Melges 24 Worlds preview

Star cast to descend on San Francisco reports Fi Brown

Some seventy Melges 24 teams from nine nations are gathering at the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco in preparation for the Audi Melges 24 World Championship, which kicks off on Monday 13 October. The entry roster includes all the leading Melges 24 teams as well as some interesting new faces.

Reigning World Champions Harry Melges and Jeff Ecklund have teamed up with Steve Inman and Hans Melges in a bid to get their hands on the title for a second time, whilst 2001 World Champion Flavio Favini is back in the class after time out for the Mescalzone Latino America's Cup Challenge. Having won the 1998 and 1999 Melges Worlds Vince Brun obviously has his sights set on a record third win and has joined forces with Brian and John Porter and Andy Burdick making a formidable combination.

2003 European Champion Luca Santella, with tactician Morgan Larson, has his eye on a grand slam this year, whilst Jamie Lea, winner of the last two Melges 24 World Ranking Series, will be determined to finally take a major championship to go with his ranking successes. Frenchman Philippe Ligot's high successful P&P Sailing Team are joined by helmsman Morgan Reeser and with Sebastian Col on tactics could well do some damage. US sailors to keep an eye on are Dave Ullman, Argyle Campbell, Bruce Ayres and Don Jesberg whilst the European contingent includes Paul Brotherton, Benoit Charon, Stuart Rix, Rob Smith, Egidio Babbi, Rob Greenhalgh and Oliver Ponthieu.

Of the new faces John Bertrand and his Windquest team will be worth watching, as will James Spithill's Southern Spars crew of One World America's Cup Challenge veterans Scott Vogel and Matthew Mason with Mark Hauser.

For those of you who like a side bet, the battle between Philippe Kahn and his teenage son Shark, who helmed his first Melges 24 regatta in Key West last January, is guaranteed to provide some excitement. With Mark Reynolds, Adam Beashel and Doogie Couvreux crewing from Philippe and Richard Clarke, Mark Christensen and Brian Lee keeping Shark company there's no lack of talent in the Pegasus camp and Philippe won't be the only one worried about being upstaged by the young whippersnapper.

Founded in 1927, St. Francis Yacht Club, within view of the Golden Gate Bridge, is a year-round host to over 30 regattas on San Francisco Bay. For over 75 years the club members have supported the founding premise of encouraging yachting through racing, cruising and junior sailor development. The Club is renown for its expertise in running world and national championships, hosting in 2003 the J-105 North Americans, US Sailing Team Racing Championship, Audi Melges 24 World Championship and Keane Star North Americans.

List of entries

	Owner	Skipper	Boatname	Hometown	Crew 1	Crew 2	Crew 3	Crew 4
1	Claes Rojining Reklam AB	Claes Rojining	Sitting Duck	Spanga, SWEDEN	Anders Waldner	Marten Jenner	Rickard Melander
2	Dietrich Scheder	Dietrch Scheder	Masui M	Hamburg, GERMANY	Thomas Iseler	Christoph Heymann
3	Babbi Egidio	Babbi Egidio		Cesena, ITALY	Jean Contant
4	Giovanni Maspero	Luca Santella	Joe Fly	Olgiate Conasco Cono, ITALY	Morgan Larson	Federico Michetti	Francesca Prina
5	Coco & Carlos Vroon		Tape That	Brielle, the Netherlands	Siebe Noordzij	Dirk Reiddel
6	Franco Rossini	Flavio Favini	Blu Mun	Switzerland	Alberto Prestinoni	Tiziano Nava	Serena Cima
7	David Brayshaw	Charon Benoit	Hard Core	Granville, FRANCE	Saliou Jean Philippe	Roux Jean Paul	Duval Lemonnier Bruno
8	Wayne Pignolet	Le Moign Damien	Wichard	Saint Vaast La Hougue, FRANCE	Noel Alexandre	Napoly Gregoire	Maury Benoit	Auret Jerome
9	Phillipe Ligot	Phillipe Ligot	P&P Sailing Team	La Rochelle, FRANCE	Morgan Reeser	Sebastian Col	William Thomas	Thomas Allin
10		Olivier Ponthieu	Groupe Lucien Barriere	Couilly, Pout aux Dames, FRANCE	Dudouit Aurelie	Fichet Gael	Cardin Olivier	Ponthieu Christian
11	Chartered from C. Doubek	Ian Cleaver		Argyll, Scotland, UK	Chris Owen	Paul Brotherton	Mark Asquith	Ian Howarth
12	Paul Lovejoy	Robert Greenhalgh		Hamble, South Hampton, UK	Peter Greenhalgh	Anthony Haine	Andrew Daniels
13	Richard Thompson	Jamie Lea	Black Seal	Hampshire, GBR	Nigel Young	Jim Schwardz
14	Stuart Simpson	Rob Smith	Barbarians	London, UK	Freddie Kemp	Matt Straker
15	Martin Wedge	Martin Wedge		Surrey, UK	Neil Fulcher	Scott Allen	Mike Holt
16	Joe Woods	Joe Woods	Silver	Cockington, Torquay, UK	Paddy Bettesworth	Tim Edwards	Tim Spink	Gen Stringer
17	Jeff Ecklund	Jeff Ecklund	Star	Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA	Harry Melges	Hans Melges	Steve Inman
18	Sheldon Ecklund	Sheldon Ecklund	Tickler	West Palm Beach, FL 33409	Jeff Madrigali	Bill Bennett	Andy Labanauski
19	Sean/ Todd Scarborough	Sean Scarborough	Rhino	Ocean City, NJ USA	Mike McGuckin	Brian Huntsman
20	Simon/Quentin Strauss	Stuart Rix	GBR576	New York, NY USA	Quentin Strauss	Simon Strauss	Mike Claxton
21	John Bertrand	John Bertrand	Windquest	Annapolis, MD 21401	Scott Nixon	Brinn Janney	Ted Kaczmarski
22	Kenneth Kaan	Kenneth Kaan	Backbreaker	Honolulu, HI USA	Alan Nakanishi	Art Musso	Dalton Bergen	Kui Lim
23	Chuck Holzman	Chuck Holzman	Flyer 02	Farmington Hills, MI USA	Pat Drummond	Paul Kerber	Wally Cross
24	Brian Porter	Brian Porter	Full Throttle	Winnetka, IL USA	Andy Burdick	Vince Brun	Dave Navin
25	Evan Jahn	Evan Jahn	BlingBling	Chicago, IL USA	Will Kalmbach	Patrick McMath	Gretchen Brauer	George Peet
26	Tom Freytag	Tom Freytag	Wicked Feet	Lake Geneva, WI USA	Bill Freytag	Ben Cooke	Rick Kotovic
27	Keith Grzelak	Keith Grzelak	Twisted Mister	Spokane, WA USA	Paul Stroup	Vladmir Kulinichenko	Jerry Goggin
28	Charles Guildner	Charles Guildner	Tikanga	Mount Vernon, WA USA	Edward Snyders	Dave Steffan	Collin Guildner	Connor Reinicke
29	Team DWW	Chris Winnard	Dangerous When Wet	Bothall, WA USA	Sam Richardson	Bryan Agnetta	Chris Kennedy
30	Marv Toland	Marv Toland	Puttanesca	Kirkland, WA USA	Laurian Toland	Chris Roberts	Jakob Lichtenberg	Kathryn Meyer
31	Paul Bennett	Paul Bennett	Goose N' Duck	Seattle, WA USA	Bob Pistay	Ryon Warren	Dave Reid
32	Glenn Klute	Glenn Klute	Trophy Wife	Seattle, WA USA	Terry Cady	Rebecca Green	Katie Jordan
33	Doug Du Bois	Doug Du Bois	USA183	Park City, UT USA	Jeff Cohen	Jim Sheldon	Brian Killion
34	Jay McRostie / Pattie Stone	Kerry Poe	Stryk	Gresham, OR USA	Jay McRostie	Kent Sisk	Jarvis Brecker
35	Paul/Gail Teveliet	Andy Mack	Bandit	Milwaukie, Oregon USA	Paul Teveliet	Ray McCormick	Doug Hickman
36	Jeffrey Brizes	Jeffrey Brizes		La Jolla, CA 92037	Sean Svendsen	Keith Love	Campbell Rivers
37	Argyle Campbell	Argyle Campbell	Rock N' Roll	Newport Beach, CA USA	Jack Franco	Rob Lindley	Jim Barkow	Wheeler Simmons
38	Bruce Ayres	Bruce Ayres	Monsoon	Newport Beach, CA USA	Jon Pinckney	Don Smith	Dave Shelton
39		Dave Ullman		Newport Beach, CA USA	Pease Glaser	Jay Glaser	Bruce Edwards	Stacie Straw
40	Doug Weitz	Doug Weitz/Matt McQueen	Average White Boat	Marina Del Rey, CA USA	Dave Houser	Mark Breen	Dan Brandt
41	Rob Arrand	Rob Arrand	Don't Be No Dread	Venice, CA USA	Mike Whalen	Chad Turner	Roberto Giramonti
42	Hubert Guy	Hubert Guy	Enigma	Pasedena, CA USA	Pierre Jeangirard	Pascal Quilly	Laura	Frederic Courdurle
43	Southern Spars	James Spithill	Southern Spars	Genoa, NV USA	Scott Vogel	Mark Hauser	Matthew Mason
44	Dan Hauserman	Dan Hauserman	Personal Puff	Tahoe City, CA USA	Nick Pullen	Matt Clark	Justin Casey
45	Stan Eriksson	Stan Eriksson	American Spirit	Tahoe City, CA USA	Jim Sadark	Norm Anderson	Blair Wallace
46	Dean Daniels	Dean Daniels	Carpe Cerevisiam	Kirkwood, CA USA	Lance Berc	Mike Straus	Bob McComp
47	Peter Dalton	Peter Dalton	Minor Threat	Santa Cruz, CA USA	Chris Watts	John Gunderson
48	Bret Gripenstraw	Dennis Bassano	Sofa King Fast	Santa Cruz, CA USA	Mark Golsh	Mike Evans
49	Philippe Kahn	Samuel "Shark" Kahn	Pegasus 24-1	Honolulu, HI USA	Richard Clarke	Mark Christensen	Brian Lee
50	Philippe Kahn	Philippe Kahn	Pegasus 24-3	Honolulu, HI USA	Mark Reynolds	Adam Beashel	Doogie Couvreux
51	Tim Hawkins	Pepe Parsons	Go Dogs. Go!	Scotts Valley, CA USA	Stacey Nelson
52	Scott Dale	Scott Dale	Smokeshow	Los Gatos, CA USA	Kyle Dick	Kevin Hagan	Jason Joel
53	Robert Harff	Robert Harff	Bones	Sonoma, CA USA	George Hughes	Jason Crowson
54	Jeff Woodhill	Darrell Lager	Rocket Widget	Livermore, CA USA	Bill Boas	Russ Detwiler	Trudy Vanhoue
55	Adam Simms	Adam Simms	Sea Ya	Sunnyvale, CA USA	Patricio Sly	Jorge Agnese	Lorenzo Petrucci
56	Kimberly Arntson	Kimberly Arntson	Nikita	Danville, CA USA	Paul Arntson	Andy Alsop	Clay Bartell	Anthony Bascallo
57	Leslie Richter	Team Atomic Dog		San Leandro, CA USA	Saul Schumsky	Sally Lang	Jan Crosbie-Taylor	JC Durbin / Max Thompson
58	Jeff Littfin	Jeff Littfin	Grinder	San Matep, CA USA	Scott Inveon	Steve Pugh	Jon Collins
59	Jeff Thorpe	Jeff Thorpe	Sabotage	San Rafael, CA	Tim Duffy	Will Paxton
60	Dennis Surtees / Tom Montoya	Dennis Surtees	Abracadabra III	Point Richmond, CA USA	Tom Montoya	Rob Kessel	Dave Alexander
61	Zarko Draganic	Hank Lammens	Cavallino	Belvedere, CA USA	Mark Lammens	Johnny Clarke
62	Kevin Clark	Kevin Clark	Smokin	Orinda, CA USA	Tom Rankin	Mike Andrews	Terry Paln
63	Tim Fay / Bill Wright	Bill Wright	Jolly Jar	Larkspur, CA USA	Peter King	George Szabo	Andrea Cabito
64	Don Jesberg	Don Jesberg	Ego	Mill Valley, CA USA	Will Baylis	Andrew Holdsworth	Richard Matthews
65	Warren Davidson	Warren Davidson		Emeryville, CA USA	Ian Storer	Wade Duckworth	Tom Quinn
66	Nigel Donnelly / Mike O'Brien	Nigel Donnelly	Va Va Voom	San Francisco, CA 94133	Greg Wimmer	Dale Hoffman	Mike O'Brien
67	David Wadbrook	Peter Vessella	Surfeit	San Francisco, CA USA	David Wadbrook	John Rook	Henry Olson
68	Seadon Wijsen	Seadon Wijsen		San Francisco, CA USA	Dennis George	Larry Swift	John Oldham
69	Rick Moseley	Rick Moseley	Team Moseley	San Francisco, CA USA	Jonny Moseley	Josh Alexander	Skip McCormack