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13_Yachtsman 2015.qxp_Yachtsman Magazine 19/08/2015 4:30 pm Page 31

Club Yachting
Melges 24 Racing Australia
By Tracey Walters
winning the Corinthian Division of the regatta and placing seventh in the open fleet.
The Nixon’s purchased a boat in the US to complete in the 2013 Worlds in San Francisco
and continue to test themselves in selected US events.
The Australian Melges 24 Association encourages youth and women sailors, each
year the RPAYC hosts the Melges Young Guns Regatta where owners lend their boats
to crews for a fun, competitive series. The 2015 Young Guns Regatta was won by
one of RPA’s talented up and coming sailors Peter Kendall Amigos. Who recently
placed second in the M24 division at the Sydney Harbour Regatta, it’s inevitable that
time spent in the boat will see future success for Amigos.
RPAYC sailors were well represented at the 2015 Melges 24 Nationals in January
hosted by Adelaide Sailing Club. Chris Links steering Pussers Rum Cavallino and his
RPAYC crew including Dean Pennell, Nathan and Shona Wilmot, Daniel Nixon were
crowned Australian Champion on Pusser’s Rum Cavallino. Heath Walters combined
with the RPA Amigos team including Dug Russell Andrew Kendall, Harley Walters
and Chris Harrington placed third.
Melges Racing on Pittwater

The appeal of the Melges 24 class is gaining momentum and attracting sponsors
like Pussers Rum, Gill, Vostok Europe, Yalumba, Kinawooka Mussels, Magic Marine,
2014 provided an outstanding year of Melges 24 racing, and saw excellent results
Gottifredi Maffioli to support events and work collaboratively with the class.
from the RPAYC members and fleet. Melges Asia Pacific / Northshore Marine is
located at the RPAYC, the club is Melges Australia headquarters and hosts many of
the NSW boats although fleets continue to grow in Queensland,Victoria, South
Melges 32 Racing Australia
Australia and WA due to the popularity of the class.
The Melges 32 annual regatta schedule includes some of Australia’s best racing
After many years of lobbying and organisation the highlight of 2014 was undoubtedly
including Hamilton Island, Sydney Harbour, Lake Macquarie, Moreton Bay
the Melges 24 World Championships hosted by Royal Geelong Yacht Club. RGYC locations
and
of
course
Pittwater. The RPAYC is home to many of Australia’s Melges 32’s. One
provided a professionally run and successful event both on and off the water which
of
the
most
competitive
and active owners and RPAYC representative to achieve
included organising Après racing events as well as the opportunity for International
success
in
2014
is
Chris
Way
Easy Tiger III. Easy Tiger III won the RPAYC Melges 32
teams to meet and interact with Australian native animals. The Australian crews
East
Coast
Championships
early
in the year and placed second to Gregg Prescott
benefitted from an informal Q and A session organised by Melges Asia Pacific with
2Unlimited
at
the
2014
Sydney
Harbour
Regatta. Easy Tiger III went on to win the
international elite sailors including Harry Melges and Andy Burdick from Melges
Super
30
division
of
the
2015
Sydney
Harbour
Regatta.
Boat Works, multiple World Champion Federico Michetti, International class President
Riccardo Simoneschi and local Olympic Champion Nathan Wilmot. Harry Melges The 2014 Melges 32 Australian Championships was hosted by Middle Harbour Yacht
steering Star earned the title of 2014 Australian Champion winning the Nationals Club. Some of Australia’s best sailors battled it out in tough conditions. Easy Tiger
which was run in conjunction with Geelong Race Week and treated as the Pre Worlds. III found himself finishing only three points behind winning boat Andrew Hunn
RPAYC members were amongst the leaders during the eleven race world series, Voodoo Chile, Gregg Prescott 2Unlimited in third place. Easy Tiger III wedged in
outstanding achievements included Cameron Miles skipping Roger That winning between the Tasmanian teams.
the Corinthian Division, Geoff Fogerty Amigos, third Corinthian and the first Australian
boat in sixth place overall was Melges Asia Pacific/Kaito skippered by Nathan Wilmot. Melges 32 teams are also able to compete internationally and one crew campaigned
for the 2014 Worlds. Melges 32 owner Barry Cuneo Envy Scooters from RQYS took
Cameron Miles Roger That continued to enjoy success during 2014, demonstrating his crew made up of fifty percent youth to Miami to compete in the Melges 32 World
excellent crew work winning the 2014 RPAYC OD Mid Winter Regatta, ahead of Kevin Championships in November 2014. Cuneo’s admirable efforts provided an invaluable
Nixon on Bandit/Accru and Peter Kendall Amigos in third place. Miles also led his opportunity, encouragement and support to youth sailors. The Envy Scooters crew
team to victory winning the title of 2014 NSW State Champion at Lake Macquarie returned, taking advantage of their international experience to win the 2015 Melges
Yacht Club in November. Peter Kendall Amigos from the RPAYC in third place.
32 Australian Championships on Lake Macquarie in February. RPAYC member Angus
The sixth Melges 24 2014 East Coast Championships held at the RPAYC was won by Reid Maxstar finished the Championships in second place.
club member and long standing one design sailor Stephen Girdis +GST.
The Melges classes provide exciting One Design racing, an annual regatta schedule
In addition to club racing in the RPAYC One Design or Sports boat Series, the Melges and club racing opportunities; they are well supported by Melges Asia Pacific and
24 Regatta Schedule provides options to race interstate or at International regattas. their Associations. Melges cater for all abilities and crew, look around at any regatta
RPAYC / CYCA boat Acc