Australian sailor, Owen Muyt, raced his Melges 14 into Southern Highlands Sailing Club’s history books in the unprecedented 2019-20 season. Muyt was the first dinghy entry to win the club’s overall championshipand score top in the dinghy division.
The Southern Highlands Sailing Club is situated at Fitzroy Falls in New South Wales, AUS, about 80 miles south of Sydney. The club races on Fitzroy Falls Dam, which sits at 730m above sea level.
Muyt was presented the Commodore’s Cup, the overall club champion in mixed fleet racing. The 25-30 additional competitors for this trophy include Lasers, Spirals, Finns, and a mix of multihulls including Hobies and Nacras. “When you’re beating A Class cats to the top mark and matching them at every other you know you have one fast boat,” said Muyt. “Being the first dinghy sailor to take it out in the club’s history peeved a few cat sailors.”
Muyt also won the 2019-20 Summit Point Score for the dinghy division, which is raced on a yardstick rating. The M14 rates highest in the club having to beat the Finn by 3 minutes or a Laser by 5 minutes.
“The Melges 14 is one great boat that just kicks arse against any opposition, be it other dinghies or anything with two hulls,” added Muyt. “I felt sometimes I just along for the ride.”