Melges 24 Tahoe Championship Wrap-Up: Seven Races, STORMS and a Strong Start for a New Tradition
The inaugural Melges 24 Tahoe Championship, hosted by the South Lake Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club, took place August 22–24, and it was a weekend to remember. Fourteen boats lined up for the very first edition of this event, delivering plenty of competitive sailing—and a fair share of drama on the waters of Lake Tahoe.
Racing began Friday with three buoy races completed under favorable conditions. Saturday, however, brought a dramatic shift, as racing was interrupted by lightning, heavy storms, and even a burst of hail. Despite the delays, the fleet managed one buoy race before the weather ultimately shut down the rest of the schedule for the day. By Sunday, skies cleared enough to get back on track, with three additional buoy races completed to close out the series.
In total, seven races were sailed over the weekend. When the scores were tallied, Matt Hamilton on USA 798 Chop Chop claimed the championship title. “South Lake Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club really delivered a first-class event,” said champion Matt Hamilton. “From the race committee work on the water to the gatherings on shore, everything was top-notch. The competition was fierce, with every team pushing their Melges 24s hard in challenging conditions—it was high-level racing all the way.”
Dan Hauserman secured second place overall, while Krak Arntson on Nikita, sailing alongside his wife Kimberly and family crew Rudy, Brian Marr, and Tiffany Simon, rounded out the podium in third.
With fourteen entries and tight racing across the fleet, the first Melges 24 Tahoe Championship proved to be a resounding success. Despite weather challenges, the event showcased both the resilience of the competitors and the promise of a new annual tradition on the lake.