The new 2026 Melges 24 Open World Champion is Wah Gwan of Anthony Kotoun (USA), while Duane Yoslov’s Looper (USA) is the new Corinthian World Champion.
Wah Gwan did not need to start the final race and completed the series with 32 points, winning the World Championship by a remarkable 29-point race margin. The new Open World Champions are Anthony Kotoun, Grant Janov, Jordan Janov, Franny Schulte and Stuart McNay.
For McNay, the victory carried an extra layer of history. Ten years earlier, he helmed Conor Clarke’s Embarr to the 2016 Melges 24 world title in Miami, sailing alongside fellow US 470 Olympian Dave Hughes.
Peter Duncan’s Shiitake (USA) added a sixth and a ninth on the final day to secure the silver medal with 61 points. Shiitake is sailed by Peter Duncan, Greiner Hobbs, Will Ryan, Victor Diaz de Leon and Reed Baldridge.
The fight for bronze could not have been closer.Peter McClennen’s Gamecock (USA) finished the championship tied on 65 points with Nick Rogers’ WarCanoe (USA). A second-place finish in the final race helped Gamecock secure the bronze medal on the tie-break.
The Corinthian title came down to a tense final-day duel between Troublemaker/Gill Race Team and Looper.
Duane Yoslov’s Looper (USA), sailing with Ellise Smolenyak, James Golden, Ian Mathiesen and Shane Tillson are the 2026 Melges 24 Corinthian World Champions, finishing 13th overall.
Second were Troublemaker/Gill Race Team (USA) of Edward Gary, Steve Liebel, John Goller, Curtis Woodworth and Kathryn Booker (15th overall) and third, Stuart Simpson’s (GBR) Team Barbarians (16th overall).
In fourth was Miles Quinton (GBR) ZHIK Race Team (18th overall).
Melges 24 Final Overall standings (49 entries0
1st Wah Gwan, USA, Anthony Kotoun; 32 pts
2nd Shiitake, USA, Peter Duncan; 61 pts
3rd Gamecock, USA, Peter McClennen; 65 pts
4th WarCanoe, USA, Nick Rogers; 65 pts
5th Dark Horse, USA, Cuyler Morris; 69 pts
6th Mavi, USA, Bora Gulari; 70 pts
7th Sentinel, USA, Geoff Fargo; 86 pts
8th Mustang, USA, Dick Kalow; 107 pts
9th The 300, USA, Steven Boho; 113 pts
20th Flying Jenny, USA, Sandy Askew; 117 pts
Melges 24 Final Corinthian standings
1st Looper, USA, Duane Yoslov; 157 pts
2nd Troublemaker / Gill Race Team, USA, Eddie Gary; 166 pts
3rd Team Barbarians, GBR, Stuart Simpson; 173 pts
4th Zhik Race Team, GBR, Geoff Carveth; 187 ps
5th Team Bagdad Prospects Helly Hansen, NOR, Tomas Mathisen; 197 pts