International Melges 24 Association of Australia

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BUNDABERG RUM NATIONAL SPORTSBOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS GEELONG

THE ULTIMATE, THE MAXIMUM IN HIGH PERFORMANCE ONE DESIGN RACING

KEY FEATURES

*    Features high-tech components and materials such as carbon fibre spar, rudder, bowsprit, keel fin

*    Fun and easy to sail as well as rig, only requires two people for a quick setup

*    Can be launched by ramp or hoist and a pleasure to tow

*    International regatta schedule boasting more than 100 events worldwide

*    A strong and well organised international class organisation with a regularly updated website with
       race reports,  photos etc

*    Enthusiastic National class association

Designed by Reichel/Pugh, its professionally engineered, high-tech stance includes a carbon fiber spar, rudder, bowsprit and vertical keel fin. Another key component of the M24™ is a 62.24 sq m asymmetrical spinnaker that lifts and pulls the boat forward on a downwind sprint. It adds speed, simplicity and ease of handling giving way to a more challenging tactical race. That’s built-in performance!

This get-up-and-go sport boat package has the ability to facilitate trailering, hoist and ramp launching. With a retractable keel designed specifically for travelling, it fits behind any vehicle and hitch on a custom, galvanized-steel Melges Performance Sailboats trailer with fibreglass bunks. The Melges 24 possesses an easy to rig personality requiring only two sets of hands for a quick set-up. Weighing in at a healthy 808.75 kg, this streamlined baby is a pleasure to haul from your local club to a World Championship. To date, over 600 boats are sailed competitively around the world. Half of the entire fleet exists in the United States while the remaining national classes are spread out over 18 European and Asian countries and now Australia and New Zealand proving that it demands an international audience.

For generations, the Melges family has enjoyed the pure pleasure and thrill of racing sailboats. Ever since Harry C. Melges, Sr. built his first scow out of northern cedar in 1943, the Melges family has been committed to building the finest boats, sails, spars, covers and all other types of sailing equipment. From 1945 on the Melges company has been building many different types of boats, but in 1993 after winning the America's Cup Buddy and sons Harry and Hans began a whole new era with the Melges 24.

The Melges 24 which was designed by Reichel/Pugh after the 1992 Cup features many America's cup innovations. The use of carbon fibre, vertical carbon keel fin with lead bulb, a kelp cutter installed for kelp clearance, carbon spar, rudder and bow sprit. Although these innovations are on the cutting edge for production sailboats it just makes the boat that much more enjoyable for the weekend racer.

The Melges 24 is quick and simple to set up for just two people. The carbon fibre spar is just 62 pounds fully rigged and is deck stepped in minutes. The custom Melges mast step allows the sailor to just put the base into the step, lock in and walk up. After connecting the roller furler jib, the boom and the boom vang you are virtually ready to go sailing. It takes a practiced couple just 25 minutes to fully rig this boat.

Sailing the Melges 24

Simple is the key word here. The boat is very stable with its minimum weight aloft and maximum weight down below. The carbon keel fin weighs just 35 pounds while it supports a lead bulb of 630 pounds five feet below. This makes for a comfortable sail in all conditions.

No winches! No winches are needed upwind or downwind on this 24 foot boat. This makes your crew happy. With the class jib of 11.71 sq m you never worry about difficult trimming.

You sail with either 2-5 people total. Typical one-design sailors race with 4 people in total weighing no more than 360 kg as there is a racing weight limit. Certainly, you can enjoy daysailing the boat with just two people and as many as 6 people with the Melges 24's 12 foot cockpit. Downwind sailing in your Melges 24 is the most fun! With the carbon bow sprit you can easily set and hoist your Melges asymmetrical with limited crew work and zero foredeck work. Once you have your asymmetrical set you are able to sail high angles for speed or low angles for comfort. Gybing is as easy as 1-2-3. Just ease your current sheet, gybe the boat, trim your new sheet to fill the asymmetrical. Viola, you are on your new gybe.

The Melges 24 is designed to facilitate trailering, hoist launching and ramp launching. The boat has a retractable keel for trailering purposes. Thus, when the boat is on the trailer the deck is just chest high. It fits right behind any vehicle with any size trailer hitch. The Melges 24 weighs just 808.75 kg so going down the highway is free and easy.

The custom Melges trailer is steel galvanized and features high-quality fiberglass bunks. No question, the very best trailering package for any sailboat consumer.