The U.S. Melges 24 Class is thrilled for the start of the 2023 Quantum Sails Great Lakes Cup, a four-part regatta series that officially gets underway on May 20-21. The 2023 Midwest One-Design Spring Championship is the first event of the Series, hosted by the Muskegon Yacht Club. In 2023, participation is big as almost 30 teams are registered to race the two-day event.

Series title sponsor Quantum Sails is thrilled to see the registration for the Midwest One Design Spring Championship in Muskegon is up to nearly 30 boats. As the first stop on the Quantum Melges 24 Great Lakes Cup, this regatta is always such a fun and exciting way to kick off the Midwest racing season. With potentially shifty and puffy conditions, Muskegon is a “heads-up” venue, often rewarding those with a strong lake sailing background.

“Definitely look to connect the dots and stay in good pressure, but don’t be afraid to pay attention to where the locals are on the racecourse,” says Quantum’s Katy Zimmerman. “And, be prepared for just about anything. I’ve sailed this regatta in fog, rain, snow, big breeze and light and shifty breeze. Several days out, the forecast looks pretty breeze-on, so make sure your rig is tuned appropriately.” 

Since 2020, Quantum Sails has served as title sponsor of the Great Lakes Cup Series. The U.S. Melges 24 Class is proud to have them as a strong partner in supporting this unique string of Midwest centric regattas. Participation levels are returning to pre-pandemic levels and the Spring Championship is proof that teams are ready to race hard and competitively.

Several members of the Quantum Sails team will be onsite at the regatta this weekend. Melges 24 teams that need some assistance or have questions, or perhaps just want to chat about the day’s racing, are encouraged to reach out to the Quantum Sails onsite regatta support team. Teams can also access all the Quantum Melges 24 Resources, including the tuning and trim guides on their website. 

The Midwest Spring Championship just marks the beginning of what is going to be an amazing year of Melges 24 racing. Three more Quantum Sails Great Lakes Cup events are scheduled throughout the 2023 racing season: Guardians of the Great Lakes Melges 24 Regatta happens on August 26-27, the North American Championship takes place in Toronto, Canada on September 14-17, with the grande finale in Lake Geneva at the birthplace of the Melges 24 — the U.S. National Championshipon October 6-8.

Best of luck to all competitors this weekend and don’t forget to register for the rest of the Great Lakes Cup!

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