British championship to use USA boat

Since 1976, the US Sailing Championship of Champions is that annual competition when one design title holders gather to compete in the same boat for ultimate bragging rights. The 2025 edition will be held in the Sandpiper, a 15-foot catboat developed in 1972.

While the US event uses a different boat and venue each year, the sister event in England – Endeavour Trophy – is always hosted on the east coast by Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, and has used the 13-foot RS200 for the last nine years. But in a significant shift, the Brits are replacing this English-built boat with a competing brand from the USA.

The Reichel/Pugh-designed two-person Melges 15, which will be launched in the UK at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show 2025, is new to the market in the UK with Melges Performance Sailboats to provide 30 brand-new, fully equipped boats for the event.

“We have a three-year contract with Melges, so we are looking forward to being able to provide our 30-strong teams of invited champions this year, and going forward, with top-spec racing boats that promise to offer spectacular racing,” reports Edwin Buckley, event director and race officer.

The success of the Melges 15 in the USA has been unprecedented, with winter events attracting 100+ boats. “Since its launch, demand has been off the scale in the USA not only from those from other classes, but also newcomers to racing. It has been particularly popular with couples and youngsters,” shared Isaac Marsh, UK Melges 15 agent and class coordinator.

Marsh added, “In some ways it is not a huge step away from the RS200, in fact, I would say it bridges the gap between the RS200 and RS400. It is beamy and has a flat aft section to promote quick planning, has a smaller main than the 200 but a larger kite, and offers what I believe to be an optimum overall crew weight range of 125-150kg.”

Additionally, the Vakaros – Race Sense Technology will be used, with all boats fitted with an Atlas 2 compass that partners with a multi-featured committee boat device which, among other things, detects OCSs.