Melges 24 North American Championship heads to decisive Sunday

Day Two of racing at the 2025 Melges 24 North American Championship, held in conjunction with Bacardi Winter Series Event No. 1, delivered exactly what the fleet anticipated from a championship “moving day,” as shifting conditions, tactical decisions, and standout performances reshaped the leaderboard after three challenging races on Biscayne Bay.

The original plan called for racing in the southern portion of the Bay, but warm temperatures and persistently light air quickly forced the fleet into an early postponement. With the breeze at the weather mark fluctuating between one and four knots, the race management team worked diligently, monitoring any developing conditions. After waiting an hour, the decision was made to relocate the course back to the same vicinity used on Friday, a move that proved decisive as racing got underway shortly thereafter.

The opening race of the day produced one of the standout stories of the regatta so far, as Matt Hamilton at the helm of Chop Chop, a Corinthian entry, delivered a commanding wire-to-wire victory. Launching off the line with speed and control, Hamilton and his team extended on every leg to secure a decisive win, marking the second race victory by a Corinthian team in six races and underscoring the rapidly rising standard within the all-amateur division.

“I really have to thank my crew—they did a wonderful job today,” said US West Coast District Governor Matt Hamilton. “This result has nothing to do with just me. It’s about my crew and their support, everyone doing their jobs and executing exactly what they needed to do to make it all happen.”

“The Corinthian division in this fleet is amazing. The level of sailing is incredibly high, and what really stands out is how helpful everyone is in this Class. It’s great to see non-pro teams that truly want to compete, put in the work, and do well. That is what makes this fleet so special.”

Race Two saw newly inducted US Melges 24 Class President and 2024 Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Geoff Fargo at the helm of Sentinel return to the top step of the podium, continuing the trend established on Friday of multiple race winners and a tightly compressed fleet.

The final and most consequential race of the day brought high drama and significant leaderboard movement. Despite being over early, Harry Melges IV at the helm of Zenda Express came back from an OCS on the start, to ultimately engage in a prolonged match-race battle with Bora Gulari racing Mavi up the final beat, with a pack of best friends that includes Kyle Navin, Trevor Burd, Norm Berg and Bryson Hough. Gulari and Melges rounded the top mark almost overlapped before splitting strategies downwind, where Gulari protected the favored pressure and went on to claim the win, with Melges finishing second after a remarkable comeback. Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny finished third while staying in the top three mix throughout the race, trailed by Great Britain’s Stuart Simpson racing Team Barbarians, a legendary Corinthian Melges 24 team finishing fourth, followed by Michael Goldfarb’s WarCanoe in fifth.

In the Corinthian standings, Eddie Gary, at the helm of Troublemaker, maintained his position at the top of the division. Simpson and the ‘Barbies’ posted an impressive 11-7-4 scoreline on the day, climbing to second place in the Corinthian rankings and 11th overall. Canada’s Class President and former North American Champion, Dan Berezin, racing Surprise, experienced a slight setback, dropping to third in the all-amateur division, placing him 16th overall.

With Sunday set as the final day of racing, the stakes extend well beyond the North American Championship itself. In addition to crowning the Melges 24 NA Champion and the winner of Bacardi Winter Series Event No. 1, results will also determine the overall 2025 Melges 24 North American Sailing Series Champions. Entering the final day, the series standings remain exceptionally tight, with Peter McClennen’s Gamecock, Fargo, and Steve Boho’s The 300 all still in contention for the season title. While final race count and conditions will dictate the remaining opportunities for movement, efficient race turnaround enabled by Vakaros RaceSense technology positions the fleet to capitalize on whatever breeze develops. By day’s end on Sunday, three major titles will be decided, setting the stage for a high-pressure, championship-defining conclusion.