The inaugural Melges 15 Europeans held at Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta will be the highlight of the class calendar for 2025. One class event is scheduled each month from April to August with a mix of local sailing, international sailing and coaching as the fleet continues to grow.

The ‘South Coasts’ will be held in Cascais Portugal over Easter with sailing taking over three days from April 17th to 19th. After a very successful trip last year the Irish Armada is looking forward to some great sailing with Sail Cascais chartering boats for the event as before. With 12 charter boats available and a subsidized charter fee some new faces to the class are expected.

The Irish Armada competing in Cascais last March

Eddie Cox from Melges USA will fly in for the weekend of May 10th to 11th to run a coaching weekend in Howth Yacht Club. Now based in Florida at the new Melges Watersports centre, Eddie will be using some of the same coaching techniques that they are pioneering there; The use of Drones and data analysis from the boats complimenting the more traditional whistle, whiteboard and megaphone.

Melges 15 expert Eddie Cox will be flyng in to run the training

The East Coast Championships will be hosted by the National Yacht over the weekend of June 21st and 22nd. With the events three weeks before the European Championships it gives the Irish sailors an opportunity to race in similar conditions and get up to speed with the vagaries of Dublin Bay.

East Coast Championships to be held in June hosted by the National Yacht Club

July sees an expected 40 boat fleet competing at the European Championships which will be held as part of the Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta. 12 Charter boats will be supplied for the event which will help facilitate more international sailors. Already a large cohort of American teams have signed up. With one days training before the three day championships it’s expected that the Irish fleet will be well drilled and better skilled by the end of racing.

A 40 boat fleet is expected for the European Championships to be held in July

August sees the class return to Howth Yacht Club for the National Championships. After such a successful event last year sailors are looking forward to returning. It’s hoped for more champagne conditions this year with a little less wind ordered for Sunday than last year.

Action from last years Natioanal Championships also held in Howth

The arrival of new boat to Ballyholme Yacht Club late last year brought the Irish fleet up to 25 boats with some more expected to arrive before the Europeans in July so an exciting Summer awaits for the new class.

Irish Melges 15 class calendar for 2025

April 17-19 South Coast Championships in Cascais, Portugal, hosted by Sail Cascais, Charter Boats available
May 10-11 Class Training Weekend with Eddie Cox of Melges USA, Howth Yacht Club, Dublin
June 21-22 East Coast Championships, National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
July 10-13 European Championships, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Charter boats available
Aug 23-24 Irish National Championships, Howth Yacht Club, Dublin

Europeans set to be the highlight of the Melges 15 2025 calendar.