Dark Energy Wins 2026 Charleston Race Week Melges 24 Title
22 April 2026 - Charleston, SC, USA - Laura Grondin’s Dark Energy delivered a composed and consistent performance to capture the Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point Melges 24 title, winning one of North America’s premier regattas against a highly competitive 24-boat fleet. The Charleston regatta also counted toward the Melges 24 North American Sailing Series 2026, continuing the season-long points race that will develop across ten events this year.
Dark Energy Leads from Start to Finish
Grondin and her crew set the standard throughout the regatta, holding the top spot at the end of all three racing days. Dark Energy opened the series with exceptional consistency, posting five second-place finishes across the opening races before sealing the championship with a race win on the final day.
Discarding a fifth-place finish from the final race, Dark Energy closed on 18 points, two clear of Dick Kalow’s Mustang, with Peter McClennen’s Gamecock completing the podium on 26 points.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had so many twos in my life,” Grondin said after racing. “It really did feel good to finally win a race because we had been in front and not brought it home in prior races.”
Her comments reflected the hallmark of the team’s regatta: consistency under pressure. While others traded race wins and suffered swings in the standings, Dark Energy repeatedly delivered front-of-fleet finishes that built the foundation for overall victory.
“As someone on the dock said to me: the power of consistency is crucial.”
A Victory on a Very Challenging Venue
The Charleston win carried added meaning for Grondin, marking the first time her Dark Energy program has claimed the Melges 24 title at this event.
“It feels pretty darn good to win this regatta with my own boat and team,” she said.
Grondin also emphasized how demanding Charleston can be as a race venue, where conditions often shift rapidly and rewards go to crews able to adapt quickly.
“This is a very challenging venue with a lot of ups and downs, so the minute you think the boat is going well it’s time to think about changing something.”
Proven Teamwork On Board
Dark Energy combined experience and talent throughout the crew list. Olympic medalist Lucas Calabrese stepped in on tactics, supported by veteran Melges 24 sailors Ted Hackney, Tomas Dietrich and Ian Liberty.
“My team was awesome,” Grondin said. “Everyone on the boat is a great sailor in their own right, but they also work very well together.”
She also credited the team’s discipline and clarity of roles as a decisive factor across the regatta.
“Everyone understands what their role is on the boat and we’re very diligent about sticking to those rules.”
Corinthian Teams Impress
The Corinthian division produced an outstanding showing, with all-amateur crews once again proving highly competitive inside the overall fleet.
Long Shot, helmed by John Poulson, claimed Corinthian honors with an excellent 6th overall finish on 46 points. MOJO, skippered by Davis MacLeod, secured second Corinthian and 7th overall, while WombMates Racing, led by John Shockey, completed the Corinthian podium in 8th overall.
Having three Corinthian teams finish inside the overall top eight underlined both the quality and depth of amateur competition in Charleston.
Top 10 – Charleston Race Week Melges 24
Dark Energy USA 868 Laura Grondin – 18 pts
Mustang USA 853 Dick Kalow – 24 pts
Gamecock USA 871 Peter McClennen – 26 pts
War Canoe USA 825 Michael Goldfarb – 31 pts
The 300 USA 839 Steven Boho – 42 pts
Long Shot USA 777 John Poulson – 46 pts (Corinthian)
MOJO USA 635 Davis MacLeod – 65 pts (Corinthian)
WombMates Racing USA 396 John Shockey – 77 pts (Corinthian)
Green USA 624 Sam Nedeau – 79 pts
Surprise CAN 629 Dan Berezin – 79 pts (Corinthian)
Momentum Building for 2026 Season
Charleston once again proved why it remains a cornerstone event on the Melges 24 calendar—strong fleet numbers, high-level racing, and a leaderboard packed with proven winners. Although still early in the season, Charleston was another valuable scoring opportunity in the North American Sailing Series. After two events, Gamecock, helmed by Peter McClennen, was leading the rankings. The fleet now awaits the next official update to see how the Charleston results influence the standings.
With many events still to come, the 2026 season remains wide open and the battle for continental honors is only beginning.
