2023 Melges 24 U.S. Nationals Gets The Party Started, October 6-8

Thirty teams will go head-to-head on Geneva Lake, Wisconsin for the 2023 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, hosted by the Lake Geneva Yacht Club (LGYC), happens this weekend — October 6th-8th.

It’s time to get the 30th Anniversary Regatta party started! The 2023 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, hosted by none other than the Lake Geneva Yacht Club (LGYC), happens this weekend — October 6th-8th. As we speak, 29 of the best Melges 24 teams from all across America and Canada are converging on the sacred waters of Geneva Lake where it sailed for the very first time back in 1993.

Since that first splash, milestones have been reached and surpassed, many champions have been crowned around the globe. To this very day, the Melges 24 remains the benchmark by which all sportboats are measured, holding the most intensely fought racing championships ever. The 2023 Nationals will answer that call, and deliver once again at the home of the Melges 24.

2023 U.S. Melges 24 National Championship competitors will be sporting 30th-Anniversary boom stickers to commemorate racing the Melges 24. Cheers to 30 more years!

“This year we have been celebrating the 30th anniversary of the best sportboat—the Melges 24,” says U.S. Melges 24 Class President and owner of Decorum, Megan Ratliff. “The Melges 24 has been attracting the best sailors to the racecourse for the past 3 decades, and it's only fitting to host the National Championship on Lake Geneva, where it all began— you can’t get much better than that!”

The line-up of competitors is stellar. Defending, nine-time National Champ Brian Porter on Full Throttle, two-time National Champ Bora Gulari on Knocky Knocky, Cyler Morris’ Dark Horse, Chelsea Simms’ Straightarrow, Eddie Cox on Zenda Express and 2023 North American Champion Richard Reid sailing Zingara indicate that a showdown is imminent.

The 2023 National Championship will decide the winner of the Quantum Sails Great Lakes Cup Series.

Of the 30 teams that have registered, half the fleet have successfully qualified to race in the popular all-amateur division.

Among the Corinthians, Mike Dow racing Flying Toaster, Brent McKenzie’s Ex-Kahn, Fred Rozelle’s Rustler, John Shockey’s Wombmates Racing and LGYC Commodore Chuck Lamphere’s Entente are perceived frontrunners. Their strongest competition will come from North of the border — Canada’s Dan Berezin at the helm of Surprise. Berezin’s Melges 24 team has been racing together for years, but recently have found a groove with an upward swing. Currently, Berezin’s team is simultaneously leading the 2023 U.S. National Ranking Series as well as the Quantum Great Lakes Cup Series.

“We are looking forward to racing this weekend,” said Berezin.“Considering the level of competition, we are hoping for a top 10 finish. As always, we go out and try to do our best. Experience really matters, and we have gained some momentum recently. Hopefully that shows up in the results.”

QUANTUM SAILS TO HOST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE & DAILY WEATHER BRIEFINGS
2023 U.S. Melges 24 National Championship sponsor Quantum Sails will be hosting daily weather briefings on Zoom. Each day, Shea Gibson from Sailflow Weather will lead interactive forecasts. He will be joined by Andy Burdick from Melges, with Scott Nixon and Dave Gerber from Quantum Sails for local knowledge and expert tips. It’s a great opportunity for teams to ask questions and prepare for the day! Register Now.

The ‘23 Nationals is the final stage of the Quantum Great Lakes Cup, and number 9 of 11 sanctioned events on the National Ranking Series. Two events remain: the highly popular Bushwhacker Cup hosted by the Pensacola Yacht Club, which will also serve as the combined Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast Championships, followed by the Bacardi Winter Series Event No. 1 in December.

Visit the Official Melges 24 National Championship Yachtscoring Website
View the Entry List (Open / Corinthian)

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

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ABOUT THE MELGES 24
The Melges 24 is best known for its competitive disposition, yet fun and easy-to-sail personality. Since its inception, it remains the leader in high-performance, one design sailing. Melges Performance Sailboats joined forces with Reichel/Pugh to deliver the ground-breaking Melges 24 in 1993. They pioneered the next frontier of competitive yacht racing by integrating high-tech materials and concepts used in the America’s Cup into a sportboat that was fun, affordable, easy to rig, set-up and tow. Named Boat of the Year in 1994 by Sailing World Magazine, it raised the bar and set the standard in the performance keelboat category. For delivery and purchasing a new Melges 24, visit melges.com.

ABOUT QUANTUM SAILS
At Quantum, we’re connected to sailors everywhere through our love of sailing and our belief that facing every challenge head-on is infinitely rewarding. As a company and as individuals, we embrace every single challenge you bring our way as our own. Since 1996, we have focused on providing the best-performing products in sailing. Today, we’re equally relentless about delivering a higher standard of service, customer care, education, support and mentorship. It’s how we’ll continue to help sailors at all levels pursue their passions and achieve their aspirations. Our commitment starts with our dedicated employees at more than 80 sail lofts around the world and includes hundreds more working behind the scenes to design, build and service Quantum® sails, quantumsails.com

ABOUT THE U.S. MELGES 24 NATIONAL RANKING SERIES
Organized and managed by the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA), the National Ranking Series (USM24NRS) features a total of eleven high-profile, world-class events happening across the U.S. Specifically, the Series is designed to promote participation across all six districts that make up the U.S. Melges 24 Class. To learn more about the USM24NRS, visit the Official U.S. Melges 24 National Ranking Series Website for a full list of events, results and news. The USM24CA is a recognized national class authority of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), melges24.com.

For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or specific information about the U.S. Melges 24 Class or the 2023 Nationals, please contact:

Joy Dunigan
U.S. Melges 24 Class Association Press Officer
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776