Ronning Holds Slim Lead as Melges 24 Nationals Heats Up
Pensacola, FL (November 15, 2025) — Another beautiful day on Pensacola Bay set the stage for Day Two of the 2025 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, hosted by Pensacola Yacht Club. Despite what looked like a more promising breeze as teams left the dock, Saturday’s light air forecast held steadfast and true. Three additional races were completed, bringing the total to six, activating a discard of each team’s worst score.
Joel Ronning’s Catapult still holds the overall lead, but now by only a single, slim point. Anthony Kotoun’s Wahgwan and Cuyler Morris’s Dark Horse came on stronger than ever, maintaining their respective podium positions in second and third. Peter McClennen’s Gamecock held onto fourth place, while Bora Gulari stole the daily spotlight, serving up a master class of racing in his brand-new Melges 24, Mavi, now seated in fifth.
The first race of the day (Race 4) commenced with a light but promising breeze, which gradually faded—most noticeably as boats approached the top mark. Gulari, Kotoun, and Sandra Askew’s Flying Jenny rounded simultaneously in near-drifting conditions, each navigating the precise, patient maneuvers that light-air sailing so often demands. As the rest of the fleet rounded, it wasn’t long before the breeze died completely, prompting a shortened course for a final sprint to the finish with Gulari taking the win.
After an hour delay of waiting for the breeze to build back in, Gulari, alongside his teammates that he considers some of his very best friends — Kyle Navin, Nick Ford, Norman Berge, and Trevor Burd, continued to dominate with a second victory in Race 5 and a fifth place finish in Race 6, vaulting them significantly up the leaderboard.
John Shockey’s Wombmates Racing continues to lead the hotly contested Corinthian Division. John Poulson’s Longshot is holding on firmly to second place, with Canada’s Dan Berezin on Surprise moving up to the third place position, tied in equal points with Michael Lenkeit’s Rapscallion.
With only one day of racing left, the stakes really couldn’t possibly be higher. Only seven points separate the overall top six teams, which means this championship is still very much up for grabs.
“The forecast has always said tomorrow will be the better day. We should see wind in the teens—if not right away, then building to that,” said Hal Smith, PRO. “We should easily get in at least three races before wrapping up in the afternoon. It should be a good, steady breeze, and we’ll have some fair racing tomorrow.”
Racing starts at 1000 in the morning, with the last race being started no later than 1500.
Fans can follow the action in real time through the Official Live Tracking provided by Vakaros. Stay up to date with every tack, rounding, and finish of the 2025 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship by visiting the Vakaros live race tracking page.
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