FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Traverse City, MI - In late August the kids go back to school and the leaves start to change color on the trees. Most sailors in the midwest are enjoying the warm weather and light summer breezes that make sailing here so enjoyable. If you live and sail in Michigan, you know just how beautiful it is “up north”. If you don’t, you need to get up there and see it.

Grand Traverse Yacht Club is a popular place for sailing in the midwest. The town of Traverse City is a great place to bring the family and enjoy both the indoors and the outdoors. The city is home to great restaurants, parks, and beaches.

Every year Melges 24’s from all over the region descend on Grand Traverse bay for the annual Melges 24 Invitational Regatta. This year it is set to kick off August 20th. The local sailors roll out the red carpet at their beautiful new yacht club facility. Long time Melges 24 class member Mike Dow, race chairman Bob Clark, and the local Fleet #25 members work hard to put together a great sailing and social regatta.

Sailing conditions usually include flat, crystal clear water, warm weather, and moderate winds. Think of it as large inland lake sailing, with those that can master the puffs and shifts coming over the treelines usually coming out on top. The local fleet in the area has been growing, and they are excited to test their skills against the best in the region and the country.

As a bonus, for those looking for a bit more sailing, Liz Zimmerman of USA 34 Bad Idea, has invited the class to participate in an additional regatta the weekend before. Now you can get in 5 days of Melges 24 one design racing in 7 days.

Connecting the club’s biggest event with the heart of the Northern Michigan Summer is the 2016 Annual Hound Dog Regatta on August 13-16, where racers will challenge for the Freshwater Cup in multiple PHRF and one design classes. Melges 24’s are encouraged to sign up and bring their boats up for the Hound Dog, sail the Wednesday Night fun race, and then cap off their week long stay in Traverse City with the Invitational Regatta.

The 2016 Melges 24 Invitational Regatta at Grand Traverse Yacht Club is also a point scoring event for the 2016 Melges 24 Midwest Championship Series. The series awards points for best overall boats, best boats under #200, and best new sailors in the class.

Current standing for the overall award have Hoodlum Racing in first, followed by Gnarly Ruca, Surprise, High Voltage, and Decorum. With many of these corinthian boats on the registration list for the Invitational, it is sure to be some tight and exciting racing on Grand Traverse Bay as they prepare for US Nationals in Lake Geneva and the World Championships in Miami later this year.

Midwest Series Overall Standings
NOR and Registration Link

Race Chairmen:
Mike Dow – 231.663.0289
Bob Clark – 231.218.4500