MELGES 32 CLASS – Thanks to its great media success, the International Melges 32 Class Association (IM32CA) and the Audi Sailing Series is ready for big fleet racing in Porto Ercole. Event No. 2, happening May 10-12 will commence with twenty-one teams on the starting line, representing 8 nations. The first event held in Gaeta organized by BPSE – B.Plan Sport & Events, have shown an increase in audience and media interest three-times higher in comparison to years past. These results are the reward of strong commitment of many partners that also include the IM32CA and Melges Performance Sailboats worldwide who keep promoting and strongly supporting one design racing.

Adding to the media excitement, BPSE has just released and Audi Sailing Series App,

compatible with all smartphones and tablets. The App is easily downloaded online at Apple’s App Store and Google Play. This newly born App is a useful tool that can keep everyone up to date on everything Audi Sailing Series, including sailing instructions, useful accommodation facilities close to the regatta sites and much, much more.

Needless to say, everyone’s attention will be focused on Gaeta Champion Valentin Zavadnikov’s Team Synergy. Currently seated second overall in the Series is

Andrea Pozzi at the helm of Bombarda (who is just back from the victories at the Pirelli-Coppa regattas with Carlo Negri aboard a TP52, chartered for the special occasion), and third place Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica are equally two very strong teams that should not be overlooked.

This stage will be a great opportunity for the Audi Ultra Giacomel of Mauro Mocchegiani to get back on track. Marc de Antonio’s Bribon-Movistar, Carlo Alberini’s Calvi Network and last, but certainly not least is Deneen Demourkas’ Groovederci from the USA are all expected to have big roles in the results this weekend.

Returning to the European stage is newly appointed IM32CA Vice President Richard Goransson on Helly Hansen Inga From Sweden 3, Yukihiro Ishida aboard Yasha Samurai and Wolfgang Stolz on Opus One from Germany.

Porto Ercole happens this weekend hosted by the Circolo Nautico e della Vela dell’Argentario. The next events are Portoferraio (Event No. 3 on 31 May-2 June), and Torbole (Event No. 4 on 12-14 July). The final event will be the 2013 Melges 32 World Championship on 18-22 September in Porto Rotondo, Italy.

FULL ENTRY LIST

1.) Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio/Andrea Fornaro, Atlantica 19

2.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Enrico Fonda, Audi Rush Diletta

3.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda

4.) Marc de Antonio Altimira/Gustavo Martinez Doreste, Bribon Movistar

5.) Filippo Pacinotti/Nathan Wilmot, Brontolo

6.) Carlo Alberini/Flavio Favini, Calvi Network

7.) Malcolm Gefter/Sam Rogers, Celeritas

8.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica

9.) Edoardo Pavesio/Chris Rust, Fra Martina

10.) Deneen Demourkas/Mark Mendelblatt, Groovederci

11.) Richard Goransson/Hamish Pepper, Inga from Sweden

12.) Roberto Pardini/Lucio Gelsi, Celedrin Janas

13.) Diasuke Kimura/Manuel Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!

14.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino

15.) Wolfgang Stolz/Jesper Radich, Opus One

16.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima

17.) Andrea Ferrari/Carlo Fracassoli, Spirit of Nerina

18.) Valetin Zavadinkov/Tommaso Chieffi, Team Synergy

19.) Edoardo Lupi/Branko Brcin, Torpyone

20.) Andrea Massi/Francesco Cruciani, ULIKA

21.) Yukihiro Ishida/Richard Clarke, Yasha Samurai

Photo: © Carlo Borlenghi/BPSE Photo

MELGES 32 – From the moment that Valentin Zavadnikov’s Team Synergy with tactician Tommaso Chieffi arrived on the Gulf of Gaeta they commanded the event. As the final day of racing unfolded, Zavadnikov held off attacks from a combative, second place finisher Andrea Pozzi onBombarda alongside of tactician Lorenzo Bressani to take the overall win. Zavadnikov, in addition to Chieffi were accompanied by Anton Sergeev, Pavel Mshenski, Konstantin Besputin, Alexander Ekimov, Valeriy Zatsarinskiy and Filippo Ardito as crew.

The 2013 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series Gaeta edition was organized by B-Plan Sport&Events in full collaboration with the INTERNATIONAL MELGES 32 CLASS ASSOCIATION, MELGES EUROPE and Yacht Club Gaeta EVS. It was a first class event that in the end, separated the overall winner and the rest of the fleet by one point after a fully completed schedule of eight races.

Rounding out the top three was 2011 Series Champion Lanfranco Cirillo aboardFantastica. Spain’s Marc de Antonio’s Bribon Movistar finished fourth, followed by Carlo Alberini’s Calvi Network in fifth. Deneen Demourkas on Groovederci closed the event in sixth.

It was a very disappointing day for Edoardo Lupi on Torpyone and Edoardo Pavesio’s Fra Martina and as they fell from top three positions overnight to end the event in seventh and eighth.

The next Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series event takes place in Porto Ercole on May 10-12, and promises to summon a higher number of participants. The arrival of more teams from the United States as well as Europe and abroad are expected to attend.

TOP TEN RESULTS (FINAL, After eight races and one discard) 1.) Valetin Zavadinkov/Tommaso Chieffi, Team Synergy; 3-1-3-8-3-6-4-[15] = 28 2.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda; [10]-3-6-7-6-2-1-4 = 29 3.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica; [12]-11-1-9-4-3-3-7 = 38 4.) Marc de Antonio/Gustavo Martinez Doreste, Bribon Movistar; [13]-12-7-4-8-1-7-3 = 42 5.) Carlo Alberini/Flavio Favini, Calvi Network; 2-14-9-11-2-[15]-5-1 = 44 6.) Deneen Demourkas/Mark Mendelblatt, Groovederci; 6-2-16-6-[16]-5-2-8 = 45 7.) Edoardo Lupi/Branko Brcin, Torpyone; 1-10-8-2-7-11-9-[14] = 48 8.) Edoardo Pavesio/Chris Rust, Fra Martina; 4 (ZULU)-4-2-3-11-13-[16]-12 = 52 9.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino; 8-5-13-[15]-1-10-6-10 = 53 10.) Naofumi Kamei/Manuel Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!; 7-6-12-5(DPI)-5-8-8-[16] = 54

Photo by Joy Dunigan

MELGES 32 – The first day of racing at the2013 OTTERBOX^® MELGES 32 VIRGIN ISLANDS SAILING SERIES, EVENT NO. 1 IN VIRGIN GORDA, British Virgin Islands was nothing short of stunning on all accounts. The day produced simply gorgeous, sunny and warm island conditions, stellar racing action, and only par excellence on shore from host YACHT CLUB COSTA SMERALDA (YCCS).

PRO Hank Stuart fired off three amazing races, providing ample opportunity for overall leader Roberto Tomasini Grinover aboardRobertissima 1 and tactician Vasco Vascotto to submit an impressive 1-4-1 scoreline.

“What more can I say. We had a great day of racing. A beautiful regatta, in a beautiful location. This is amazing.” said an elated Tomasini Grinover after a long day of very aggressive racing.

“We had a good day, but I feel as though we still made some mistakes.” says Vascotto. “We did well in the first race and last race today, which is great. Roberto is so happy. But, mistakes in this class can be so costly. So, we have to continue to work hard and go fast.”

Race one of the weekend’s scheduled series of ten commenced on time under glorious sunshine and light, yet quite comfortable breezes. The sea state was a lot calmer that teams were expecting.

Tomasini Grinover got an immediate jump on the competition right off the line. With a pleasant 9-12 knots of breeze, clean left side start and stiff competition from Mark Plaxton’s INTAC and Richard Goransson’s Inga from Sweden, Tomasini Grinover took an early lead, pushing his team to the forefront of the fleet. As the race progressed, he extended nicely followed by a vicious battle between Plaxton and Gorannson for second. The two fought hard on the final run with Plaxton proving he had the speed to hold on for second. Goransson finished third.

The second race of the day went to Dick DeVos at the helm of Volpe. From line-to-line, DeVos alongside of tactician Ed Baird poured on the speed, keeping just ahead of a strong Tomasini Grinover. DeVos worked hard taking the win in front of Alex Jackson’s Leenabarca in second. Valentin Zavadinkov aboard Team Synergy had a great race to finish third.

The final heat was a key race with big moves for both Tomasini Grinover and Jackson. Both grabbed nice starts off the boat end of the starting line. About half way up the first beat it was obvious the two had struck a massive deal with the wind gods. Tomasini Grinover was launched several boat lengths ahead of the fleet. Jackson, running in second offered up some separation of his own rounding second by a sizable margin. The two campaigned nothing but speed finishing respectively first and second. Plaxton maintained position taking third.

More racing is scheduled for Friday, February 20, 2013. First warning is at 11.00 BVI.