The U.S. Melges 24 Class Association and the Melges 24 Northeast District are excited to announce the selection of Newport, R.I. as the location for the 2010 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, hosted by Sail Newport. Racing will take place over three days with registration, weigh-ins, clinics and practice racing beginning on Thursday, June 24.
Competitors will find Sail Newport’s facilities located within historic Fort Adams to be the ideal venue for a major Melges regatta with ample launching capabilities, storage, and easy proximity to both inshore and offshore courses located on beautiful Narragansett Bay and in Rhode Island Sound. Sail Newport, under the direction of Brad Read, is a world-recognized organizing authority with a history of running top-level national and world championships for most major keelboat classes. Under the direction of PRO Tom Duggan, competitors can expect a full schedule of highly competitive and aggressive racing schedules, strong and predictable sea breezes and a venue (Newport) which offers plenty for both racers and their families alike. Furthermore, National competitors can easily store their boats at Sail Newport to compete in the Sail Newport regatta occurring two weeks later in July. Last year’s Sail Newport regatta had over 20 boats from around the country and saw the likes of Alan Field, Chris Larson, Scott Nixon, Henry Filter and John Mollicone all competing down to the last race for the title. Sail Newport also is a world class entertainment facility ashore and there will be a full social schedule of post-racing activities when the boats return from racing.
It will be a big weekend for Melges Performance Sailboats, as the Nationals will be sailed concurrently on the same circle with the Melges 32 Northeast Regatta, making this one of the largest Melges-only weekends in the country.
The Nationals will be one of four Melges 24 Northeast events strategically placed to allow competitors who wish to do one regatta per month moving east down Rt. 95 from Annapolis to Newport by way of Duck Island, Conn. in the months of April, May, June and July, then returning west through New Jersey to Rochester, N.Y. in August and September. Competitors are urged to consider the following schedule as a tune-up for the Nationals, as well as to tune-up for the North Americans in Rochester:
- Annapolis NOOD (Annapolis, Md.), April 30-May 1
- Duck Island Yacht Club Melges 24 Regatta (Westbrook, Conn.), May 21-22 (storage available through U.S. Nationals)
- U.S. National Championship (Newport, R.I.), June 25-27 (storage available through Sail Newport Regatta)
- Coastal Living’s Sail Newport Regatta (Newport, R.I.), July 9-11
- Heart Cup (Ocean City, N.J.), July 31-August 1
- Melges 24 North Americans (Rochester, N.Y.), September 20-26
About Newport, RI
Steeped in yachting tradition and ideally located on southern the tip of Aquidneck Island, with Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Narragansett Bay to the west, Newport hosts over fifty regional, national and international sailing events each year. Home to the America’s Cup from 1930-1983, Newport has seen world class sailing competition ranging from the majestic J-Class yachts through the popular 12-Metre class (still active in the area). and recently hosted the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. Recognized as the sailing capital of the United States, Newport is also home to New York Yacht Club. Visitors will enjoy all the City-by-the-Sea has to offer including spectacular scenery, stunning architecture, gourmet restaurants, a thriving waterfront and welcoming hospitality.
About Sail Newport
Sail Newport is Rhode Island's Public Sailing Center, located at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Formed in 1983 the organization’s mission is to promote sailing and to offer public access to sailing. Sail Newport has hosted many local, regional, national and world-class sailing events in its 25-year history.
For more information regarding the U.S. National Championship, please contact:
JC Raby
Co-Regatta Chair and District Governor
Northeast District
M24northeast@gmail.com
Cary Siegler
Co-Regatta Chair and Newport Fleet Captain
M24northeast@gmail.com
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