Melges 24
One-design class · Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design · Melges · since 1993
- Boats
- 12
- Results
- 25
- Wins
- 14
- Races
- 5
- Length
- 7.32m
- Beam
- 2.5m
- Draft
- 1.52m
- Weight
- 0.8t
- Sail area
- 33m²
Why sailors choose the Melges 24
The Melges 24 is a Reichel/Pugh sportboat that has run as a high-level one-design class since the early 1990s, mixing top professionals and amateur crews. Sailors race it for demanding, close racing with identical gear at attractive venues, and the class has adjusted rules to suit Corinthian crews. It has been overshadowed by newer sportboats, so fleets outside big championships are modest.
- Long-running international one-design sportboat class
- Mix of professional and amateur teams at major events
- Rule changes (crew weight, lower stanchions) aimed at Corinthian crews
- Exciting, demanding open-water racing
- Overshadowed by newer designs; modest regional fleets
Our note
Specifications
One-design class
- Designer
- Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design
- Builder
- Melges
- First built
- 1993
- Length
- 7.32m
- Waterline
- 6.71m
- Beam
- 2.5m
- Draft
- 1.52m
- Displacement
- 809kg
- Ballast
- 295kg
- Sail area upwind
- 33m²
- Keel
- lifting
Published figures for the design; individual boats are often modified. Sources: boat-specs.com
What sailors and testers say · in our words, from the linked pages
The class bills it as a leading performance one-design sportboat, with close to 900 boats and a field of both pro and amateur sailors.
International Melges 24 Class Association · Melges 24 Class, 2026
Higher crew-weight limits and lower lifelines made the boat easier for amateur crews, though newer sportboats had taken some of the limelight.
Sailing World report by Dave Powlison, quoting class leaders · Sailing World, 2016
Against its rivals
The Melges 24 against four designs like it, from published figures. Swap any of the four. Each spoke is scaled to the largest of the five; a figure that isn't published sits at the centre (— in the table).
| Design | Length | Beam | Draft | Weight | Sail area | Power (SA/D) | Boats racing | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melges 24 | 7.3 m | 2.50 m | 1.52 m | 0.8 t | 33 m² | 38.6 | 12 | 14 |
| J/24 | 7.3 m | 2.70 m | 1.20 m | 1.4 t | 32 m² | 26.2 | 2 | 3 |
| J/70 | 6.9 m | 2.25 m | 1.45 m | 0.8 t | 26 m² | 31.2 | 19 | 12 |
| First Class 8 | 7.8 m | 2.50 m | 1.83 m | 1.5 t | — | — | 4 | 3 |
| Hallberg Rassy 26 | 8.0 m | 2.68 m | 1.40 m | 2.5 t | 37 m² | 20.5 | 1 | 7 |
| Boat | Sail no. | Skipper or owner | Years | Results | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universitas Nova | CRO 760 | Ivan Kljaković Gašpić | 2022–2024 | 5 | 3 |
| Obi Wan | — | Boris Bakotić | 2022–2026 | 4 | 3 |
| Melgina | — | Paolo Brescia | 2021–2026 | 3 | 2 |
| The Pimp | 358 | Roko Stambuk | 2021–2025 | 2 | 2 |
| Yikes | — | Tonko Kuzmanić | 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| Lero | CRO 264 | Tihana Tadinac | 2022 | 2 | 1 |
| Makako | — | Fabjanko Biočić | 2023 | 1 | 1 |
| Strilica | — | Mate Arapov | 2021 | 2 | — |
| Joyrunner | — | Marko Višić | 2022 | 1 | — |
| Panjić | — | Duje Fržop | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Spooky | — | Fran Borna Urban | 2026 | 1 | — |
| Strilica Zuxu | — | Filip Jurišić | 2022 | 1 | — |
| Race | Results of this design | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sušac 100x2 | 16 | 7 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 |
| Južnodalmatinska regata | 4 | 3 | 2022, 2023 |
| Millevele IREN | 3 | 2 | 2021, 2025, 2026 |
| Mrdujska regata | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Viška regata | 1 | 1 | 2021 |