The Melges 24 Worlds closed out its 27th edition on Little Traverse Bay with a final day that delivered exactly what five days of racing had been building toward: two champions, crowned in front of a harbor full of sailors who’d stuck around to watch it happen. This short highlight reel from IM24CA captures the closing moments of the regatta in Harbor Springs, Michigan, distilling a week of fleet racing into under a minute of celebration on the dock.
A Final Day Worth Celebrating at Melges 24 Worlds
Topping the overall standings, Wah Gwan (USA 865), helmed by Anthony Kotoun with Grant Janov, Jordan Janov, Franny Schulte and Stu McNay aboard, took the Overall World Championship title. In the Corinthian division, Loper (USA 855) — sailed by Duane Yoslov, Ellise Smolenyak, James Golden, Ian Mathiesen and Shane Tillson — claimed top amateur honors. Readers who want the full breakdown of how the regatta unfolded on Little Traverse Bay can find more detail in our coverage of Wah Gwan and Loper’s title-winning week.
Watching the Melges 24 Worlds Highlights
There’s no racing footage here, no commentary breaking down tactics — this is a wrap-up reel, built for the sailors and shore crews who lived the week and want a quick replay of the podium scene. You can watch the full Melges 24 Worlds final day highlights for a glimpse of the atmosphere in Harbor Springs as the fleet packed up after five days of competition. It’s also a nod to the volunteers, race committee and sponsors who kept the regatta running smoothly on Michigan water, the kind of behind-the-scenes effort that rarely gets screen time but makes events like this possible.
For a class that thrives on close boat-for-boat racing and deep Corinthian participation, closing ceremonies like this one matter — they’re the punctuation mark on a championship that drew fleets from across the country to one of the Great Lakes’ best sailing towns.
Video courtesy of IM24CA — watch the full video on YouTube.
