2022 U.S. Melges 24 Nationals Trophy Goes Up for Grabs in Pensacola

Defending Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Brian Porter sailing Full Throttle has held the title eight times over the course of the Class's lengthy history.

(Pensacola, FL - USA - November 8, 2022) - This week, the U.S. Class will crown its 29th Melges 24 U.S. National Champion. In the lead up, we are all left to wonder which one of the 34 registered teams will capture the next title and trophy. The 2022 Nationals entry list is loaded with rock solid talent. From the industry’s freshest, hottest young sailors, Class veterans and stalwarts to some of the most competitive all-amateur teams, the 2022 National Championship will definitely go down in history as one of the hardest fought.

Atop the list of runners and riders in the open division is eight-time, defending champion Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle. Porter acquired the record-breaking achievement last year in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

After recently being crowned 2022 Canadian National Champion, Richard Reid on Zingara will be looking to score big again in Pensacola.

2002 Melges 24 World Champion and a former U.S. National Champ, Harry Melges III will helm a very competitive Zenda Express.

Victor Diaz de Leon will helm 2022 World Champion Peter Duncan's Raza Mixta.

Corinthian competition will be at fever pitch this coming weekend with a string of champion all-amateur teams in contention for the title. Among them is 2019 Corinthian Champ Steve Suddath racing 3 1/2 Men.

Of the 34 teams registered, 15 filed declaration forms to compete in the Corinthian division. Like the overalls, the all-amatuer division is super competitive and hotly contested. The Nationals tend to bring out the best-of-the-best Corinthians.

According to Corinthian Scot Zimmerman — it's never a Bad Idea to go sailing, especially when you are sailing a Melges 24!

Stiff competition will be coming from 2022 Corinthian Canadian National Champ Dan Berezin on Surprise, Corinthian Bacardi Winter Series Champions Megan Ratliff with her brother Hunter skippering Decorum (2020/2021), and Geoff Fargo on Sentinel(2021/2022), Tony Stanley's Hermes and Brent McKenzie's Ex-Kahn are just a few of the top all-amateur teams officially on the watchlist this weekend.

The U.S. Melges 24 Class is also super excited to welcome our one and only international entry — Peter Karrie sailing Nefeli from Germany... Willkommen!

Crew weigh-in, registration and practice racing all take place on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by three days of championship racing starting Friday, November 11. Stay close to the Class’s website and social media channels for the latest updates.

2022 U.S. National Championship Scoring Website
Entry List

U.S. Melges 24 on Facebook
U.S. Melges 24 on Instagram
U.S. Melges 24 on YouTube