Coming Soon to Texas!

Melges Performance Sailboats is thrilled to welcome Vela Sailing Supply as the newest Melges 15 dealer serving Texas. Situated in Rockwall, TX since 2011, Vela is a large online supplier of marine hardware and is an expert in a variety of classes. 

One of the founders of Vela Sailing, Rod Favela is no stranger to the Melges brand as an MC Scow sailor, himself. “Our main goals are to provide solutions to sailors and promote the growth and sustainability of the sport we are all so passionate about,” explains Favela. “And with that, we are sure the Melges 15 goes right in line with our philosophy.

Texas offers a wide range of fantastic sailing venues: from the waters of the Gulf to lakes spread all over the state. Young adults, couples, and friends are already finding out the advantages that the Melges 15 presents and all the boxes that it checks. Favela concludes, “All of us at Vela are sure that all sailors in Texas will quickly realize the same we see in it and soon will be present at many shores across the South.”

For more information on Vela Sailing Supply, visit velasailingsupply.com. Not in Texas? Click here to locate a Melges 15 Dealer near you!

Winter Series Debut: Q&A with Jennifer Cregar

Jennifer Cregar started searching for her own boat shortly after moving to Sarasota, FL. Once she sailed on a Melges 24 and 32 in Davis Island, there was no slowing down. After taking delivery of her new Melges 15, Cregar teamed up with the local fleet at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron to get her up to speed before the first Winter Series event.

Melges: What’s your sailing background?
Jennifer: I grew up on a small lake in Michigan and sailed a Sunfish as a kid; I just enjoyed being on the water from an early age. When I moved to Milwaukee for a new job, I wanted to take advantage of the incredible sailing opportunities on Lake Michigan. I enrolled in an Adult Learn to Sail course at the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center. From there, I was fortunate enough to meet a seasoned sailor who introduced me to wonderful new people and programs. I was then invited to sail regularly with an experienced team on a FinnGulf 34. Milwaukee also has an incredible Women’s Only Fleet, with whom I raced Mondays on a Soverel 33.

M: What first drew you to the M15?
J: Occasionally, I sailed on a friend’s Melges 24 and loved the design. After I moved to Sarasota, I was invited to sail a few times on a Melges 32 up in Davis Island, which was a blast! I knew I wanted a sporty boat that I could advance my skills on, and I loved the Melges boats. Sarasota is limited by depth, so 24s and 32s were out of the question. Since the Melges 15 is a doublehanded boat, I felt more confident that I could get some coaching while crewing and learning to drive.

M: What makes the M15 a good choice for newer sailors?
J: I am still a sailing “newbie” and petite. For the most part, you don’t have to be a super strong person to sail the boat - except at the top end of the wind range! I also wanted my own boat to advance my skills and something relatively simple, fast, and sporty.

M: How did it feel racing in your first M15 event?
J: Our fleet in Sarasota is really active, we have fleet racing on Sundays and work together a lot at the club. That being said, lining up against 59 other boats was a little intimidating at first, but I loved the whole experience! We stayed upright when things got windy and finished every race with smiles on our faces.

M: What were the biggest takeaways from the event?
J: The start is key! Lots of more experienced sailors jockeying for a prime spot was challenging; we can definitely improve in this area. I also think we can tune the boat better and be more active with our sail trim.

M: What are you looking forward to most during the series?
JC: To see if we can improve from the last regatta! It’s fun to meet new people sailing here from all parts of the country. I think the Melges 15 is a really special boat that draws a fun group.

The next Winter Series event takes place February 27-28 followed by the Midwinter Championship March 26-28.

Tuning Your Melges 15 Based on Crew Weight

The Melges 15 has minimal tuning adjustments. However, it is good to consider the following based on your combined crew weight. Below are some changes you can make whether you're sailing at 295 pounds or 350 pounds.

Jib Cars
Melges offers nifty jib track guides for your boat, which are useful for jib setup. In a 12 knot breeze, a boat sailing at 295 would move their jib cars further aft so that the jib is flatter down low. On the guide, the number would be 1 or 2. For a team that is in the area of 350, you can leave your jib cars further forward giving you more power down low in the sail. Getting too full could hurt your ability to point, so watch for that. On the jib car guide, this would equal 0 or -1, -2. Consider the sea state, too. Sail with a flatter jib in flat water or a fuller jib when it is choppy.

Jib Halyard Tension
You can adjust your jib halyard tension or jib luff easily. Consider softer tension if you are a heavier team, which will put some power in your jib. If you are 295 or less and the wind is 12 knots, you will want your jib firm along the luff with no wrinkles.

Shroud Tension
The normal base setting on the Loos gauge in 12 knots is 19. If you are a heavier team, try 17 or 18 so that you have more headstay sag going upwind.

Consider some of these adjustments for your next sail. They may help you go faster in varying conditions.

Sixty Boats Line Up for First Event of Winter Series

Sixty Melges 15s entered the first event of the 2022 Winter Series in Sarasota, FL January 8-9.

The record turnout was a celebration of being named Sailing World’s Boat of the Year. A broad range of teams was comprised of parent/child, couples, friends, and newcomers alike. Several new owners made the trek for their first Class event as well as many regional competitors who loaded up box trailers for easy, cost-efficient travel.

A fun weekend on the Bay started with practice and a debrief led by Melges offering sailors their first taste of the larger fleet. The expert coaching delivered tips for boat handling and fleet management.

Saturday in Sarasota greeted sailors with gorgeous sunny skies, warm water, and a moderate breeze of 6-13 knots. The late morning start allowed the sea breeze to fill in and sailors to enjoy a leisurely morning of socializing and boat preparations. Harry Melges and Nina Lunbchenco were chased around the racecourse by Eddie Cox and Molly Ziegler and Harris Padegs and Jean Michel-Bus. Sarasota Sailing Squadron hosted the fleet for a post-race happy hour on the pavilion watching the award-winning Longboat Key sunset.

Day Two featured puffier conditions of up to 23 knots for the first race, but the key was connecting the dots. It was easy to fall trap to the lulls and watch fellow competitors breeze by – particularly downwind. The fleet often opted to charge up the left side of the course resulting in tricky mark roundings where momentum and right of way could pay dividends. As the wind diminished at the start of Race Four, Dana and her father, John, Haig pulled ahead for a dominating lead in an upwind finish.

The tight racing culminated in a win by Cox and Ziegler followed by James O’Gwen and Aiden Cunningham, and Padegs and Bus. The Winter Series continues with Event 2 February 26-27 and the Midwinter Championship March 25-27.

Record Turnout for Melges 15 Winter Series

The Melges 15 Class has returned to Sarasota, FL for the first event of the 2022 Winter Series January 8-9. With a record-setting 60 boats, the entry list features several new owners and early advocates representing 17 states.

After being named Sailing World’s Boat of the Year, the large turnout comes as no surprise to event organizer and owner, Bob Cole. “The Melges 15 appeals to so many different people that we have tons of families, couples, and friends traveling to escape the snow and cold up north,” said Cole. “When we hosted the series last year, we saw the true potential for this boat in Sarasota. The growth since last March has been awesome for the class and owners.”

The weekend kicked off with practice racing and debrief led by Melges and Quantum Sails Zenda, which will be followed by the scheduled eight races Saturday and Sunday. The Winter Series continues February 26-28 and culminates with the Midwinter Championship March 26-28. The 2022 Class calendar is listed on melges15.com/events.

Melges 15 Wins Boat of the Year

The Melges 15 designed by Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design was awarded Sailing World Magazine’s Boat of the Year! More than 375 boats have been ordered and fleets are popping up around North America. The variety of M15 sailors and wildly popular Winter Series are testaments to the boat’s design.

Read the article on Sailing World's website.

Emily & John Haig Win Inaugural Melges 15 Nationals

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 (ZENDA, WISCONSIN): Emily and John Haig (Beach Haven, NJ) were crowned the first Melges 15 National Champions on September 19, 2021, at Lake Geneva Yacht Club in Wisconsin. The father-daughter duo bested a fleet of 31 boats for the inaugural championship finishing ahead of second-place Toby and Peter Sullivan (Minneapolis–Saint Paul, MN) and third-place Mike Schroff and Emily Shandley-Roberts (Chicago, IL).

A final taste of warm temperatures greeted sailors on Day One with winds up to 18 knots. The Haigs won two of the four races sailed alongside young Owen Kohut and Ian McClenathan (Lake Geneva, WI) and Schroff/Shandley-Roberts.

Eighteen youth sailors raced in the Nationals as further proof that the Melges 15 is for everyone young and old. “When you’re a junior sailor like Owen, and you get this kind of exposure to different ages and skill levels, the learning curve is off the gauge. It’s invaluable and it shows,” said Schroff, winner of Race Four.

Young Anna Regan (Minnetonka, MN) showed off her prowess on Day Two finishing 1, 2 in the sixth and seventh races. Regan commanded the fleet over three legs leading several seconds ahead of the next boat until the competition started catching up on the final downwind.

“The biggest challenge in this fleet is maintaining your lead downwind since it’s really easy to catch up,” said Regan. “I was getting really nervous when I saw boats gaining on us, and my dad kept reminding me to look in front of me and focus on what’s ahead.”

On Sunday, the forecasted light air finally descended upon the region with temperatures increasing even further into the mid-80s. With not a breath of wind in sight, the Race Committee closed the regatta. With the results standing from Saturday, the Haigs won the championship with a six-point lead.

“The competition was awesome this weekend. Every time we rounded a mark, there were different boats around us,” said Emily Haig. “It was great seeing so many other teams with father-daughters, college friends, and new owners. I’m looking forward to seeing even more new faces at the Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club Regatta and the Winter Series.”

With more than 275 boats sold, fleets are popping up around North America. The fleets make club racing accessible for M15 owners and feature several weekend events offering travel opportunities for visiting teams.

Next on the Melges 15 circuit are the Fall Regatta October 9-10 (Beach Haven, NJ), the Fall Invitational October 15-17 (Columbia, SC), and the 2022 Winter Series (Sarasota, FL). For a full list of events, visit melges15.com. Contact the Melges Team to learn about new boats, demos, and Winter Series charters at sales@melges.com.