World Champions: Inside Our Melges 24 Victory at Harbor Springs
The Moment It All Clicked
The Melges 24 World Championship at Harbor Springs was everything we hoped for—and then some. For those unfamiliar with the class, the Melges 24 demands everything from its crew. As Grant put it during our team debrief, "For a lot of the crew members, it's not an entirely interactive experience because you spend a lot of time looking at your toes, hiking as hard as you can." But when you trust your teammates and everyone executes their role, magic happens. Last month we had the great fortune to sail with some of the best teammates in the business - Anthony Kotoun, Stu McNay and Franny Schulte - and spent the week battling for a world title, coming away with the win!
The Strategy That Won It
Harbor Springs delivered exactly the conditions that our team thrived in: variability. The lake venue served up shifty winds and unpredictable pressure, conditions that reward patience and punish overcommitment. Our tactician Stu's approach was masterful:
Starting near the middle of the line to stay flexible
Sailing lifted and into pressure for the first 65-70% of each beat
Staying patient—not chasing every shift
Playing the shifts more aggressively only in the final stretch to position for strong mark roundings
This measured approach consistently put us in the top five at the windward mark, setting up strong races throughout the regatta.
Conditions and Consistency
We saw it all at Harbor Springs. The first three days brought medium to windy conditions, and the race committee did an excellent job getting nine races completed early. When the breeze went light for the final two days, we were grateful for that cushion. Going into the regatta, we knew our strength was being well-rounded performers in all conditions—and that's exactly what played out.
The Final Day
Waking up on the last day of a world championship with a lead is a unique kind of pressure. Grant and Jordan made breakfast for the team while Stu reviewed weather data. We calculated every scenario: if only one race sailed, we'd win by default. If two races sailed, we needed no worse than 19th in the first race to clinch it—even if second place won that race.
The wind filled around noon, signaling a two-race day. We stuck to our process, had a strong start, rounded the top mark in the top three, and battled for the lead. When we crossed the finish line, we knew: we were World Champions.
Anthony kept us sailing downwind toward home—he and Stu had flights to catch in ninety minutes! The media team organized a quick trophy ceremony roadside before the official awards at Nub's Knob ski resort later that evening.
What Made the Difference
Looking back, this was one of the lowest-drama regattas we've ever experienced. No blow-ups, no major stress events—just solid communication, mutual trust, and positivity that allowed everyone to perform at their best. When you spend that much time hiking with your head down, trusting the people making decisions in the back of the boat is everything.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this happen. Anthony Kotoun — the owner and skipper behind this program — thank you for building it, trusting Grant and Jordan, and leading from the back of the boat. Stu McNay and Franny Schulte, thank you for every call, adjustment, laugh, and hard-earned lesson. To coach Dave Ullman, thank you for your wisdom over the last several years and your support on the water this week! To our supporters who've been with us on this journey: thank you. This championship belongs to all of us. And we're just getting started.
The Moment It All Clicked
The Melges 24 World Championship at Harbor Springs was everything we hoped for—and then some. For those unfamiliar with the class, the Melges 24 demands everything from its crew. As Grant put it during our team debrief, "For a lot of the crew members, it's not an entirely interactive experience because you spend a lot of time looking at your toes, hiking as hard as you can." But when you trust your teammates and everyone executes their role, magic happens. Last month we had the great fortune to sail with some of the best teammates in the business - Anthony Kotoun, Stu McNay and Franny Schulte - and spent the week battling for a world title, coming away with the win!
The Strategy That Won It
Harbor Springs delivered exactly the conditions that our team thrived in: variability. The lake venue served up shifty winds and unpredictable pressure, conditions that reward patience and punish overcommitment. Our tactician Stu's approach was masterful:
Starting near the middle of the line to stay flexible
Sailing lifted and into pressure for the first 65-70% of each beat
Staying patient—not chasing every shift
Playing the shifts more aggressively only in the final stretch to position for strong mark roundings
This measured approach consistently put us in the top five at the windward mark, setting up strong races throughout the regatta.
Conditions and Consistency
We saw it all at Harbor Springs. The first three days brought medium to windy conditions, and the race committee did an excellent job getting nine races completed early. When the breeze went light for the final two days, we were grateful for that cushion. Going into the regatta, we knew our strength was being well-rounded performers in all conditions—and that's exactly what played out.
The Final Day
Waking up on the last day of a world championship with a lead is a unique kind of pressure. Grant and Jordan made breakfast for the team while Stu reviewed weather data. We calculated every scenario: if only one race sailed, we'd win by default. If two races sailed, we needed no worse than 19th in the first race to clinch it—even if second place won that race.
The wind filled around noon, signaling a two-race day. We stuck to our process, had a strong start, rounded the top mark in the top three, and battled for the lead. When we crossed the finish line, we knew: we were World Champions.
Anthony kept us sailing downwind toward home—he and Stu had flights to catch in ninety minutes! The media team organized a quick trophy ceremony roadside before the official awards at Nub's Knob ski resort later that evening.
What Made the Difference
Looking back, this was one of the lowest-drama regattas we've ever experienced. No blow-ups, no major stress events—just solid communication, mutual trust, and positivity that allowed everyone to perform at their best. When you spend that much time hiking with your head down, trusting the people making decisions in the back of the boat is everything.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this happen. Anthony Kotoun — the owner and skipper behind this program — thank you for building it, trusting Grant and Jordan, and leading from the back of the boat. Stu McNay and Franny Schulte, thank you for every call, adjustment, laugh, and hard-earned lesson. To coach Dave Ullman, thank you for your wisdom over the last several years and your support on the water this week! To our supporters who've been with us on this journey: thank you. This championship belongs to all of us. And we're just getting started.