Twenty-Four Feet of Fury: Harbor Springs Artist Captures the Spirit of the 2026 Melges 24 Worlds

9 September 2026 - Harbor Springs, Michigan, USA - The speed, intensity and unmistakable energy of Melges 24 racing have been captured on canvas in Twenty-Four Feet of Fury, an original painting by Harbor Springs artist Trisha Witty in honor of the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship, hosted by Little Traverse Yacht Club in conjunction with the International Melges 24 Class Association, September 19–26.

Presented in connection with the event, the 11-by-14-inch oil painting offers a distinctly local artistic interpretation of the forthcoming international championship. The original will be displayed during the regatta and offered for purchase through a bidding process. Limited-edition fine art prints will also be available, giving competitors, supporters and members of the community an opportunity to take home a lasting remembrance of the event.

The artwork will extend beyond the original canvas as a signature visual, appearing on event T-shirts, posters and other commemorative merchandise. Together, these items will provide competitors and visitors with a lasting connection to the racing, the host community and the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship experience.

“I have been painting sailboats in Harbor Springs for nearly 40 years, so it was an incredible honor to be selected as the Official Artist for the World Championship,” Witty said. “I wanted the painting to capture the excitement of the Melges 24 fleet while bringing plenty of color to Little Traverse Bay. The boats are incredibly sleek, but I chose to show them under spinnaker because the red, orange and blue sails bring so much movement and excitement to the scene. To be part of an event of this magnitude in my hometown, and to work with so many people bringing it to life is very special.”

A Great Lakes artist who grew up along the shores of Lake Michigan, Witty has spent more than 20 years developing her self-taught talent in Harbor Springs, the picturesque waterfront community nestled along Little Traverse Bay. She sold her first oil painting at age 15 and opened her first exclusive gallery at 19 while attending the University of Michigan.

Witty’s ability to capture a strong sense of place is especially meaningful in Twenty-Four Feet of Fury. The painting connects the movement and excitement of the Melges 24 fleet with the maritime character of Harbor Springs, issuing a commemorative work that celebrates both the racing and the community welcoming the international fleet.

Championship competitors, supporters and visitors interested in seeing more of Witty’s work are invited to visit Witty Galerie, her new gallery in downtown Harbor Springs. The gallery is open seasonally through mid-October and will be open during the World Championship.

To learn more about Trisha Witty and view her work, visit witty-art.com.