14 August 2024—San Francisco, CA, USA - As the Diversified Melges 24 World Championship approaches in San Francisco (17-24 August), the Melges 24 Class proudly continues its tradition of strong female participation—a hallmark of this dynamic one-design class for over 30 years. At this prestigious event, four determined women will take center stage at the helm, underscoring the class’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity.

Hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club in partnership with the International Melges 24 Class Association, this year’s championship will showcase these talented women evenly split between professional and Corinthian crews.

Among the professional teams, Chelsea Simms stands out as a formidable contender with her crew on Straightarrow—a boat she co-owns with her husband, George ‘Bear’ Peet, since 2022. Chelsea brings a wealth of experience to the table, having first joined Bruce Ayres’ highly competitive Monsoon team in 2018. She also plays a key role within the International Melges 24 Class Association as Vice Chairman for the Americas on the Executive Committee.

Photos: Morgan Kinney/Melges Performance Sailboats, 2022-2023 Bacardi Invitational Winter Series/Hannah Lee Noll, Bacardi Invitational Regatta 2024/Martina Orsini, Charleston Race Week @ Patriots Point/Joy Dunigan, Ultimate Sailing/Sharon Green, The San Francisco Yacht Club/Matthew Sessions, Santa Barbara Yacht Club/Sharon Green

Also competing in the pro division, Sandra Askew will helm Flying Jenny, backed by a seasoned crew led by Volvo Ocean Race winner Robert Greenhalgh. Sandra is eager for the competition to begin, stating, “It’s fantastic to see four female helms at Worlds, but I prefer to be seen as a sailor, regardless of gender. I bought my first Melges 24 in 2020 because it’s incredibly responsive, and the fleet demands perfection. Racing against the best sailors in the USA is a dream come true. The Melges 24 Corinthian fleet is one of the best in sailing, but in San Francisco, I’ll have a full professional crew with two Brits and two Aussies—I need all the help I can get.”

In the Corinthian division, two teams to watch are Tinka and Committed.

Kathrin Wagner, at the helm of Tinka, began her Melges 24 journey eight years ago with Manfred Schmiedl’s Brio at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. Typically sailing with an all-female crew, Kathrin’s team at the World Championship will be a mix of genders due to the unavailability of two longstanding members.

The fourth woman at the helm, equally significant, is Sallie Lang on Committed, a stalwart of the class. Sallie’s love for sailing began as a child, learning with her father on a Cape Dory 14 along the coast of Maine—experiences that fueled her passion for the sport. “One of the best things about sailing as a child was learning independence and mastering the ability to control a large machine by myself,” she reflects.

Since 2016, Sallie has been a vocal advocate for increasing female participation as skippers in the class. Her enthusiasm for the Melges 24 is a testament to the boat’s appeal: “First, it’s pure fun. Living in a windy area, there’s nothing like the thrill of planing in a big breeze. The Melges 24 is so responsive; it’s like sailing a big dinghy. Second, the competition is intense—you’re constantly challenged. Lastly, there’s always something new to learn. I’ve never gotten bored with this boat—frustrated, yes, but never bored.”

Teams from Canada, Croatia, Germany, Italy, and the USA will converge in San Francisco to compete for the prestigious Melges Performance Sailboats Trophy and the Challenge Henri Samuel Corinthian World Championship Trophy from August 17 to 24.

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The Diversified 2024 Melges 24 World Championship will take place August 17-24 in beautiful California, USA, organized by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA) in partnership with The San Francisco Yacht Club and the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA).

Diversified Melges 24 Worlds 2024 website and Official Notice Board
The SFYC website: sfyc.org
IM24CA website: melges24.com 
USM24CA website: usmelges24.com

#melges24 #melges24worlds 

Current regatta sponsors and partners of the Diversified Melges 24 Worlds 2024: 
Diversified / Mount Gay / Simply Solar / Hendrick's Gin / East Brother Beer Co. / Open Waters / Fort Point Beer / Bay Area Charters / Quantum Sails / Coral Reef Sailing Apparel / Ronstan / Supergoop! / Arntson Marine / Zhik / Martin Ray / Golden State Cider / HenHouse Beer / Trumer Pils USA / Tailwind Nutrition