A new perpetual trophy recognising the highest-finishing female helm will be introduced at the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
The Meier Trophy has been donated by Regatta Chairman Tom Meier and his family and will be awarded annually from this year's championship, which takes place at Little Traverse Yacht Club in September. The trophy honours excellence at the helm while celebrating the Meier family's long association with sailing and maritime heritage.
At its centre is an original Chelsea clock dating from 1907. Known as the "Timekeepers of the Sea", Chelsea clocks became fixtures aboard yachts and commercial vessels, marking the traditional watch system used by sailors. The clock was first purchased by Detroit clockmaker Frank Meier Sr. and has remained in the Meier family for more than a century, passing through three generations before becoming the centrepiece of the new award.
A Timeless Prize: The Meier Trophy, centred on a 1907 Chelsea maritime clock, will become a permanent feature of the Melges 24 World Championship, honouring outstanding female helms for generations to come
"Our family wanted to create something that would become part of the Melges 24's history long after this championship has concluded," said Tom Meier.
"This clock has been part of our family's sailing story for generations, and it's incredibly meaningful to see it begin a new chapter honouring the talented women who continue to shape and strengthen the Melges 24 Class and the sport of sailing as a whole.
"We hope every future recipient sees the Meier Trophy as a symbol of excellence, sportsmanship, and the enduring spirit of competitive sailing."
The International Melges 24 Class Association welcomed the initiative. "One of the things that has always made our class special is that our members continue to invest in its future while honouring its past," said class president Duncan Stamper. "The Meier Trophy joins a distinguished collection of perpetual awards that celebrate achievement at the highest levels of our sport, and it will inspire generations of female helms."
Five female helms are currently entered for the 2026 championship: Laura Grondin (Dark Energy), Sandra Askew (Flying Jenny), Chelsea Simms (Straightarrow), Lindsey Duda Coe (Sin Duda) and Sallie Lang (Committed).
Flying High: Chelsea Simms helms STRAIGHTARROW (USA) during the 2023 Melges 24 U.S. National Championship on Lake Geneva. Simms is among the female skippers eligible to compete for the inaugural Meier Trophy at the 2026 Melges 24 World Championship. Photo: Morgan Kinney
Each future winner will have their name engraved on the trophy, creating a permanent record of achievement in one of sailing's leading high-performance one-design classes.
