Melges 24 World Championship 2026 at Little Traverse Yacht Membership – Day 3
by Worldwide Melges 24 Class Affiliation 25 Sep 05:19 UTC
19-26 September 2026
Racing on Day 3 of the Melges 24 World Championship 2026 © IM24CA / Zerogradinord
A foggy morning gave strategy to one other full day of shut racing on Little Traverse Bay, with three races and loads of motion within the standings on the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship.
After 9 races, Anthony Kotoun’s Wah Gwan (USA 865) has constructed a 20-point lead on the prime of the 49-boat fleet. Duane Yoslov’s Looper (USA 855) is the brand new Corinthian chief after a robust day that included a fifth-place end total in Race 8.
The Worlds are hosted by Little Traverse Yacht Membership (LTYC) along side the Worldwide Melges 24 Class Affiliation (IM24CA) and the US Melges 24 Class Affiliation (USM24CA).
An early begin pays off
With the breeze anticipated to fade throughout the afternoon, Principal Race Officer Mark Foster moved the primary warning sign ahead to 10:30 a.m. The fleet left the dock in thick fog, however visibility improved in time for racing to start as scheduled. The breeze remained round 9 to 10 knots earlier than softening later within the day.
“We anticipated the wind to fade, however it stayed with us and we accomplished all three races,” Foster stated. “It was an excellent day on the water, and the fleet was again on the dock at round 3:30.”
Scott Nixon, Quantum Sails One Design Director and a crew member aboard Takeoff (USA 801), praised the choice. “Mark Foster made a giant name by beginning us an hour earlier, and it was completely the correct one,” Nixon stated. “We left the dock in thick fog, however it cleared rapidly and we accomplished three good races.”
Three races, three winners
Kotoun and Wah Gwan opened the day by successful Race 7, their third consecutive bullet. Scores of 1-3-2 elevated their result in 20 factors. Bora Gulari’s Mavi (USA 874) received Race 8 after taking the lead on the second upwind leg.
“The breeze was lighter and shiftier than on the earlier days,” crew member of Mavi, Kyle Navin, stated. “We made a pleasant move on the correct facet, moved into the lead and went on to win. We had been actually happy with our enhancements within the lighter air.”
Navin’s connection to the Melges 24 goes properly past this week’s racing. “The Melges 24 might be my favourite boat,” he stated. “It comes from my hometown, and I grew up crusing it. I feel it could have been the primary boat I ever sailed, so I all the time take pleasure in getting again out and racing one.”
Race 9 belonged to Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny (USA 869), which improved by way of the day with scores of 20-9-1. “The lighter situations suited us higher, and our outcomes improved because the breeze softened,” crew member Robert Greenhalgh stated. “It was tremendous shifty, tremendous difficult and an extremely robust fleet. There’s nowhere to cover.”
Thursday’s Corinthian wins went to Eddie Gary’s Troublemaker / Gill Race Crew (USA 811), Yoslov’s Looper and Miles Quinton’s Zhik Race Crew (GBR 777) with Geoff Carveth helming, respectively.
Protest resolution reshuffles the standings
After a post-race protest listening to, Peter Duncan’s Shiitake (USA 864) was disqualified from Race 9. With the 50-point DSQ discarded, the group dropped from second to fourth total with 45 factors. Peter McClennen’s Gamecock (USA 871) moved into second with 39 factors, adopted by Michael Goldfarb’s WarCanoe (USA 876) with Nick Rogers helming, in third with 43. Race 8 winner Mavi is fifth with 53 factors.
Looper takes the Corinthian lead
Looper moved to the highest of the Corinthian standings after posting 17-5-15. The group sits thirteenth total with 108 internet factors and holds an 18-point Corinthian lead. “It was an ideal day on the water,” Duane Yoslov stated. “The group actually got here collectively and executed every little thing properly. It wasn’t down to 1 particular person. It was all 5 of us working collectively and making the boat go quick.”
Yoslov pointed to cleaner crusing and sharper selections because the keys to the group’s enchancment. “In contrast with yesterday, we executed higher, made higher selections, sailed clear and stayed out of the fray,” he stated. “Going ahead, the purpose is straightforward: keep centered and hold doing extra of the identical.”
Stuart Simpson’s Crew Barbarians (GBR 691) and Troublemaker / Gill Race Crew are tied on 126 factors, with Crew Barbarians holding second place on the tie-break. Zhik Race Crew is fourth with 137 factors, whereas Tomas Mathisen’s Crew Bagdad Prospects Helly Hansen (NOR 866) completes the Corinthian prime 5 with 140.
Help ashore and the outlook forward
Quantum Sails, a sponsor of the World Championship and the occasion’s in a single day sail-repair supplier, continues to help groups between race days. “After the stronger situations, there have been spinnaker tears and different repairs to care for,” Nixon stated. “Our group was capable of get these sails repaired and prepared for the subsequent day.”
Travis Odenbach, proprietor and helm of Massive Cat (USA 806), is competing in solely his second Melges 24 regatta. “The fleet is extremely deep, and the boat is improbable,” Odenbach stated. “I can see myself crusing on this class for a really very long time.”
After Thursday’s racing, opponents gathered for a crew occasion and barbecue at Little Traverse Yacht Membership. The choice on Friday’s beginning time will probably be made after the morning Quantum Sails Climate Briefing. The breeze is anticipated to construct throughout the afternoon, and the race committee hopes to finish two races.
“The forecast for Saturday has additionally improved, and it appears to be like as if we could possibly maintain the ultimate race that day,” Foster stated.
Racing will be adopted by way of Vakaros Stay Monitoring.
The Melges 24 World Championship is supported by Nice Lakes Sports activities Fee,Gill Marine, Arntson Marine, Working Water, Quantum Sails, Irish Boat Store, Metropolis of Harbor Springs, Nub’s Nob, Lulu’s Cottage, Swish Pathway, Fabiano Brothers, Petoskey Space Guests Bureau, Little Traverse Yacht Membership Corinthian Basis and Melges Efficiency Sailboats.
