Sentinel & Mocos Take Top Melges 24 U.S. National Titles
In typical Melges 24 Class racing fashion, it all came down to the last day’s performance for the top teams, determining who would stay the course and battle the hardest to take home the 2024 Melges 24 U.S. National trophies for overall Champion and Corinthian. Going into Sunday’s final heats, two points separated the overall leader, Geoff Fargo on Sentinel, and Cuyler Morris on Dark Horse. In the all-amateur division, defending Corinthian Champ Dan Berezin on Surprise, and Jeff Grange at the tiller for Jon Bell and his Santa Barbara team Mocos, were also facing off with a similar points situation.
Classic Santa Barbara conditions set the stage for the final three races of the Championship, providing champagne sailing for the 20-strong Melges 24 fleet. Over the three-day event, nine races were completed, with Fargo winning the open division and earning his first-ever Melges 24 National Championship title. His crew included Jackson Benvenutti, Willie McBride, Hayden Stapleton, and Grant Janov. Cuyler Morris’ Dark Horse settled for second overall.
Hometown favorites Jeff Grange, at the helm of Jon Bell’s Mocos, with crew members Graham Bell, Lauren Bell, and Sarah Schaupeter, captured the coveted Corinthian U.S. National Championship trophy, finishing third in the open division.
Defending champ Dan Berezin on Surprise battled hard on the final day to retain his overnight lead, but after a tough day of racing, he relinquished the lead to Grange/Bell. Former Melges 24 Corinthian (2018) champ Kent Pierce on Average rounded out the top three Corinthians.
Results (Final, After 9 Races) |
| OVERALL, TOP FIVE 1. (USA) Geoff Fargo, Sentinel; 4-1-1-2-1-1-2-1-[21] = 13 2. (USA) Cuyler Morris, Dark Horse; 1-2-2-1-2-6-4-3-[21] = 21 3. (USA) Jon Bell/Jeff Grange, Mocos (C); [6]-4-3-4-6-5-1-4-2 = 29 4. (USA) Andrew Picel, Take Off; 5-5-5-5-7-[9]-6-2-1 = 36 5. (CAN) Dan Berezin, Surprise (C); 3-7-[9]-3-4-3-5-[10]-4 = 38 CORINTHIAN, TOP FIVE |
