Melges 24

The Melges 24 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Reichel/Pugh as a one-design racer and first built in 1993.

The design became an accepted World Sailing international class in 1997.

Production
The design has been built by Melges Performance Sailboats in the United States, starting in 1993, and remains in production. It also was produced at one time by Devoti Sailing in the Czech Republic. A total of 250 boats had been built by the end of 1994 and more than 900 boats had been completed by 2021.

Design
The Melges 24 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig with a deck-stepped carbon fiber mast. The hull has a nearly-plumb stem, an open reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a carbon fiber tiller with an extension and a retractable lifting keel with a weighted bulb. It displaces 1750 lb and carries 650 lb of lead ballast.

The boat has a draft of 5.00 ft with the keel extended. With the keel retracted it can operate in shallow water or be transported on a trailer.

The boat may be fitted with a small 3 hp outboard motor for docking and maneuvering. The motor is stored under the cockpit when not in use.

For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a masthead asymmetrical spinnaker of 670 sqft, flown from a retractable bowsprit. The design has a hull speed of 6.29 kn and a PHRF handicap of 75 to 105.

Typically the boat employs a crew of four sailors, but two to five crew may be carried.

Operational history
The boat is supported by an active class club that organizes racing events, the International Melges 24 Class Association.

The design is raced in over 20 countries on five continents and the class world championships typically attract over 100 boats.

In a 1996 review Darrell Nicholson wrote in Practical Sailor, "if sailboats were defined in human terms, the Melges 24 could easily be described as having the attributes of a precocious three-year-old who hadn't learned to respect her elders. More than likely, she also would be described as being gifted, if a little high strung ... Aside from its plumb bow, narrow beam, flat bottom, hard bilges and open transom, one of the most striking features of the boat's design is the enormous, 13-foot long cockpit, designed to allow crew to move quickly from side to side during tacks, and to position weight in pre-determined spots to maximize boat speed off the breeze."