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MIDWEST HIGH PERFORMACE SAILING CAMP US Sailing ODP Clinic in the Melges 14

"There will be many moments where you are not able to do what you want to do. You will fail to reach your goals. That’s a fact you must accept. You need to work hard, make mistakes, and make corrections. That’s how you will get to the top of your game."

The Midwest's top junior sailors trained hard at the Midwest High Performance Sailing Camp. The US Sailing Olympic Development Program (ODP) event was sailed in Melges 14s at the Geneva Lake Sailing School.

17 athletes were selected by sailing resumé to represent the region at the ODP Clinic. These midwesterners received top-notch coaching, giving them a window into their dreams of sailing at an olympic level.

Keep scrolling to see the full roster

For high resolution images, email hannah@melges.com.

"You're going to learn how to learn."

TRAIN HARD

Each day started out with a workout led by Coach Caroline Atwood, a current olympic campaigner in the 49erFX class and the program director of the 29er Skiff Squad. Atwood played a key role, sharing advice, technical support, and stories from launching and training for her own campaign. US Sailing Youth Director John Pearce brought technical smarts and a knowledge of the sport through a youth development lens. USODA National Team Coach Marek Valasek directs the Geneva Lake Sailing School and the Buddy Melges Racing Team; the sailors learned from his experience sailing the Finn at the 1996 Olympic Games. Daily drone footage and stills provided by Melges Performance Sailboats and the Melges 14 Class helped sailors visualize difficult concepts and learn from their mistakes. Olympic Medalist & successful America's Cup skipper Buddy Melges was the honorary guest at the team dinner, sharing stories and showing the students that Midwest sailors can reach the highest level of the sport.

GAME FACES ON

Sailors walked away from the clinic with a renewed excitement for sailing at an elite level, new techniques to improve their skills, and a deeper understanding of the Olympic pipeline and how it is accessible to Midwest sailors.

A PRIME SETUP

The Melges 14 proved to be a perfect training platform for the clinic. Sailors were ecstatic about sailing the hottest new one-design dinghy. The modern singlehanded boat won the coveted Boat of the Year seal from Sailing World Magazine in 2016 and the fleet has continued to grow at a rapid pace since it was first introduced two years ago. With a modern, fast design from Reichel/Pugh, the Melges 14 is built by Melges Performance Sailboats in Zenda, Wisconsin USA and sails with one or two people. The carbon mast and boom complements its flexible sail plan with three rigs. With boats in North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, the Melges 14 is emerging as a true one-design racer.

THE ROSTER

COACHES

Caroline Atwood · John Pearce · Marek Valasek

SAILORS

Seventeen sailors were selected by sailing resumé to join the clinic. With representation from South Dakota to Michigan, here's the lineup:

Harry Melges IV won the race series with a total of 8 points after five races, followed by Chapman Petersen with 11, Jack Schweda with 15, Kyle Navin with 20, and Jack Baldwin with 25.

Baldwin

Jack Baldwin, Age 13

  • Chicago Yacht Club
  • Melges 14, Opti, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Melges MC, 420, Tartan 33
Barton

Noah Barton, Age 17

  • Chicago Yacht Club
  • Club 420, Collegiate 420, Optis, Xp44, J/70, Sonars, Hobie 16, Melges 14
Barr

Bridget Barr, Age 16

  • Lake Beulah Yacht Club
  • Melges X Boat, Melges MC, Melges C Scow, Laser, Opti, Melges 14
Belsley

Marleigh Belsley, Age 16

  • Chicago Yacht Club
  • Melges X Boat, Melges E Scow, C420, 420, FJ, Z420, Opti, Nacra 15, J/111, Sonar, O'pen Bic, Melges 14
Fairbank

Julia Fairbank, Age 16

  • Chicago Yacht Club
  • 420, C420, J/70, Sonar, Melges 14, Nacra 15, FJ
Harned

Ellie Harned, Age 13

  • Pine Lake Yacht Club
  • Opti, Melges X Boat, Melges E Scow, Melges 14, Melges 24
Klaasen

Max Klaasen, Age 14

  • Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
  • Optimist, C420, J/70, Melges 14
Melges

Harry Melges IV, Age 16

  • Lake Geneva Yacht Club / Melges·Rowe 49er Campaign
  • 49er, 29er, Melges A Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges C Scow, Melges MC, Melges 17, Melges X Boat, Melges 14, Melges 20, Melges 24, Melges 32, O’pen Bic, 420, Laser, Moth, A Class Catamaran, Melges 80 Iceboat, Nite Iceboat
Navin

Kyle Navin, Age 16

  • Lake Geneva Yacht Club
  • Melges A Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges 20, Melges 24, Melges 17, Melges X Boat, 29er, Opti, Melges 14, O’pen Bic, Moth, A Class Catamaran, Melges C Scow, Melges MC Scow, Nite Iceboat, Iceopti
Petersen

Chapman Petersen, Age 14

  • Lake Geneva Yacht Club and Buddy Melges Racing Team
  • Optimist, Moth, Melges X Boat, Melges 14, Laser Radial, C420, Melges MC Scow, Melges 17, Melges C Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges A Scow, Nite Iceboat
Rowe

Finn Rowe, Age 16

  • Lake Geneva Yacht Club / Melges·Rowe 49er Campaign
  • 49er, 29er, Melges 24, Melges 17, Melges A Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges 14
Scherer

Emily Scherer, Age 16

  • Oshkosh Yacht Club
  • Melges X Boat, Melges E Scow, 420, F16 Catamaran, Laser Radial, Melges 14
Scherer

Jack Scherer, Age 14

  • Oshkosh Yacht Club
  • Opti, O’pen Bic, Melges X Boat, 420, Laser, Melges E Scow, F16 Catamaran, Melges 14
Schweda

Jack Schweda, Age 15

  • Pewaukee Yacht Club
  • Melges X Boat, Melges 17, Laser, Melges E Scow, 420, Melges 14, Melges MC
Sullivan

Toby Sullivan, Age 16

  • White Bear Sailing School
  • Opti, 420, Sunfish, J/30, Melges 14
Wagner

Brandon Wagner, Age 14

  • Okoboji Yacht Club
  • Melges X Boat, Laser, Melges C Scow, Melges 14
Walker

Jackson Walker, Age 13

  • LaBelle Yacht Club
  • 420, Melges X Boat, Opti, Melges 14

Melges 14 Upcoming Championships

SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Lake Lanier Sailing Club — Georgia
  • October 28-29, 2017
  • Email eddie@melges.com for more information
MIDWINTER CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Sarasota Sailing Squadron — Florida
  • 2018 date soon to be announced
  • Email eddie@melges.com for more information
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
  • Lake Geneva Yacht Club / Buddy Melges Sailing Center — Wisconsin
  • 2018 date soon to be announced
  • Email eddie@melges.com for more information
JOIN THE ACTION

New Boats and charters are offered for all upcoming regattas. Reach out to the Melges Team for availability: (262) 275-1110.

For More Information

ON THE STORY:

Hannah Noll · hannah@melges.com · (262) 275-1110

ON NEW BOATS, DEMOS, AND REGATTA CHARTERS:

Eddie Cox · eddie@melges.com · (262) 275-1110

Andy Burdick · andy@melges.com · (262) 275-1110

About the Melges 14

Built by Melges Performance Sailboats in Zenda, Wisconsin, USA and designed by Reichel/Pugh, the Melges 14 is a modern singlehanded one-design, yet also has the ability to sail with two people. The Melges 14 was honored as Sailing World’s 2016 Boat of the Year – Best Dinghy. The boat is 14 feet and features a large, open cockpit so there's never a need to bail. The carbon mast and boom complements its modern, flexible sail plan with three rigs: Gold (98 sq. ft.), Blue (85 sq. ft.), and Red (58 sq. ft.). With boats in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, the Melges 14 is emerging as a true one-design fleet, just two years after its introduction. It’s speed, quality, durability, comfort and fun wrapped into one dynamic sailing package. Sailors can order a custom Melges 14 dolly, easily car top it or tow it behind any vehicle. It’s perfect as a beach boat, a family-style sailboat or a one-design racing platform. For more information about the Melges 14, visit melges14.com.

About Melges Performance Sailboats

For more than 70 years, Melges has proudly delivered superior-built scows and sportboats around the world and now offers the 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.

Created By
Melges USA
Appreciate

Credits:

Photos by Hannah Noll and Michael Moore

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