WORLD LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to Igor Rytov's RUSSIAN BOGATYRS: 2017 Melges 20 World League Champions!
🥇 Rytov sailed an incredible series and absolutely dominated the international rankings of all Melges 20 sailors. The new World League Champions performed at an elite level, averaging a 5th place finish in deeply competitive fleets across an impressive 11 events this season. They won the Melges 20 European Championship and also earned the title of Melges 20 World League European Division champions. Once the Bogatyrs reached the top of the Melges World League podium, they never looked back.
Rytov's Russian Bogatyrs team is surely the team to beat in the 2018 Melges 20 World League when the rankings start fresh.
Cheers to the Bogatyrs! 🥂✨
ASIAN DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Naoki Hirakawa's SWIFT MAGIC won Japan Melges Week to bring them to the very top of the Melges 20 World League Asian Division, taking home the 2017 title! It was a very close series, with Swift Magic finishing only two points ahead of Koji Matsumoto's TEMPUS6 and three points ahead of Takahiro Kato's QUATRE HIRO.
NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Champions Drew Freides & Pacific Yankee won the North American Division of the Melges 20 World League by a wide margin. It's been a record-breaking year for the team – winning the Melges 20 World Championship in Newport along with the overall top finish in the 2017 Melges 20 Miami Winter Series and numerous event wins.
EUROPEAN DIVISION CHAMPIONS
Igor Rytov's RUSSIAN BOGATYRSÂ were also crowned champions of the Melges 20 World League European Division, narrowly defeating Vladimir Prosikhin's NIKA and Achille Onorato's MASCALZONE LATINO JR. after the five European results were all tallied up.
TOP 5 OVERALL
IN THE 2017 MELGES 20 WORLD LEAGUE
2017 Melges 20 World League Champions
Igor Rytov, RUSSIAN BOGATYRS
177 points
Second Place
Vladimir Prosikhin, NIKA
120 points
Third Place
Drew Freides, PACIFIC YANKEE
117 points
Fourth Place
Achille Onorato, MASCALZONE LATINO JR.
100 points
Fifth Place
Jason Michas, MIDNIGHT BLUE
87 points
The Melges 20 Experience
Simple, fun world-class racing at yachting's most celebrated venues. Corinthians and professionals alike.
Year after year, that's what the Melges 20 Experience is all about.
New boats and great used boats are available. Jump in and come race for the 2018 Melges 20 World League!
2018 MELGES 20 WORLD LEAGUE
The 2018 Melges 20 World League launches into action this February with the 2018 Melges Miami Winter Regatta on February 9-11 hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club. Melges 20s live for Biscayne Bay racing excitement and action. Online registration is open here:
MIAMI WINTER SERIESÂ EVENT NO. 2: February 9-11, 2018
Stay tuned for a full 2018 Melges 20 World League Schedule Announcement.
LINKS
For More Information
ON NEW BOATS AND CERTIFIED USED BOATS:
Harry Melges III · harry@melges.com · (262) 275-1110
Andy Burdick · andy@melges.com · (262) 275-1110
Federico Michetti · federico@melges.com · +39.349.8569100
ON THE STORY:
Hannah Noll · hannah@melges.com · (262) 275-1110
About the Melges 20
The Melges 20 fulfills the need for a more compact, yet spacious, fast, well-built sportboat. With its introduction, Melges Performance Sailboats delivered the next generation of sailboat racing and competition. An exclusive Reichel Pugh keelboat design, it is advanced in every respect. Seriously fun, simple to sail, made with high-quality materials and easy to rig, the Melges 20 enjoys a well-established and ever-growing worldwide fleet and fan base. A sexy, sharp bow delivers maximum upwind performance. The stable, flat aft and asymmetrical spinnaker gives way to an exhilarating, fast and fun planing experience. For more information on the Melges 20 and the International Melges 20 Class Association, visit www.melges20.com.
About Melges
For more than 70 years, Melges Performance Sailboats has proudly delivered superior-built scows and sportboats around the world and now offers the Melges IC37 Class, Melges 14 and Melges 40. Melges Performance Sailboats provides continuous customer service and product support unlike anyone else. Every Melges boat is signed, sealed, endorsed and delivered race ready by the best, for the best. For more information about Melges Performance Sailboats, visit melges.com.
Credits:
Photography by Barracuda Communication, Steve Bernstein, and Hannah Noll