PROFILING THE GOLDEN GENERATION: HARRY MELGES IV

Harry burst onto the America’s Cup scene in 2024 at the Youth America’s Cup where he stormed through the qualification series, scoring two race wins and entered the semi-finals with only the Italian Luna Rossa Youth team having a better scorecard. By the end of the semis, Harry skippered the American team through by one point from the British to face Marco Gradoni and Gigi Ugolini in the one-race final.

That final race didn’t go to plan with a penalty in the starting box putting Harry and co-helm Kyle Navin on the back-foot from the get-go, but they never gave up and despite finishing second, Harry was the model of diplomacy in congratulating the Italian team dockside after racing. For those observing, it was clear that Harry was part of a new ‘golden generation ‘ of sailors being given the ultimate pathway through to the pinnacle of sailing – the America’s Cup.

Reflecting on that time, Harry says: “I have some super fond memories of that time we spent in Barcelona. We had such an incredible group of not only sailors, but people on that team. We felt super supported. Certainly, we were all very disappointed with how it ended up. Us having the early start, or the entry penalty, it kind of felt like it was over before it even started for us. But, yeah, we’re super proud of how we sailed and how it ended up. It didn’t go our way, but now we’re looking for the future.”

That future is clear now, with Harry being signed up for the new ARC Team USA that has a very clear goal of ‘Mission Impossible’ but also a cultural one of getting the support of the American public with a relatable, competitive campaign. Backed by a management team including top international maxi sailor Karel Komárek, America’s Cup veteran Ken Read and double Olympic gold medallist Giles Scott, ARC Team USA is looking to embed a winning culture from the outset.

Harry is enthusiastic for how the team has come together, saying: “It feels incredible, really. All of our leadership has put together an incredible programme so far. Kenny has done a great job bringing Giles in, and it really feels like the sailing team is working well together. I think the most exciting part for me is that we’re an all-American squad. And that’s something that I haven’t seen, really, in my whole lifetime, looking at the America’s Cup. And I think that’s the most exciting part to me.”

The sailing team that includes the likes of Lucas Calabrese, Mike Menninger, Louisa Nordstrom, Hans Henken, Riley Gibbs, and Harry co-helm from 2024 Kyle Navin have come together in Pensacola, Florida recently for training camps ahead of Naples PR2 with Harry saying: “I think it’s gone really well. None of us were quite sure how it was going to work, but with the group of people we’ve put together, it was really seamless. I was just stepping back into the boat, a little bit of time in the simulator, a little bit of time reading back over old notes, and it kind of felt like we hadn’t stopped sailing.”

Harry is super-complimentary about his team-mates too saying: We kind of have two ends of the spectrum, I would say, with our team. We’ve got Lucas, Michael, Hans are a little bit older, and they’ve got a ton of experience. And then the rest of us are a bit younger. We don’t have as much experience in the highest level of the sport. But I think that is a big advantage for us. We’re all still quite young. We’re all American. We’re super motivated to get this done, and we’re all great friends and good teammates. And I think the most important thing with that is that we all truly believe in the goal that’s ahead of us and what we’re working towards. And not just the sailing team, but the entire ARC Team USA team really believes in each other, and we’re all working towards the same goal.”

Since the last Cup, Harry – the 2021 Rolex US Yachtsman of the Year - really hasn’t stopped sailing with notable success in the one design Melges 24 class and a famous world championship win in 2025 in the TP52 keelboat class and as he says: “There’s nothing quite like sailing the AC75 or AC40 but I’m a big believer in sailing a wide array of different boats. I think you learn lessons from all these different classes that you can take into the Cup sailing. Along with the keelboat sailing, I’ve been doing a lot of racing in the Moth class and I’m on the US SailGP team, so I’ve been doing quite a bit of sailing in the F50, which I think translates to the Cup quite a bit.”

How that translates into performance in Naples is anyone guess with ARC Team USA being the ultimate ‘dark horses’ for the regatta. When pushed on expectations, Harry is relaxed saying: “I’m not going to give you a number or anything. I don’t quite believe in that. I think we know where we’re at right now on the boat and how we’re sailing, and we’re really going to focus on the process that we’ve put in place and improving ourselves each day - and the results will follow after that.”

Wise words on young shoulders but Harry is clear on the stepping stones that got him to this point saying: “It’s an incredible feeling. Truthfully, what Team New Zealand has done with the AC40 has been really the opportunity of a lifetime for all of us. With the Youth America’s Cup last campaign in Barcelona, it really felt like for all of us, this is our time to make our mark in the world of sailing, and this is our opportunity to carve our careers. It’s never ending, but it felt like that was a major step for all of us, really.”

ARC Team USA are busy modifying their AC75 to the new Technical Regulations, and Harry is more than looking forward to getting to grips with a boat that many observers think is potentially the fastest of the current fleet. “I’ve definitely seen the boat. It’s a great feeling. Everyone knows that because of the recumbent cyclist in AC37, we do have a lower deck than all the other teams. To be honest with you, when we did our own analysis of all the hulls, there wasn’t a ton in it between the teams. I really think that the performance is probably going to come down to different areas in the design package. But that being said, our hull is definitely not slow, so we’re very looking forward to getting it back on the water and eventually lining up with someone in the spring and summer next year.”

ARC team USA is at the forefront of bringing their own golden generation through in the America’s Cup. Harry Melges IV, from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, is integral to that.

Magnus Wheatley