After Australia and South Africa, Melges 24 is spreading rapidly in Japan. The class is growing thanks to the rapid increase in awareness and interest Japanese sailors are bringing to the Melges 24. As a result the Japanese Class Association is now going through a resurgence of interest and has therefore announced its regatta schedule for the 2007 season. The regattas will be used to strengthen the existing fleets but also to spark off new interests around the country. The class is becoming so successful, the Japanese Class Association plans to organize a Japanese National Championship towards the end of the year.
A Japanese Melges 24 Website exists for more information about the class. Unfortunately, it is in Japanese so I was not able to find more information on how they promoted the boat around the country. But it is clear that this business relies greatly on word off mouth promotion and having new sailors try out the Melges 24 in new countries is Melges Performance Sailboats best ally. By starting off in Japan, the Melges 24 may spread throughout Asia becoming one of the largest fleets around. World Championships were already held for Optimist in China a few years back, why not some time soon for Melges 24?
If indeed the fleet does expand, Melges Performance Sailboats may need to find a new builder-partner around Asia to be able to implement the demand in boats or will Melges rely on its Australian builder Melges Asia Pacific to do so?
No comments:
Post a Comment