Melges 17
Encyclopedia
The Melges17 is a Bermuda rigged
racing scow
first launched in January 2004 by Melges Performance Sailboats
. The boat's rig consists of a main
with a large roach, a roller furling jib
and an asymmetrical spinnaker
.
and it is thought that it is in fact, a modern M-16. The project began in 2002, when Melges became the Vanguard
dealer for Wisconsin
. At this time, Vanguard was pushing their new boat, the Vanguard Vector, a dual trapeze
skiff
. Melges had a Vector at their location on the shores of Lake Geneva
, to try to promote the boat. Within a few months, an M-16 appeared next to the Vector with Vector rigging. The M-16 was complete with a carbon fiber
mast
and asymmetrical spinnaker
. Two years later, the Melges17 came to market.
Melges approached Reichel/Pugh
to redesign the hull
and the foils
. Although the Hull shape and size is much like the M-16, the boat itself is a different creature.
Reichel/Pugh also designed other modern Melges boats, such as the Melges 24
, the Melges 30, and the Melges 32
.
Bermuda rig
The term Bermuda rig refers to a configuration of mast and rigging for a type of sailboat and is also known as a Marconi rig; this is the typical configuration for most modern sailboats...
racing scow
Scow
A scow, in the original sense, is a flat-bottomed boat with a blunt bow, often used to haul bulk freight; cf. barge. The etymology of the word is from the Dutch schouwe, meaning such a boat.-Sailing scows:...
first launched in January 2004 by Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats
Melges Performance Sailboats, is a United States company founded by Harry Melges, father of former Olympic sailor Buddy Melges. The company's headquarters is in Zenda, Wisconsin. The about six hundred existing boats are approximately evenly split between North America and Europe, with fleets in...
. The boat's rig consists of a main
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
with a large roach, a roller furling jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
and an asymmetrical spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
.
Design
The Melges17 is similar in design to the M-16M Scow
The M-Scow is a sloop rigged scow. Commonly called the M-16, the M-scow is sailed widely from Minnesota to New Jersey. The boat was originally designed by Melges Boat Works and became an ILYA sanctioned class in 1959. Over the years, there have been several builders, including: Melges, Larson, Bay...
and it is thought that it is in fact, a modern M-16. The project began in 2002, when Melges became the Vanguard
Vanguard Sailboats
Vanguard Sailboats was founded in 1967 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA by Peter and Olaf Harken. The brothers started to gain attention after their sailing hardware was used on boats that won Olympic gold in 1968 and after Vanguard supplied the Finn class for several countries in the 1976 Olympics...
dealer for Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. At this time, Vanguard was pushing their new boat, the Vanguard Vector, a dual trapeze
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
skiff
Skiff
The term skiff is used for a number of essentially unrelated styles of small boat. The word is related to ship and has a complicated etymology: "skiff" comes from the Middle English skif, which derives from the Old French esquif, which in turn derives from the Old Italian schifo, which is itself of...
. Melges had a Vector at their location on the shores of Lake Geneva
Geneva Lake
Geneva Lake is a body of freshwater in southeastern Wisconsin in Walworth county. On its shores are the city of Lake Geneva, and the villages of Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake, and Williams Bay....
, to try to promote the boat. Within a few months, an M-16 appeared next to the Vector with Vector rigging. The M-16 was complete with a carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
and asymmetrical spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
. Two years later, the Melges17 came to market.
Melges approached Reichel/Pugh
Reichel/Pugh
Reichel/Pugh is a yacht design company based in San Diego, California, USA. It is led by John Reichel and Jim Pugh.Since the late 1990s, Reichel/Pugh-designed yachts have successfully competed in many major races, including the America's Cup...
to redesign the hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
and the foils
Bilgeboard
A bilgeboard is a lifting foil used in a sailboat, which resembles a cross between a centerboard and a leeboard. Bilgeboards are mounted between the centerline of the boat and the sides, and are almost always asymmetric foils mounted at an angle to maximize lateral lift while minimizing drag...
. Although the Hull shape and size is much like the M-16, the boat itself is a different creature.
Reichel/Pugh also designed other modern Melges boats, such as the Melges 24
Melges 24
The Melges 24 is a one-design class of sailboat commonly used for racing. The boat 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....
, the Melges 30, and the Melges 32
Melges 32
The Melges 32 is a one-design class of sailboat commonly used for racing. The boat 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....
.
External links
- Melges17 - Manufacturers page
- Melges17 Class Association - Racing class
- Melges Performance Sailing