Just bought a Melges 24 with my racing partner to race in the local PHRF fleet as well as some OD racing. This 24 footer is lightweight (1800 pounds) and because the keel is retractable, very easy to tow (currently haul behind a Suburban). From the Melges 24 racers we have spoken with, this boat CLEANS UP in PHRF racing in breezes of up to 15 knots. Above that it is still competitive, although larger, heavier boats will point higher and may have some advantage. This boat is a screamer downwind, with the asym
spinnaker it gets up on plane at about 9 knots and just skips across the water. It is also very easy to single-hand, as there are no
winches, a small
jib, and the mainsheet is contolled by the driver anyway.