Melges 15 To Host 2026 Dinghy Champions Cup at Dun Laoghaire

26th March 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Cup Clash — Melges 15 fleet set for high-performance racing at Dun Laoghaire Harbour as Ireland’s top dinghy helms compete in the 2026 Champions Cup showdown. Credit: Afloat

The Melges 15 has been confirmed as the host class for the 2026 Irish Sailing Dinghy Champions Cup.

The event will take place on 3–4 October at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The Champions Cup was relaunched by Irish Sailing as separate keelboat and dinghy events.

Last year’s inaugural dinghy edition was won by Ger Owens and Ross Killian after a close contest.

Adult dinghy classes nationwide will nominate helms, with Irish Sailing selecting the top 12 competitors.

The format is designed to deliver a “best of the best” competition across classes.

The Melges 15 platform includes a single-string asymmetric spinnaker system, allowing rapid deployment and strong offwind performance.

The class has already been tested in a similar format at the UK Endeavour Trophy.

In that event, sailing in winds up to 30 knots, Irish sailors were to the fore.

The Irish Melges 15 fleet has grown to 37 boats, with mixed crews and a wide age range represented, according to Irish agent John Sheehy.

Race management will use the Vakaros RaceSense system, providing automated starts, live GPS tracking and detailed performance data.

Atlas 2 units will be supplied to competitors.

Class Leaders — Irish Melges 15 Class President Jamie Tingle (left) with Irish Sailing Racing Manager Stephen O’Shaughnessy ahead of the 2026 Dinghy Champions Cup at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

Live commentary is also planned for the final series, with the Cup organised from the Royal St George Yacht Club.

Irish Melges 15 Class President Jamie Tingle said, “We’re really pleased to see the Irish Sailing Champions Cup raced in the Melges 15 this year.”

“It’s always been an event that brings together the best sailors in the country.”

Racing Manager Stephen O’Shaughnessy added: “We are delighted that the Melges 15 class will host our 2026 Dinghy Champions Cup event.”

“It is an ideal boat to test the skills of the dinghy helms invited to compete.”

Published in Melges 15, RStGYC, Irish Sailing

Published in Melges 15

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About the Melges 15 Dinghy

The Melges 15 was designed by Reichel/Pugh and built by Melges.

The design prioritises stability, comfort, ease of use, and performance.

The Melges 15 is built to be sailed by everyone from friends and couples to families and kids. The design offers performance, comfort, and stability in one sleek package.

The Melges 15’s stable hull shape and ergonomic cockpit make it a suitable layout for adult racing and educational sailing. Easy conversion from a club configuration (non-spinnaker) to a one-design setup, provides more versatility to club programs and options for individual owners.

“The Melges 15 creates a clear pathway for junior sailors to get started and stay excited about sailing while also being comfortable and accessible enough for adults to learn, race, or cross-train,” according to Harry Melges III.

With the main design goals focused on stability and performance in various conditions, the boat features a narrow overall beam and a flat cross-section shape for stability, righting moment, and ease of planing. For a more forgiving feel upwind and to navigate larger sea states, the Melges 15 has just the right amount of fore and aft rocker.

Melges conducted extensive research and product testing to produce this layout factoring in cockpit depth, backbone height, and floor plan. The result, they say, is a comfortable environment for both the skipper and crew. The deeper cockpit takes the load off the sailor’s knees helping them feel locked into the boat while the high boom and gnav vang system work together to make the boat easier to manoeuvre.

The asymmetric spinnaker offers an additional performance element, while the single-pull launch and retrieval system makes handling the sail easy and fast.

At a Glance - Melges 15 Specifications

LENGTH 15 ft
BEAM 5 ft 6 in
DRAFT 2 ft 7 in
HULL WEIGHT 230 lbs
SAIL AREA
MAIN 93.6 sq ft
JIB 39.8 sq ft
ASYMMETRICAL SPINNAKER 156 sq ft
CREW 2

At a Glance - Irish Melges 15 class calendar for 2026

April 18–19 – Western Championships, Lough Derg Yacht Club
May 23–24 – Eastern Championships, Royal Irish Yacht Club (as part of Dun Laoghaire Cup)
June 20–21 – Northern Championships, Howth Yacht Club
July 3–5 – European Championships, Riva del Garda, Italy
August 22–23 – Irish National Championships, Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dublin Bay
September 19–20 – Sprint Style Event, Royal St. George Yacht Club (16 races targeted)
Winter 2026/2027 – Additional frostbite racing (dates TBC)