The winter break in Europe is coming to an end and we are looking forward to the beginning of the new season of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Organizers from the Sailing Club Maestral and Croatian Melges 24 Class Association are pleased to announce the Notice of Race and online entry published for the season-opener of the 2022 Melges 24 European Sailing Series held in ACI Marina Rovinj over 1-3 April 2022. International Melges 24 Class Association is pleased to invite all sailing enthusiasts to open a new season in Croatia, coming to race with the youngest, but the fastest growing national class' fleet consisting current and past Croatian top sailors in several classes.

Croatian Melges 24 fleet started its season with holding the first Act of the CRO Melges 24 Cup 2022 in Dubrovnik already in January.

Filip Jurišić, the President of the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association is grateful and happy to welcome Melges 24 international fleet in Croatia: "We thank everyone who believed in our vision because in the second year of the Melges 24 class in Croatia we got the opportunity to host a prestigious regatta. It is a great honor for us to host the first event of the 2022 Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Rovinj. I hope that all guests and friends from the class will really enjoy all the beauties of Rovinj and I sincerely believe that we will gain the trust of the class to organize more great competitions in the future," concluded Filip Jurišić.

This first event of the Melges 24 class European season is based in the ACI Marina Rovinj, which many consider to be the most beautiful on the Adriatic. After a complete renovation and reopening in April 2019, it's a premier full-service facility that provides complete services and support for visiting sailors to meet the needs of even those who are difficult to please. ACI marina Rovinj is located on the south-eastern side of the city port, the site of the best view of the old city centre and the Church of St. Euphemia, as well as the island of St. Catherine. Ancient, densely spaced terracotta-roofed buildings and the giant baroque basilica of St Euphemia of Rovinj's old town are a perfect backdrop for tough and competitive racing.

For the past 30 years, picturesque Rovinj in Croatia was a perfect yachting hot spot for many world-renowned regattas including 44CUP, ClubSwan and the very famous ACI Match Race, with big sailing names like Russell Coutts, Peter Gilmour and Paul Cayard who all enjoyed sailing in this charming part of Istria.

Piero Andolina, IM24CA Vice Chair Europe encourages Melges 24 teams to start the season in Croatia and regardless the situation in the world to be optimistic about the season ahead.

"Dear friends, dear sailors, for sure the incoming year might seem less favourable for sailing and to sports in general: we still feel consequences of pandemic and we are facing developments and future effects of the insane and cruel events in Ukraine. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ukraine, and we are hoping to see blue skies over this country soon.

Nevertheless, it's for the same reason that, as when in regatta, we must look forward for a new, favourable wind of hope: sailing can be a way to give everybody a trustful and optimistic view.
I sincerely hope that you will agree with me when I say - we must be proud to have the privilege of practicing our sport today and to do that on the best monohull boat ever. Let me thank you all for your sailing enthusiasm, I look forward to meeting you all on the starting line."

At the same time, it's the busy weekend of Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta in Miami – very nearby to the venue of our upcoming Melges 24 Worlds 2022 in May in Fort Lauderdale. "There's time to prepare and register yet! If you are looking for a charter or even a boat to buy, please let the Class know. We are looking to have a strong and great fleet of Melges 24s on the line for our first World Championship in 3 years!" says Laura Grondin, IM24CA Chair.

2022 Melges 24 European Sailing Series consists of the six events. The season will open in iconic Rovinj, Croatia (April 1-3) and will continue in the venue of the 2021 edition's final event - Trieste, Italy (April 29 – May 1), where is based one of the largest Melges 24 fleets in Italy. The 2022 Melges 24 European Sailing Series will then move on to the internal waters, with a third event to be sailed on Lake Attersee, Austria (May 27-29), where the Melges 24 fleet was last in May 2020. Fourth event of the series will be sailed on Garda Lake, Italy (July 22-24). Being very popular with sailors because of the optimal weather, has Melges 24 class sailed there many successful and well-attended races during the history. Approaching the European Championship, the fifth event of the series will move to the open waters in Imperia, Italy (September 23-25), near to the main venue and event of the season – Melges 24 European Championship to be held in Genova, Italy over 22-29 October 2022.