Melges 32
The Melges 32 is a one-design class of sailboat commonly used for racing. The sportsboat is notable for its ability to plane over the water downwind in modest winds, and for its combination of a simple design that is highly tunable.
 Class symbol | |
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Reichel/Pugh |
| Year | 2005 |
| Design | One-design |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 5+ |
| Draft | 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) |
| Hull | |
| Hull weight | 1,712 kg (3,774 lb) |
| LOA | 9.7 m (32 ft) |
| Beam | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 41.3 m2 (445 sq ft) |
| Jib/genoa area | 23.6 m2 (254 sq ft) |
The Melges 32 is produced by Melges Performance Sailboats, a United States company founded by Harry Melges. It was designed by the Reichel/Pugh design team and went into production in 2005. The boat is 9.7 m (31 ft 10 in) long and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) wide at the beam. It carries around 93 m2 (1,000 sq ft) of sail area, main, jib and asymmetrical spinnaker combined. Upwind, it has a mainsail and 105% jib. Downwind, it has a large 103–121 m2 (1,110–1,300 sq ft) Asymmetrical spinnaker that flies from a retractable bowsprit.
The boat's hull is made from lightweight fiberglass. The mast, rudder, bowsprit, and keel fin are made from carbon fiber for light weight. The hull is generally flat on the bottom, making it plane easily. The 778 kg (1,715 lb) keel fin and keel bulb can retract up to the hull bottom to make it easier to put on a trailer.
The boat is generally raced with a crew of five or more. Because the boat sails faster with a heavier crew, class rules for racing limit crew weight to 629 kg total.
Strict one design class rules govern the Melges 32 amateur owner/driver requirements, professional crew limitations and crew weight maximum to limit the number of crew.
On 21 November 2008 the ISAF (international sailing federation) recognised the Melges 32 as an international class, having fleets in Europe, North America and Australia.
Events
World Championships
Year |
Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Porto Cervo ITA 29 Boats |
BLIKSEM - USA 169
|
JOE FLY - ITA 999 Giovanni Maspero |
UKA UKA RACING - ITA 1 L. Santini |
| 2010 32 Boats |
|
||
| 2011 Palma ESP 29 Boats |
GOOMBAY SMASH - USA 2
|
SAMBA PA TI - USA13131 | FANTASTICA - ITA212 |
| 2012 Newport USA 33 Boats |
Samba Pa Ti - USA 13131
|
Hedgehog - BER 1 | Warpath - USA 32917 |
| 2013 ITA 26 Boats |
ARGO - USA 128
|
Fantastica - ITA 212 | Groovederci - USA 201 |
| 2014 Miami USA 17 Boats |
ARGO - USA 128
|
Torpyone - ITA 487
|
Mamma Aiuto - JPN 199
|
| 2015 Favignana ITA 22 Boats |
Stig - ITA 65
|
Argo USA 128 | Volpe USA 180 |
| 2016 Miami USA 13 Boats |
Volpe - USA 180
|
STIG - ITA 65 | Argo - USA 128 |
| 2017 Cala Galera ITA 17 Boats |
TAVATUY - RUS 223
|
TORPYONE - ITA 487
|
FRA MARTINA - ITA 191
|
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Offshore Sailing World Championships
The boat was also used as one of the classes in the ORC/ISAF Offshore Sailing World Championship
External links
- Melges 32 - Manufacturer's description and info
- Melges 32 Class Association - Owners racing class
- Melges 32 Photo Gallery - Provided by Class Association
- Soca Sailboats - Builder's homepage
- Melges Asia Pacific - Melges Australia
- Northshore - Northshore Yachts Australia
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Melges 32. |