2019 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship at Fairhope, Alabama - Overall
by USM24CA 27 May 2019 05:30 PDT
22-26 May 2019
Goldfarb wins Melges 24 U.S. National Championship © Melges Performance Sailboats / Hannah Lee Noll
The final day of competition at the 2019 Melges 24 Nationals concluded in dramatic fashion with Seattle, Washington's Michael Goldfarb at the helm of Warcanoe with crew members David Brink, Jonny Goldsberry and Morten Henriksen becoming the new Melges 24 U.S. National Champions!
A total of seven races were completed, and although K.C. Shannon's Shaka maintained a strong lead for the last two days, it was the discards that mostly helped Goldfarb drop his worst score and take over the lead at the completion of Race Six. Even still, he kept consistent with two more single-digit finishes that earned him the win, and title of 2019 Melges 24 U.S. National Champion.
Travis Weisleder's Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team finished the event in second, further intensifying his battle with third place finisher Bruce Ayres' Monsoon for superiority on the 2019 National Ranking Series.
To no one's surprise, the Corinthian Division was fiercely fought. Seventeen out of the 35 registered entries qualified for the special racing category with Steve Suddath's Three and Half Men winning start to finish with team members Steve and Sean Burke, and Jack Smith. They are the 2019 Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champions.
Lee Eikel's Last Call with Max Albert at the helm took home second place Corinthian honors, followed by Megan and Hunter Ratliff on Decorum in third.
Sunday brought on yet another hot day with light air racing conditions. Weisleder won Race Six, while former, 2017 National Champ Kevin Welch with driver Jeff Madrigali on MiKEY claimed victory in Race Seven.
Very lucky indeed
With three National Ranking events now completed, Weisleder leads the 2019 Series by one point. Ayres is now situated in second, while Brian Porter's Full Throttle and Welch continue to battle it out for third and fourth tied with equal points. K.C. Shannon's Shaka completes the top five. Click to view the Full 2019 National Ranking Series Results.
Thank you Alabama!
The U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USM24CA) would like to extend a very special round of thanks to the Fairhope Yacht Club as they were the perfect host, in particular to Regatta Chair Scott Hartwell and the countless, other volunteers at the Club that strived to make this event the very, very best. Many thanks to PRO Hal Smith and his race committee, and management team. The USM24CA sends a huge round of thanks to all the sponsors that supported the event and the many teams who traveled to race.
With great honor and respect
And lastly but certainly not least, the USM24CA, on this momentous Memorial Day weekend offer up an endless stream of gratitude and appreciation for our military, and the incredible sacrifices they have made, and continue to make to keep our country free. We honor you and, we remember you! A specific shout to our very own Steven Young on Melges 24 Patriot IV!
Overall Results: (top ten, 7 races)
1. USA - Michael Goldfarb, Warcanoe; 1-[17]-1-5-2-3-9 = 21
2. USA - Travis Weisleder, Lucky Dog/ Gill Race Team; 6-2-6-[20]-7-1-4 = 26
3. USA - Bruce Ayres, Monsoon; [8]-5-3-7-3-6-2 = 26
4. USA - KC Shannon, Shaka; 2-7-4-3-6-[18/SCP]-5 = 27
5. USA - Kevin Welch/ Jeff Madrigalli, MiKEY; [16]-12-5-2-1 = 30
6. CAN - Richard Reid, Zingara; 10-8-2-[11]-4-4-3 = 31
7. USA - Brian Porter, Full Throttle; 21-4-[14]-1-5-8-8 = 40
8. USA - Alex Shafer, VIXEN; [28]-3-7-16-1-9-11 = 47
9. USA - Wes Whitmyer Jr., Slingshot; 11-10-[20]-8-17-5-6 = 57
10. USA - Steve Suddath (C), 3 half Men; 9-9-9-12-9-14-[36/RET] = 62
View Full Results
Corinthian Results: (top five, 7 races)
1. USA - Steve Suddath, 3 half Men; 62 pts.
2. USA - Lee Eikel/Max Albert, Last Call; 80 pts.
3. USA - Megan Ratliff/Hunter Ratliff, Decorum; 88 pts.
4. USA - Ryan Glaze, Gringo; 90 pts.
5. USA - Glen Tonguis/Chris Wientjes, Kryptonite; 95 pts.
National Ranking Results: (top ten after 3 events)
1. USA - Travis Weisleder, Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team; 91 pts.
2. USA - Bruce Ayres, Monsoon; 90 pts.
3. USA - Brian Porter, Full Throttle; 85 pts.
4. USA - Kevin Welch, MiKEY; 85 pts.
5. USA - KC Shannon, Shaka; 82 pts.
6. USA - John Brown, Blind Squirrel; 72 pts.
7. USA - Wes Whitmyer, Slingshot; 72 pts.
8. USA - Megan Ratliff (C), Decorum; 64 pts.
9. USA - Laura Grondin, Dark Energy; 55 pts.
10. USA - Steve Boho, The 300; 54 pts.
More information at usmelges24.com and yachtscoring.com.