2016 MELGES 24 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR UPDATE — WELCH LEADS RANKING WITH ONE EVENT TO GO
By Brian Hutchinson - With sunny skies, fresh breeze and explosive Fall colors Lake Geneva served up a wide range of vintage lake sailing conditions for Stage 2 of the 2016 Melges 24 North American Tour - the 2016 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship.
Bora Gulari & USA-820 West Marine Rigging - photo Michele Almeida / MISTE Photography
Although all tried to "sail like Buddy" in his backyard, it was Rio Olympian and Moth World Champion Bora Gulari and his team of dingy sailors on USA-820 West Marine Rigging who did the best Buddy impersonation. Bora thanked former World and U.S. Champion Brian Porter for hosting his team and congratulated the Melges 24 fleet for the strong resurgence on the worldwide sailing scene.
Conor Clark's Embarr IRL-829 - photo Petey Crawford
Connor Clark's Embarr with Rio Olympians and World Champion 470 sailors David Hughes and Stu McNay were in position to win the championship at the first weather mark of the last race, but things changed on the following leg (as would often happen on Lake Geneva).
Tom Freytag's USA-603 Wicked Feet with his son and four other Lake Geneva teenagers made the boat come alive to be the top Corinthian team and place 6th overall. Glenda and Kevin Nixon’s Australian family team AUS-812 ACCRU sailed like locals to place second in the Corinthian division and 7th overall.
Many thanks to those who contributed to the silent auction which generated thousands of dollars to a great a worthy cause — Doctors Without Borders. These generous donors helped create a fun, not so "silent", auction and gala dinner: Melges Performance Sailboats, Buddy Melges, Line Honors, Bluesmiths, Hutchinson Sports, Yen Yoga & Fitness, Gordy's Boathouse, and Atlantic Rigging.
The final act of the Melges 24 North American Tour is Stage 3 — the Melges 24 World Championship in Miami on November 26 - December 3. Over 100 boats will be on the line for sensational ocean sailing off Miami Beach.
Stage 1 : Canadian National Championship Results
Stage 2 : U.S. National Championship Results
Stage 3 : 2016 Melges 24 World Championship