2021 Melges 24 European Championship - 30 days to go
by International Melges 24 Class Association 5 Aug 2021 12:07 BST
4-11 September 2021
Melges 24 European Sailing Series regatta in Portoroz, Slovenia in the picturesque bay of Piran © Andrea Carloni / IM24CA / ZGN
The excitement grows since the International Melges 24 Class fleet is approaching to a very much anticipated event - the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 taking place in Portoroz, Slovenia from September 4th to 11th. There's just thirty days left to make sure that the boats and crews are in best shape for the start of the event, which will be the first Melges 24 title event since the World Championship in Villasimius, Italy in October 2019.
"I am delighted that the European Championship will be sailed this year in Slovenia," said Laura Grondin, IM24CA Chair. "This will be the first major championship hosted by the International Melges 24 Class Association since Worlds in Italy in 2019 as a result of the pandemic. I am very happy that around the globe many of our sailors have been able to return to their regular racing circuits and I sincerely hope that those still living with restrictions will be able to get back to competing very soon!"
"This is a major honor for the YC Marina Portorož and we are happy, that after many years hosting the events of the Europeans Sailing Series we can also deliver a major championship for the Melges 24 class. However, the challenging times are not making organization easy, we are putting all our efforts in to do our best and entertain the sailors in the best possible way." says event manager Branko Parunov, the man who has over the last decade and longer been working tirelessly with his team to make the Melges 24 event held in Portoroz a firm favourite for the public and sailors.
"There are still a lot of obstacles we have to jump over, but together the sailors and organizers, we will jump over all of them! For the moment the rule for entering Slovenia is: Vaccinated, recovered, tested. Please, follow the rules on the link: www.gov.si/en/topics/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/border-crossing If any major changes, we will inform you through the web and social media." the head of the organization and IM24CA Chief Measurer confirms.
Among competitors, the events in Portoroz are known for their impeccable race management and fantastic hospitality, while the close proximity of the racecourse brings hundreds of spectators to shores to enjoy the action. The Melges 24 European Championship 2021 will be no exception.
The event will compromise five days of inshore racing, with the course set out in the picturesque bay of Piran accompanied by a great hospitality of Marina Portoroz and YC Marina Portoroz these hosts are famous for. Entries have so far been drawn from Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and even from USA overseas, which promises a tremendous competition for owners and crew alike. The current entry list promises a very challenging championship, where it will be very difficult to predict the composition of the podium until the very last races.
Entry List www.melges24.ycmp.eu/entry-list
Much coveted Giorgio Zuccoli Trophy and the Menno Meyer Corinthian European Trophy have been in hold of the reigning European champions - Gianluca Perego's Maidollis and Marco Zammarchi's Taki 4 since August 2018. We'll see on September 11th which teams will hold the trophies on the podium in Portoroz!
Please note that due to the new arrangements in the Marina Portoroz the event will be limited to 50 boats and entries will be admitted based on time of form submission and entry fee payment.
With the day of the first start quickly approaching, the organizing machine is working in full swing: for an event of such importance, everything from race management to the on-shore activities must be organized down to the smallest detail.
Event Schedule:
September 4-6 - Registration and Measurement
September 6 - Practice Race and Opening Ceremonies
September 7 - 11 - Racing at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021
September 11- Prize Giving and Closing Ceremonies
More information about the event is available at www.melges24.com/europeansailingseries and www.melges24.ycmp.eu/venue