The 2018 Melges 20 racing season kicks off on both sides of the pond

The 2018 Melges 20 racing season kicks off on both sides of the pond this weekend - Event No. 2 in Miami, and the elegant Primo Cup in Monaco

MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2018) - Closing in on the tenth season of Miami Melges 20 racing, the second event of the 2017/18 Winter Series looks to be hotly contested under what is forecasted to be near perfect Miami conditions; 80 degrees, sunny and breeze in the 9-15 kts range. A solid core of Melges 20 sailors from around the globe are prepared to do battle, and it looks like eight races will get completed. The only uncertainty is which team will be crowned champions.

A few new faces have recently joined the Melges 20 fleet, including Steve Boho's THE 300 who hails from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Steve raced his first Melges 20 event in December 2017, and showed steady improvement. His team is excited about continuing their climb up the ladder this weekend.

With mostly veteran teams on the Miami Winter Series scratch sheet, it will be an all out fight to claim a podium position.

Showing nothing but pure dominance since the 2017 World Championship, Drew Freides' PACIFIC YANKEE remains hot and ready to assert his position atop the Winter Series and World League standings.

Hot on his tail are a pack of Russians, Italians and Danes which includes the big kahuna himself - 2017 World League Champion Igor Rytov on RUSSIAN BOGATYRS, Vladimir Prosikhin on NIKA, Achille Onorato's MASCALZONE LATINO, JR. (helmed by 2010 Melges 32 World Champion Luca Lalli), and longtime Melges 24/20 owner Bo Boje Pederson on UPUPUP from Denmark.

The U.S. fleet is always tough and after missing the December event, Wes Whitmyer's SLINGSHOT is back in the mix and will look to reassert his winning ways.

Not to be discounted is the father and son duo of Alexis (MIDNIGHT SUN) and Jason Michas' MIDNIGHT BLUE who typically find their way to the top.

Veterans like Paul Reilly on RED SKY SAILING TEAM, and Daniel Thielman's KUAI will continue to remain a staple threat this weekend in this deep fleet.

As per usual, the set up at Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) is very welcoming and the event officially kicks off with the skippers meeting and cocktail party, not to mention a great view of Biscayne Bay from the deck of CGSC.

Racing in Miami begins at 11:00 Friday, February 9. Eight races are scheduled throughout the weekend.