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Melges Performance Sailboats @ Mon Apr 6 11:53:00 2009
Zenda, Wisc. (April 6, 2009) – Melges Performance Sailboats is proud to announce the addition of four new Sales and Customer Service Agents to the Melges team — Anthony Kotoun, Seadon Wijsen, Mike Wolfs and Eric Hood. “Each of these great sailors bring an extra-added level of experience, knowledge, professionalism and sailing excellence to the Melges company,” says Andy Burdick, President of Melges Performance Sailboats.
“The popularity of Melges boats remains at an all-time high. Part of our success is our ability to make certain that customers are cared for when it comes to racing at regattas and doing well,” continued Burdick. “We are very excited about the future of all of our scows, especially the Melges A Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges C Scow, Melges MC Scow and Melges 17. We are equally thrilled at the international success and acceptance of the new Audi Melges 20, Melges 24 and Melges 32. Having Anthony, Mike, Seadon and Eric as part of our team will further Melges’ goal to continually support and grow each of these one design classes as well as the sport of sailing.”
Kotoun, Wijsen, Wolfs and Hood join the existing team of Buddy Melges, Harry Melges, Andy Burdick, Federico Michetti, Charlie Harrett and Gordy Bowers.
Originally born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Anthony Kotoun has sailed all his life and is currently based in Newport, R.I. He has been a long-time fan of Melges sportboats. He sailed the Melges 24 for the first time in 1992 and has been hooked ever since. With more than ten North American, National and World Championship titles to his name, Anthony brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Melges team. This summer, Anthony will be spending a lot of time racing on the A Scow and E Scow circuit.
Hailing Mississauga, Ontario, Canada as his hometown, Mike Wolfs can be found most actively sailing in the Melges 32 and Audi Melges 20. With more than a decade of sail loft experience, Mike possesses a strong understanding of one design fleet dynamics. He is a Star class Olympic silver medallist, a Pan Am Games bronze medallist and was on the Canadian National Sailing team for 12 years.
Seadon Wijsen currently resides in San Francisco, Calif. and brings a lifetime of sailing experience and accomplishments to the Melges team including several National and North American Championship one design titles. His highly diversified yachting background has allowed Wijsen to compete in numerous offshore races. He has raced the Melges 24 since 1995 and actively participates in the Melges 32 fleet.
Eric Hood is a returning member of the Melges team. Heavily supporting the scow classes, Hood carries his own list of sailing accolades. He is very knowledgeable, friendly and willing to assist customers with all their sailing needs, on and off the water.
Contact a Melges Agent near you by sending an e-mail, via this listing at melges.com.
The addition of Kotoun, Wijsen, Wolfs and Hood furthers Melges’ unwavering support and encouragement for the sport of sailing on a global scale. -
Audi Melges 20 Goes Racing In The USA — Charleston Race Week, April 16-19
Melges Performance Sailboats @ Mon Mar 16 10:42:00 2009
Among those expected to attend are Phil Sustronk from Mississauga, Ontario Canada; Michael Kiss from Holland Mich., David Hammett from Rockville, Md.; Eric Wynsma from East Grand Rapids, Mich. as well as a couple of very familiar Melges faces — Marc Hollerbach from Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. and from Melges, Andy Burdick and Charlie Harrett will be present to provide support for the Melges 24 and Audi Melges 20 classes. Congratulations to all of these very proud, new owners! We hope to see everyone out racing soon!
For more information about the Audi Melges 20, visit melges20.com and melges.com. Race reports, videos and photos will be coming to you via these websites. Also, check out the official Audi Melges 20 Blog.
© 2009 Carlo Borlenghi
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ISAF @ Mon Mar 2 13:27:00 2009
The club’s renowned Model Room was the setting for celebrating Terry HUTCHINSON’s and Anna TUNNICLIFFE’s competitive sailing achievements in 2008 as family, friends, sailing dignitaries and members of the press looked on. Emceeing the event, which included video highlights of HUTCHINSON’s and TUNNICLIFFE’s rise to the top of the sport, was one of sailing’s most familiar media personalities, Gary JOBSON, with additional tributes from US SAILING Executive Director Charlie LEIGHTON and 2007 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jeff LINTON. Rolex Watch U.S.A.’s Vice President and Director of Communications Peter NICHOLSON awarded each winner with a specially engraved stainless steel and platinum Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master.
Determined from nominations submitted by the members of US SAILING, a short list of nine male and five female sailors was evaluated by a panel of sailing journalists who ultimately selected HUTCHINSON and TUNNICLIFFE the 2008 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year.
HUTCHINSON (age 40), a first-time winner, redefined himself as a well-rounded fleet racer after emerging from his stint as tactician aboard Emirates Team New Zealand in the 32nd America’s Cup. He racked up four major European victories in the TP52 before skippering to become that class’s World Champion. He also scored major U.S. regatta victories in the Farr 40, Melges 24, M30 and Melges 32 classes, also as tactician.
“Every morning I get up and go to work doing something that I love,” said the 40-year-old HUTCHINSON, a four-time Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) All-American and two-time College Sailor of the Year (1989 and 1990) at Old Dominion University, who is a professional sailor by trade. “This is one of the coolest moments in my sailing career.“
TUNNICLIFFE (age 26), also a first-time winner, was cited for her rise to number one in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings and her gold-medal performance in the Laser Radial at the 2008 Olympic Games in China. Her excellent 2008 sailing resume made her the panel’s unanimous choice for the award.
”I’m very, very excited," said the 26-year-old TUNNICLIFFE, a three-time ICSA All-American (at Old Dominion University) and the 2005 Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year. ”It’s a fantastic end to a great year.” TUNNICLIFFE sails full-time and has announced her intention to train for the 2012 Olympic Games. “Winning the Olympic medal was a dream, and branching out to other boats and expanding myself as a sailor is one of my goals. I want to win another gold medal for the USA.”
Established in 1961 by US SAILING and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. since 1980, the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognize the outstanding on-the-water competitive achievement of an individual man and woman in the calendar year just concluded.
A video podcast from the awards luncheon, produced by Gary JOBSON, is available at www.jobsonsailing.com, as well as at www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex.
For additional information on the awards please visit www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex.
Barby MacGowan -
Dates Set For 2009 Melges 24 World Championship In Annapolis
ISAF @ Wed Feb 25 14:48:00 2009
With guidance from the International and United States Melges 24 Class Associations, and consistent feedback from the participants in the 2008 North American Championship (also held at EYC), it was a unanimous decision to change the schedule.
“The earlier, more compressed regatta schedule will be optimal for both weather quality and logistics for travelling teams,” said Event Chairman Elizabeth MERRIFIELD FILTER. “It’s ALL about the sailing. It’s going to be an intense week with eight straight days of high performance racing, which is what we’ve come to expect from the Melges fleet. Annapolis is an ideal venue for events like this. We look forward to serving up our famous Chesapeake Bay hospitality!”
Expected Schedule of Events:
Registration Open
Friday 23 October 23
Pre-Worlds Regatta
Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October
Championship
Monday 26 October through to Saturday 31 October
Haul Out
Sunday 1 November
The race course on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis will be in the vicinity of the entrance to the Severn River. Principle Race Officer Jeff BORLAND and his team will post the Notice of Race on the official website at www.melges24worlds2009.com. To compliment the racing, EYC will host land-side activities throughout the week, including daily informal post-race gatherings, a welcome reception, a gala World Championship party and final awards celebration.
The 2009 Melges 24 World Championship offers an excellent range of sponsorship opportunities ranging from $500-$50,000. The Melges 24 class offers an outstanding global media coverage track record, an on-site audience of well-connected individuals in key demographics from around the world and a flexible, experienced sponsorship team dedicated to meeting sponsors’ needs.
“It will be a busy time for our official apparel sponsor,” said Sponsorship Director Melissa CURRIER. “Coral Reef Sailing Apparel in association with Gill, who will be in town for the Annapolis Boat Shows and then our Championship the next week, plus it’s U.S. Naval Academy Homecoming – a promotional trifecta for them.”
Annapolis is a regular host to large events, but because of the number and size of events during this timeframe, competitors are encouraged to secure reservations for accommodations as soon as possible.
Fiona Brown
The Melges 24 fleet in action at the 2008 Worlds at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
©Paul Todd/outsideimages.co.nz
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Another Fantastic Day Of Sailing In Key West
ISAF @ Wed Jan 21 10:20:00 2009
Advance forecasts called for extreme winds, but instead a consistent 15-20 knot north-northwesterly enabled this high-powered international fleet to enjoy two great races.
“Another fantastic day of sailing in Key West. Days like this are why we come here. The conditions were outstanding,” Melges 24 skipper Riccardo SIMONESCHI (ITA) said. SIMONESCHI is a two-time winner of Acura Key West, presented by Nautica. The Italian skipper posted a solid line of 4,3 on Tuesday and holds third place overall in Melges 24, largest class in the regatta with 33 boats. Olympic medallist Charlie MCKEE (USA) is calling tactics for SIMONESCHI, who is 10 points off the very hot pace being set by his countrymen on UKA UKA Racing. Skipper Lorenzo BRESSANI (ITA) has won three of four races so far, an impressive feat in the highly-competitive class.
“They are tough to beat. They are fast and smart, which is a winning combination,” said MCKEE, whose brother Jonathan MCKEE is trimming on UKA UKA Racing. “We are getting better with each race and hopefully we can remain in contention.”
Blu Moon, skippered by Franco ROSSINI of Switzerland, finished second in both races and won the day. He also received Tuesday’s Sperry Top-Sider Boat of the Day honours, awarded to the winner of the day’s most competitive class. Three-time Olympian Chris RAST (SUI) is tactician aboard Blu Moon, which stands second in the overall standings – two points behind UKA UKA Racing. Another Italian team continued its impressive performance in the professional-laden Farr 40 class. Mascalzone Latino, owned and driven by Vincenzo ONORATO (ITA), has won three of four races with the other result being a second. Briton Adrian STEAD has been on fire calling tactics for the three-time defending World Champs, who hold a comfortable six-point lead over Acura Key West 2008 winner Barking Mad.
“We are sailing well, but obviously not nearly as well as they are,” said Terry HUTCHINSON (USA), tactician for owner Jim RICHARDSON (USA) aboard Barking Mad. HUTCHINSON was just named US SAILINGs Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, but is not afraid to admit that he can pick up a few subtle nuances from a team that is clearly at the top of its game, “We have learned heaps in two days just from watching Mascalzone… how their sails are set up, how they are driving, what they are doing tactically,” he said. “It’s not over yet. There are still a lot of races left. We just have to keep chipping away and hope we’re in range going into the last day.”
Fort Lauderdale resident Jeff ECKLUND (USA) and his team aboard Star maintained their lead in Melges 32, the other large grand prix one-design class filled with big-name tacticians. Star, like UKA UKA Racing and Mascalzone Latino, has won three of four races held so far. However, a 10th out of 20 boats in race three hurt Star’s cumulative score, which is two points better than second-place Red (Joe WOODS, Great Britain).
“It’s a tough fleet with real tight racing. Small mistakes can lead to big losses,” said Star tactician Harry MELGES (USA), whose family-owned company builds both the Melges 24 and 32.IRC 2 is loaded with innovative new designs that are giving each other some real competition. Cool Breeze, a brand new Mills 43 owned by John COOPER of Cane Hill, MO, won race four to vault from third to first in the 13-boat fleet. An indication of how close the top boats are in IRC 2 comes from the fact a mere 18 second separated the top four finishers in Race 3. Soozal, one of three King 40-footers that are making their competitive debut in Key West, finished second in race three by just seven seconds behind the J/44 Gold Digger (James BISHOP). “The racing in this class has been unbelievable. There are a lot of very good boats that are evenly matched,” Soozal skipper Daniel WOOLERY said.
Action is heating up in IRC 1 as well after Rosebud/Team DYT stretched its legs and showed its prowess in the heavy air. The STP 65-footer, largest entry in the regatta, won race three then finished second in race four by 34 seconds on corrected time. Ran, a TP52 owned by Niklas ZENNSTROM of Hamble, Great Britain, now has an impressive line of 1,1,2,1.
“It was a great day of racing for our team, although I’m disappointed we didn’t win the second race as well,” said Malcolm PARK, main trimmer on Rosebud/Team DYT. “We’re stronger than the TP 52s going upwind and we had two of those legs today.”
Massachusetts-based owner Roger STURGEON and his 16-man crew must beat the four 52-footers on its course by nearly six minutes in order to overcome its handicap. “This is a tight course for a boat this big and it’s hard to get her around the cans,” said PARK, noting that Rosebud has some draft restrictions. “[Monday] was a learning experience for us in terms of figuring out where we can go. Today’s course was a little more open, both in terms of draft and length.”
PHRF 3 leader Tangent, a Cape Fear 38 owned by Gerry TAYLOR of Annapolis, Md., is the only boat in the entire fleet that has won all four races. Tangent, the cruising version of the design, is heavier than most of its competitors in the class and thus welcomed the strong breeze.
“We are definitely loving the conditions. When the wind is up, we are smiling,” said TAYLOR, whose team won race three by just one second over fellow Annapolis entry L’Outrage, which has been runner-up in all four races.
“It certainly eases the pressure when you get off to a good start like this. We are feeling more relaxed and confident each day,” added TAYLOR, who placed second in class at Acura Key West 2008.
XS, a Robinson 41 that had been leading PHRF 1 after Monday’s action, dropped its rig in race three. Owner Douglas FISHER said gear failure was more to blame than the strong wind.
Racing continues today.
Bill Wagner
It was another day of fantastic conditions at Acura Key West
©Ken Stanek / kenstanek.com
