Melges 24, Three More Winners as Wah Gwan Strengthens Its Grip on the Worlds

Kotoun and Wah Gwan opened the day by winning Race 7, their third consecutive bullet. Scores of 1-3-2 increased their lead to 20 points. Bora Gulari’s Mavi (USA 874) won Race 8 after taking the lead on the second upwind leg.

“The breeze was lighter and shiftier than on the previous days,” crew member of Mavi, Kyle Navin, said. “We made a nice pass on the right side, moved into the lead and went on to win. We were really pleased with our improvements in the lighter air.”

Navin’s connection to the Melges 24 goes well beyond this week’s racing. “The Melges 24 is probably my favorite boat,” he said. “It comes from my hometown, and I grew up sailing it. I think it may have been the first boat I ever sailed, so I always enjoy getting back out and racing one.”

Race 9 belonged to Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny (USA 869), which improved through the day with scores of 20-9-1. “The lighter conditions suited us better, and our results improved as the breeze softened,” crew member Robert Greenhalgh said. “It was super shifty, super tricky and an incredibly tough fleet. There’s nowhere to hide.”

Thursday’s Corinthian wins went to Eddie Gary’s Troublemaker / Gill Race Team (USA 811), Yoslov’s Looper and Miles Quinton's Zhik Race Team (GBR 777) with Geoff Carveth helming, respectively.

Protest decision reshuffles the standings

After a post-race protest hearing, Peter Duncan’s Shiitake (USA 864) was disqualified from Race 9. With the 50-point DSQ discarded, the team dropped from second to fourth overall with 45 points. Peter McClennen’s Gamecock (USA 871) moved into second with 39 points, followed by Michael Goldfarb's WarCanoe (USA 876) with Nick Rogers helming, in third with 43. Race 8 winner Mavi is fifth with 53 points.

Looper takes the Corinthian lead

Looper moved to the top of the Corinthian standings after posting 17-5-15. The team sits 13th overall with 108 net points and holds an 18-point Corinthian lead. “It was a great day on the water,” Duane Yoslov said. “The team really came together and executed everything well. It wasn’t down to one person. It was all five of us working together and making the boat go fast.”

Yoslov pointed to cleaner sailing and sharper decisions as the keys to the team’s improvement. “Compared with yesterday, we executed better, made better decisions, sailed clean and stayed out of the fray,” he said. “Going forward, the goal is simple: stay focused and keep doing more of the same.”

Stuart Simpson’s Team Barbarians (GBR 691) and Troublemaker / Gill Race Team are tied on 126 points, with Team Barbarians holding second place on the tie-break. Zhik Race Team is fourth with 137 points, while Tomas Mathisen’s Team Bagdad Prospects Helly Hansen (NOR 866) completes the Corinthian top five with 140.

Support ashore and the outlook ahead

Quantum Sails, a sponsor of the World Championship and the event’s overnight sail-repair provider, continues to support teams between race days. “After the stronger conditions, there were spinnaker tears and other repairs to take care of,” Nixon said. “Our team was able to get those sails repaired and ready for the next day.”

Travis Odenbach, owner and helm of Big Cat (USA 806), is competing in only his second Melges 24 regatta. “The fleet is incredibly deep, and the boat is fantastic,” Odenbach said. “I can see myself sailing in this class for a very long time.”

After Thursday’s racing, competitors gathered for a crew party and barbecue at Little Traverse Yacht Club. The decision on Friday’s starting time will be made after the morning Quantum Sails Weather Briefing. The breeze is expected to build during the afternoon, and the race committee hopes to complete two races.

“The forecast for Saturday has also improved, and it looks as though we may be able to hold the final race that day,” Foster said.

Racing can be followed through Vakaros Live Tracking.

The Melges 24 World Championship is supported by

Great Lakes Sports Commission,Gill Marine, Arntson Marine, Running Water, Quantum Sails, Irish Boat Shop, City of Harbor Springs, Nub's Nob, Lulu’s Cottage, Graceful Pathway, Fabiano Brothers, Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, Little Traverse Yacht Club Corinthian Foundation and Melges Performance Sailboats.

Top 10 Overall after six races (one discard)

Wah Gwan, USA 865, Anthony Kotoun; 2-3-6-(7)-1-1; 13 points
Gamecock, USA 871, Peter McClennen; 3-5-2-1-(13)-6; 17 points
Sentinel, USA 856, Geoff Fargo; 5-2-4-2-5-(DSQ); 18 points
Shiitake, USA 864, Peter Duncan; 4-8-3-3-(11)-5; 23 points
Full Throttle, USA 849, Brian Porter; 7-1-7-6-(12)-4; 25 points
Dark Horse, USA 870, Cuyler Morris; 9-6-1-(10)-9-7; 32 points
WarCanoe, USA 876, Michael Goldfarb/Richard Clarke; 11-(24)-11-5-4-2; 33 points
Mavi, USA 874, Bora Gulari; 6-(18)-5-8-3-11; 33 points
StraightArrow, USA 830, Chelsea Simms; (24)-9-10-13-2-15; 49 points
Big Cat, USA 806, Travis Odenbach; (22)-11-9-16-6-8; 50 points

Top 5 Corinthian after six races

Team Barbarians, GBR 691, Stuart Simpson; 12-17-(22)-4-18-16; 67 points
Looper, USA 855, Duane Yoslov; 13-19-19-9-(28)-11; 71 points
Troublemaker / Gill Race Team, USA 811, Edward Gary; 10-14-12-15-24-(25); 75 points
Team Bagdad Prospects Helly Hansen, NOR 866, Tomas Mathisen; 15-4-17-22-26-(30); 84 points
Zhik Race Team, GBR 777, Geoff Carveth; (25)-20-18-11-23-12; 84 points