Melges 15 on Baseline Lake – it may happen!

Photo Credit: Melges Performance Sailboats | Morgan Kinney “The Melges 15’s stable hull shape and ergonomic cockpit make it a suitable layout for adult racing and educational sailing. Easy conversion from a club configuration (non-spinnaker) to a one-design setup, provides more versatility to club programs and options for individual owners. With the main design goals focused on stability and performance in a variety of conditions, the boat features a narrow overall beam and a flat cross-section shape for stability, righting moment, and ease of planing…” ; Some features of the M15, compared to the boats we have at the MSC:

Mast: • all halyards run inside the mast, as in 470s & FDs. • nice: the tapered mast can flex in response to a gust, as in 470 & FD masts, and unlike the JY15’s. Better sailing.

Jib: • continuous jib sheet as in FD. • ‘jib cars’ on rails for tuning jib leech opening, as in 470s & FDs, and unlike JY15’s. • double purchase of jib sheet with jib blocks. • jib rides up the forestay on clip hanks, similar to JY15.

Hull and cockpit: • no cam cleat for the main sheet; annoying to some. • chine hull shape for good planing. • chine hull gives better righting moment, less demanding on hiking skills, compared to round hulled boats (wobbly 470’s, V15). • roomy cockpit and comfortable crew seating, apparently; teachers may appreciate it, compared to JY. • dagger board like V15, rather than center board (JY15, 470, FD). • fiberglass hull, unlike JY15’s. At 220lbs the M15 is considerably lighter than our JY’s, easier to get into and out of the water. Some features of the M15, compared to the boats we have at the MSC:

Genakker: • comes out on a bowsprit and pulling on the genakker halyard pulls out the bowsprit as well. • the boat can be rigged without genakker, to reduce number of lines and complications for teaching.

Vang: • Gnav vang gives head room for crew below the boom, unlike 470s or JY15s. The M15 is simple enough to replace our aging JY15s for basic teaching. Tunable & with fiberglass hull, it looks good for advanced teaching and racing as well.

The MSC can look at the M15 at the club for a few days, beginning with a June 3rd demo at the club at 7pm. Form an opinion; the membership may be asked to vote on this boat soon. Check out the informative links from Melges below.

1. Description by the manufacturer 2. Watch single handing, also good for students when alone (0:48) 3. Detailed rigging video by the manufacturer (19:14) 4. Downwind with the genakker…