Tight Battles Emerging Across the Melges 24 Fleet
With five of the eleven scheduled events now complete, the 2026 North American Sailing Series (NASS), jointly coordinated by the U.S. Melges 24 Class and the Canadian Melges 24 Class in cooperation with the International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA), is approaching the halfway point, with the competition remaining remarkably close at the top of both the Overall and Corinthian leaderboards.
After strong performances throughout the season, Peter McClennen's Gamecock currently leads the overall standings with 90 points. Close behind is Dick Kalow's Mustang with 87 points, while Steve Boho's The 300 sits third overall as the summer championship season rolls on.
The Corinthian division has also seen movement in recent weeks. John Poulson's Longshot has climbed into the top position, followed by Marty Jensen on Zig Zag in second and Davis MacLeod’s Mojo in third.
"It's exciting to see our name at the top of the Corinthian standings," said John Poulson of Longshot. "The reality is that we do this because we love sailing the Melges 24. It's an incredibly fun boat to race, and we've had a great time competing this season. Being recognized in the rankings is certainly rewarding, but what's most important is getting out on the water with good friends and enjoying the experience. When you can do that and have some success along the way, it's pretty special."
One unique aspect of the 2026 NASS is that success is rewarded not only at marquee championship events but also through participation in regional racing programs across the continent. Series standings are calculated using a competitor's best four NASS event scores, plus one-third of the points earned in qualifying regional series competition, including the Southeast Racing Series, Quantum Great Lakes Cup, and West Coast Series. Full details and specifics on scoring are outlined in the NASS Notice of Series.
That format recognizes teams that consistently support Melges 24 fleet racing throughout the season while rewarding strong performances across multiple venues and regions, at home and away.
To date, 78 teams have earned points toward the 2026 Series standings, highlighting the depth and strength of competition throughout the fleet.
With six events still remaining on the schedule, plenty of opportunities remain for teams to improve their positions before the final rankings are determined.
While attention remains focused on the current standings, all Melges 24 owners and teams should keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement regarding a brand-new December event that will close out the 2026 season.
Plans are currently being finalized, and built for every Melges 24 team. Designed to bring the fleet together both on and off the water, it will feature plenty of fun, competitive racing – all of the elements that have made the Melges 24 one of the most enduring and beloved classes in sailing.
More importantly, this event will serve as a reminder of why so many of us chose the Melges 24 in the first place. Beyond the competition, it is about great sailing, great people, and the simple enjoyment of spending a day on the water in a boat that continues to deliver an unmatched sailing experience.
At a time when interest in the class is high and continues to grow, this event will bring everything back into focus and celebrate the spirit that has always been at the heart of the Melges 24 fleet.
