper decisions as the keys to the team's improvement. "Compared with yesterday, we executed better, made better decisions, sailed clean and stayed out of the fray," he said. "Going forward, the goal is simple: stay focused and keep doing more of the same."
Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians (GBR 691) and Troublemaker / Gill Race Team are tied on 126 points, with Team Barbarians holding second place on the tie-break. Zhik Race Team is fourth with 137 points, while Tomas Mathisen's Team Bagdad Prospects Helly Hansen (NOR 866) completes the Corinthian top five with 140.
Support ashore and the outlook ahead
Quantum Sails, a sponsor of the World Championship and the event's overnight sail-repair provider, continues to support teams between race days. "After the stronger conditions, there were spinnaker tears and other repairs to take care of," Nixon said. "Our team was able to get those sails repaired and ready for the next day."
Travis Odenbach, owner and helm of Big Cat (USA 806), is competing in only his second Melges 24 regatta. "The fleet is incredibly deep, and the boat is fantastic," Odenbach said. "I can see myself sailing in this class for a very long time."
After Thursday's racing, competitors gathered for a crew party and barbecue at Little Traverse Yacht Club. The decision on Friday's starting time will be made after the morning Quantum Sails Weather Briefing. The breeze is expected to build during the afternoon, and the race committee hopes to complete two races.
"The forecast for Saturday has also improved, and it looks as though we may be able to hold the final race that day," Foster said.
Racing can be followed through Vakaros Live Tracking.
The Melges 24 World Championship is supported by Great Lakes Sports Commission,Gill Marine, Arntson Marine, Running Water, Quantum Sails, Irish Boat Shop, City of Harbor Springs, Nub's Nob, Lulu's Cottage, Graceful Pathway, Fabiano Brothers, Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, Little Traverse Yacht Club Corinthian Foundation and Melges Performance Sailboats.