Porter Claims 9th Melges 24 U.S. Nationals Title, Suddath Wins Corinthian Division

14.11.2022

November 13, 2022 - Pensacola, FL, USA - After 10 races completed over three days in beautiful Pensacola, Florida, the U.S. Melges 24 Class has crowned Brian Porter, owner and helm of Full Throttle along with 'his boys' — RJ Porter, Bri Porter and Matt Woodworth as 2022 National Champions.

Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.
Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.
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Brian's results all weekend long never dipped below the top ten, eight of which finished him in the top five. "It feels good," said Porter when asked about how it felt to win at such a level in the Melges 24 Class.

From left to right, 2022 Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champions Steve Burke, Steve Suddath, Shawn Burke and Dave Chapin.
From left to right, 2022 Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champions Steve Burke, Steve Suddath, Shawn Burke and Dave Chapin.
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Steve Suddath, equal the Class stalwart won the Corinthian division for a second time. Suddath helmed 3 1/2 Men with tactician Dave Chapin and crew members Steve and Shawn Burke. Suddath won his first Corinthian National Championship in 2019. "It was tough out there. It was challenging and the shifts were significant today, but we hung in there."

Second overall, Laura Grondin's Dark Energy B Team. From left to right, PRO Hal Smith, Mike Buckley, Taylor Canfield, John Bowden and Scott Ewing.
Second overall, Laura Grondin's Dark Energy B Team. From left to right, PRO Hal Smith, Mike Buckley, Taylor Canfield, John Bowden and Scott Ewing.
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Taylor Canfield at the helm of Laura Grondin's Dark Energy finished the event in second place followed by Bruce Ayres' Monsoon.

Third overall, Monsoon: top, clockwise: Hal Smith PRO, Tomas Dietrich, Jeremy Wilmot, Ted Hackney, Chelsea Simms and Bruce Ayres.
Third overall, Monsoon: top, clockwise: Hal Smith PRO, Tomas Dietrich, Jeremy Wilmot, Ted Hackney, Chelsea Simms and Bruce Ayres.

Trailing by one point, finishing in second place Corinthian was Megan Ratliff's Decorum. Canada's Dan Berezin's Surprise captured the third place Corinthian position.

2022 Corinthian runner-up — Decorum. From left to right: PRO Hal Smith, Miro Kaffka, Nicholas Diephouse, Steve Liebel, Megan Ratliff and Hunter Ratliff.
2022 Corinthian runner-up — Decorum. From left to right: PRO Hal Smith, Miro Kaffka, Nicholas Diephouse, Steve Liebel, Megan Ratliff and Hunter Ratliff.
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A VERY SPECIAL THANKS

First and foremost, to all of the participants of the 2022 U.S. National Championship — thank you! Thanks to all who traveled from near and far to be with us... YOU made this one of the best National Championships ever.

A massive thanks to PRO Hal Smith and his very organized Race Management team. We are grateful for your hard work to make the racing the very best! A very special thanks to co-Chair LeAnne Pickering who handled the many details that went into making this event run super smooth, and last but never least — to PYC Commodore Tom Pace. Commodore Pace did so many things, but in particular got the press and media team around the course flawlessly, enabling us to post videos of the racing and lots of Melges 24 action photos for everyone who could not be with us!

We appreciate all the amazing gifts provided by event sponsors Zhik and Arntson Marine. Together they delivered some amazing prizes to several major award winners.

SAVE THE DATE

The 2023 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship will take place on October 6-8, hosted by the Lake Geneva Yacht Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin — home of the Melges 24! In 2023, the Melges 24 turns 30, so get ready to party! Stay close to all U.S. Melges 24 Class channels as big news and announcements are coming soon.

Top Ten Results (FINAL - After 10 Races)

  1. Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 1-2-4-4-5-[9]-4-4-3-6 = 33
  2. Taylor Canfield, Dark Energy B Team - [7]-7-7-5-1-6-1-5-1-2 = 35
  3. Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 3-8-1-3-6-3-5-[9]-5-8 = 42
  4. Drew Freides, Pacific Yankee - [16/SCP]-1-10-1-11-2-2-2-7-7 = 43
  5. Victor Diaz de Leon, Raza Mixta - 8-6-[12]-6-7-8-3-6-2-3 = 49
  6. Harry Melges IV, Zenda Express - 2-4-8-2-13-35/UFD-7-10-11-4 = 61
  7. Chris Rast, Warcanoe B Team - [9]-5-9-8-9-7-6-8-4-5 = 61
  8. Richard Reid, Zingara - 12-12-5-[35/RET]-2-1-12-7-8-11 = 70
  9. Peter McClennen, Gamecock - 10-3-3-11-8-13-8-[14]-6-10 = 72
  10. Peter Karrie, Nefeli - 4-[21/SCP]-6-13-4-11-13-1-13-12 = 77

Top Ten Corinthian Results (FINAL - After 10 Races)

  1. Steve Suddath, 3 1/2 Men - 126 pts.
  2. Megan Ratliff, Decorum - 127 pts.
  3. Dan Berezin, Surprise - 152 pts.
  4. Fred Rozelle, Rustler - 163 pts.
  5. John Alden Meade, Dansoux - 178 pts.
  6. Tom Ritter, Tramp - 187 pts.
  7. KC Shannon, Shaka - 193 pts.
  8. Scot Zimmerman, Bad Idea - 197 pts.
  9. Scott Sonnier, Revolution - 199 pts.
  10. Brent McKenzie, Ex-Kahn - 212 pts.

Full Results

Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.

Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.

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Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.

Brian Porter at the helm of Full Throttle won his 9th Melges 24 U.S National Championship on Pensacola Bay in Florida. From left to right: Brian Porter, Bri Porter, RJ Porter and Matt Woodworth.

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From left to right, 2022 Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champions Steve Burke, Steve Suddath, Shawn Burke and Dave Chapin.

From left to right, 2022 Corinthian Melges 24 U.S. National Champions Steve Burke, Steve Suddath, Shawn Burke and Dave Chapin.

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Second overall, Laura Grondin's Dark Energy B Team. From left to right, PRO Hal Smith, Mike Buckley, Taylor Canfield, John Bowden and Scott Ewing.

Second overall, Laura Grondin's Dark Energy B Team. From left to right, PRO Hal Smith, Mike Buckley, Taylor Canfield, John Bowden and Scott Ewing.

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Third overall, Monsoon: top, clockwise: Hal Smith PRO, Tomas Dietrich, Jeremy Wilmot, Ted Hackney, Chelsea Simms and Bruce Ayres.

Third overall, Monsoon: top, clockwise: Hal Smith PRO, Tomas Dietrich, Jeremy Wilmot, Ted Hackney, Chelsea Simms and Bruce Ayres.

2022 Corinthian runner-up — Decorum. From left to right: PRO Hal Smith, Miro Kaffka, Nicholas Diephouse, Steve Liebel, Megan Ratliff and Hunter Ratliff.

2022 Corinthian runner-up — Decorum. From left to right: PRO Hal Smith, Miro Kaffka, Nicholas Diephouse, Steve Liebel, Megan Ratliff and Hunter Ratliff.

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