Long Island Leads Melges 15 Growth Ahead of 2025 East Coast Championship
The 2025 Melges 15 East Coast Championship is set for May 30-June 1 at Centerport Yacht Club in New York, with nearly 40 boats on the starting line. As the third edition of the East Coast Championship and a key regatta on the Championship Series calendar, this year’s event promises a mix of top-tier racing and class camaraderie.
While the Melges 15 Class continues to thrive worldwide, few places have embraced it as enthusiastically as Long Island Sound. What began with a handful of early adopters has transformed into one of the fastest-growing regional fleets in the country.
The Melges Team traveled from Wisconsin to New York with a trailer of nine new Melges 15s to deliver in time for the Championship, including hull number 999. These new boats are joining active fleets all over the state. This summer, over 50 Melges 15s will be racing across Long Island Sound, turning heads at some of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the Northeast.
Centerport Yacht Club has played a central role in the regional movement. The fleet has grown from six boats to one of the most active and visible in the area. Weekly club racing, tune-up sessions, and a tight-knit community have created an ideal launchpad for sailors of all skill levels.
“There was a passionate group of sailors at the club who would find themselves in the bar after PHRF racing, and the enthusiasm for a new one-design class was evident. The design concept of the M15 bridges the gaps found in past boats, providing a versatile and approachable platform for our diverse group,” said John Storck III, Regatta Chair and 2023 National Champion.
The Melges 15 is fast and tactical for experienced racers, forgiving enough for newer sailors, and comfortable enough to sail with a child or spouse. That balance has made it a go-to option for families, club fleets, and seasoned athletes.
“We have a very supportive group of owners who love to get involved through ‘Junior Sailing Day,’ where we take kids out on the Melges 15s and treat them to new experiences—like asymmetricals and planing—which they really enjoy!” said Allison Simkins, a member of CYC and Lloyd Harbor Yacht Club. “We also have a junior sailor, Sophie Adwar, racing her own Melges 15 this weekend. We’re all very excited for her!”
Beyond the racing, the East Coast Championship will spotlight the strong sense of community that defines the Melges 15 Class. Shared ownership models, club-owned boats, and casual evening races are helping lower the barriers to entry and build lasting participation.
The Simkins household owns two Melges 15s, one in honor of Allison’s birthday #777 (July 7) and their original boat #276, which is now lent out for club racing and traveling to events. This weekend, however, it’s their daughter Hallie Simkins who is taking the tiller of #276 and competing in her first class-sanctioned event alongside her parents.
“We are very fortunate that our youngest daughter, who grew up through the CYC junior program, caught the sailing bug,” explained Brian Simkins. “She and another former CYC junior, Brendan Strein, will be sailing on #276 Golden Ticket. It is a lot of fun to be out there competing with and against them–for bragging rights, of course!”
The Melges Team will be onsite coaching and providing daily coverage of the event on the Melges 15 Facebook and Instagram channels. Results will be available on melges15.com/results. For a full schedule of events featured in the Championship Series visit melges15.com/championship-events.