The Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club three summers ago introduced the Melges 15 sailboat as part of its annual Down Bay Regatta, and the boat quickly has become a viable, affordable option for many who enjoy racing on Long Beach Island. Evidence of such was last year’s Down Bay event, which featured 22 M15 boats, easily the largest fleet among the four classes eligible to participate.

“It’s a two-person boat that anybody can sail,” said Clay Johnson, who last summer was at the top of the M15 standings…