A dozen naked body-painted dancers, mermaids, and sailor-outfitted hostesses, a full steel drum band, a junior sailing auction, and every single crew partying their collective asses off despite the final race of the Melges 32 Worlds starting the next morning signals a return to the lighthearted party days that helped it become the top grand prix class in the sport. It’s a good sign for the future of a boat that still owns the niche, and with 125 boats out there in the world and rumors of a new World Tour floating around, keep your eyes out for a resurgence.
Today’s racing highlight reel features some of the most intense action yet from the 2014 Melges 32 World Championship, produced by videostylist Petey Crawford and Penalty Box Productions.
Patience was the key for every team that held it together on this long, 3-race day, and with one final race remaining, reigning World Champion Jason Carroll (ARGO) leads Edoardo Lupi (Torpyone) by four points with all other competitors out of the running for the title. The final podium position is completely up for grabs, with 5 teams vying for the all-important bronze.
The final race will fire off at noon, local time on Sunday, and the 2014 Champion will be crowned an hour later. Follow Clean’s live commentated video on the Facebook Page.
