 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Reichel/Pugh |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 2007 |
| Builder(s) | Melges Performance Sailboats |
| Role | Racer |
| Name | Melges 20 |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 2-4 |
| Displacement | 1,146 lb (520 kg) |
| Draft | 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with keel down |
| Hull | |
| Type | monohull |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| LOA | 20.00 ft (6.10 m) |
| Beam | 7.00 ft (2.13 m) |
| Engine type | outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | lifting keel |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mountedrudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | fractional riggedsloop |
| Mainsail area | 172 sq ft (16.0 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 88 sq ft (8.2 m2) |
| Spinnaker area | 430 sq ft (40 m2) |
| Upwind sail area | 260 sq ft (24 m2) |
| Downwind sail area | 690 sq ft (64 m2) |
TheMelges 20, originally called theAudi Melges 20, is an Americantrailerablesailboat that was designed by Reichel/Pugh as aone-designracer and first built in 2007.[1][2][3][4][5]
The design was accepted as aWorld Sailing international class in November 2012.[6]
The design has built byMcConaghy Boats inChina forMelges Performance Sailboats of the United States, since 2007 and remains in production.[1][2][5][7][8][9]
The Melges 20 is a racingkeelboat, built predominantly offiberglass. It has afractionalsloop rig with aroller furlingjib. The hull has aplumb stem, a slightlyreverse transom, a transom-hungrudder controlled by atiller and a retractablelifting keel, with a lead bulb weight. It displaces 1,146 lb (520 kg).[1][2][9]
The boat has a draft of 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the keel extended. With it retracted the boat can be operated in shallow water or transported on aboat trailer.[1][2]
The boat is factory-equipped with a smalloutboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[9] It is sailed by a crew of two to foursailors with no class weight restrictions.[5]
For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a mastheadasymmetrical spinnaker of 430 sq ft (40 m2), flown from a retractablebowsprit mounted on the starboard side of the bow.[1][2]
The boat is supported by an active class club that organizes racing events, theInternational Melges 20 Class Association.[10][11]
In a 2008 review by two writers forSailing World magazine, Dave Reed wrote, "the boat has superb balance, and obviously, the faster we went the better it felt. Carving up and down to catch waves was easy and the boat quickly jumped on surfs ... and frankly, had we had one less body, we could have done another tick or two better." Stuart Streuli reported, "the Melges 20 is a hoot to sail. It tracks like a train upwind, rewarding a steady hand on the tiller, and is very nimble off the wind. We hit speeds of 13 to 14 knots downwind in 15 to 20 knots of wind and very rough seas. It’s tippy, and much more like a dinghy than the 24. When the lulls hit, the boat would quickly roll to windward, both upwind and down."[9]
