June 7th, 2016 - Hyères, France - In three months time the International Melges 24 fleet will gather in Hyeres, France, to prepare for its 2016 European Championship and lining up to support the event as title sponsor is sailing clothing and marine fashion specialist Marinepool.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Marinepool is one of the top producers of sailing clothing, deck shoes, maritime fashion and accessories world wide with more than 2,000 retail partners and outlets in 43 countries and is the biggest producer of life jackets for the leisure market in Europe. Winner of the Global Sport Style Award, Marinepool is the official clothing partner of prestigious events and event series in sailing and power boat racing, worldwide yacht clubs and organizations engaged in water sports. To name only a few events sponsored by Marinepool, there are Travemuende Sailing Week, Regates Royales de Cannes, Nord Stream Invitational Race, Extreme Sailing Series 2016, German and Austrian National Sailing Leagues etc. Some of the World's top sailing teams are wearing Marinepool including Swiss Alinghi D35 and GC32; Spindrift Racing D35, GC32 and M32 catamarans, Diam 24 trimaran and multihull Spindrift2; Sailing Team Germany, French and Austrian Sailing Federations and many more.

"Marinepool is pleased to become the Official Clothing Supplier of the European Melges 24 Championship in Hyères. Marinepool will support a Melges 24 international event for the third time as the German brand was already partner of the World Championship 2010 in Tallinn, Estonia and then in Torbole, Italy in 2012. The Melges 24 Class is an ideal partner for Marinepool. It is one of the most competitive classes in the world, great fun to watch and sail, tough on the athletes and the equipment and a class where the level of competition is so high that meticulous preparation and top gear can make all the difference. No wonder so many teams in the class are using Marinepool sailing gear", explains Oli Deligans, Sales Director France.

The Chairman of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), Jens Wathne is delighted to see the partnership with Marinepool: "Really fantastic news that Marinepool will be already for the third time the title sponsor of the Melges 24 championship! I honestly believe that Melges 24 sailors' profile is commercially very attractive for the sponsorship. IM24CA is greatful to see such commitment and support from Marinepool!"

The organizers and the volunteers of the event will be supplied with Marinepool clothing. Some of its event highlight products will be offered for sale on the official online store as well as through Marinepool´s local retailer Voiles Russo - Uship Hyères.

More than 70 teams from at least 16 nations are expected to compete in the 2016 Melges 24 European Championship, to be hosted by the Cercle d'Organisation du Yachting de Compétition Hyérois (COYCH), in co-operation with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) and the French Melges 24 Class from 2 to 9 September.

Registration for the 2016 Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship will open on Friday 2 September, there will be tune up racing on Sunday 4 and European Championship racing will take run from Monday 5 to Friday 9 with 12 races scheduled. The event will also feature a social programme including a Sailors' Dinner and a good party on Wednesday evening!

Notice of Race, Online Entry, logistical information and all the latest updates are available from the 2016 Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship Event Website and via the Facebook Event.

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An Introduction To The Competitors

The entry list of the upcoming Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship is now after the Early Bird Entry Deadline on June 3 composed by 62 crews of which 40 are Corinthians (professionals not allowed in team) and 22 professional teams.

Among the front runners there are reigning World Champion Christopher Rast on EFG; Italian Andrea Racchelli's Altea, runner up of the last Melges 24 World Championship; 2014 European Champion Matteo Ivaldi helming Angelo Di Terlizzi's Marrakech Express from Italy; Estonian Tõnu Tõniste's Lenny, reigning Corinthian Melges 24 World and European Champion; Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team from Great Britain with Geoff Carveth at the helm, winner of the 2015 Melges 24 European Sailing Series and the fifth at the 2015 Worlds; three strong and competitive Norwegian entries Storm Capital Sail Racing, owned by Oyvind Jahre - third Corinthian at the Worlds 2015, Blow-Slam Racing, owned by Peder Nergaard and Kristoffer Spone's Baghdad; 2013 European second, Czech Martin Trcka calling tactics for German team Kleine Rainbow; and 2013 Corinthian European Champion, Eelco Blok's Team Kesbeke/SIKA/Gill with Ronald Veraar helming.  
It's great to see on the list the young team Arkanoè Aleali by Montura from Italy skippered by Sergio Caramèl winning the Corinthian title at the ORC Sportboat Europeans a week ago. See the current entry list.

All teams planning to enter and want to take advantage of the next discount deadline need to take action and make their entry at the event website. Competitors who have already made their entry but not yet paid their entry fee are reminded that they need to make their payments before 1st July to avoid paying the 50% late entry fee.

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Members of the press who would like to receive further information about the 2016 Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship or who wish to attend the event should contact IM24CA Administrator & Media Coordinator Piret Salmistu on e-mail, Skype piret.salmistu or tel +372 507 7217.

For further information about Marinepool please contact Oli Deligans by e-mail Oli.Deligans@marinepool.de.

2016 Melges 24 Europeans will be supported and sponsored by Marinepool, Ville de Hyères, PACA, Département du Var, Toulon Provence Méditerranée, FFVoile, Eurovoiles, LIROS; the organizers and co-operation partners are COYCH, International Melges 24 Class Association, French Melges 24 Class and World Sailing.

Event dates: 
Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th September: Measurement and registration  
Sunday 4th September: Practice Race and the Opening Ceremony  
Monday 5th to Friday 9th September: 2016 Melges 24 European Championship  
Event website: melges24.com/europeans2016 
Event in Facebook 

IM24CA website 
COYCH website

For further information on the 2016 Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship, please contact: 
Piret Salmistu  
IM24CA Administrator & Media Coordinator  
+372 507 7217  
piret@melges24.com

Régis Bérenguier 
Regatta Coordinator 
COYCH 
+33 494 386 167 
contact@coych.org or regis.berenguier@gmail.com

Bastien Bérenguier 
Press Officer 
COYCH  
+33 (0) 6 5246 6640  
bastien.berenguier@gmail.com