Southeast Inland Championship Up Next for the Melges 24 Fleet at Lake Lanier
With the Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta now in the rearview mirror, the U.S. Melges 24 fleet turns its attention inland for the next stop on the 2026 schedule: the Southeast Inland Championship at Lake Lanier Sailing Club.
Serving as the third event on the 2026 North American Sailing Series schedule, it brings the fleet to one of the most active inland Melges 24 venues in the United States. Lake Lanier is home to a thriving local fleet, with roughly fifteen boats calling it home, and the club has long been recognized for hosting competitive yet welcoming events.
Unlike the high-intensity professional circuits seen at Bacardi, Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point, Nationals or the World Championship, the Southeast Inland Championship offers something different and equally valuable. It holds its own as a Corinthian-focused regatta, making it an ideal proving ground for emerging teams, owner-drivers, and amateur programs looking to sharpen their skills.
That dynamic has made Lake Lanier an important development venue for every Melges 24 Owner, where newer programs can gain experience racing against strong regional competition while enjoying the camaraderie that defines the international fleet.
The regatta will take place as part of a busy weekend of sailing at Lake Lanier Sailing Club, with multiple events happening across the venue. Off the water, the atmosphere is every bit as important as the racing itself—opportunities for catching up, talking shop and reconnecting with friends from across the fleet are as much a part of the tradition as the Race Day 1 starting sequence.
For teams looking to continue their momentum in the North American Sailing Series—or for those planning their first event of the season—the Southeast Inland Championship is the perfect opportunity to jump in.