Cagliari, Italy (October 11, 2018)
- After yesterday's opening race day postponement, the weather
cooperated in Cagliari, Italy on Day Two, officially getting 2018 Melges
20 World Championship racing underway. It
was obvious that all the teams were feeling the pressure to do well.
The high and choppy waves were challenging, whereas the only thing the
fleet seemed at ease with was the moderate 12 knots of breeze.
The
American teams however were by far the most comfortable in the ocean
like conditions, setting the pace by winning the first two races. But,
at the end of the day it was the brilliant Filippo Pacinotti at the helm
of BRONTOLO with tactician Manu Weiller in first place overall.
"It's
only the first day, but of course we are happy to be where we are at.
In the grand scheme of things though it counts very little," says
Weiller. "Filippo is very good at sailing the boat in challenging
conditions. The competition here is very balanced, so our first rule is
to try and avoid making any mistakes in order to remain in the lead.
Tomorrow's weather forecast states that there will be less wind and
waves, which means the race course will look and feel completely
different. We hope to give our best."
The
first race of the event showed a very nervous fleet, as it took three
general recalls before the inevitable black flag was flown. Once off the
starting line, defending World Champion Drew Freides' PACIFIC YANKEE
with Morgan Reeser as tactician gained a substantial lead, then
extended for the win. Hot on his heels finishing second was current
Melges World League ranking leader Vladimir Prosikhin's NIKA (Michele Ivaldi, tactician), followed by Poland's Krzysztov Krempec at the helm of MAG TINY (Tomislav Basic, tactician) in third.
Race Two went to Jim Wilson's OLEANDER with tactician Jeremy Wilmot in charge. After an intense battle with runner-up Maxim Titarenko's LEVIATHAN, Wilson took the bullet, followed by Dario Levi's FREMITO D'ARJA (Enrico Fonda, tactician).
In
the third and final race of the day, Wilson came on strong again, but
not strong enough to overtake the lead from recently crowned Melges
World League, European Divisional Champion Pacinotti. In flying blue
colors, Pacinotti took the bullet just ahead of Wilson in second. Matteo
Marenghi Vaselli's RAYA with tactician Nicolo Bianchi had a great race to finish third.
The
results at this stage of the Championship is very tight indeed with one
point separating Pacinotti from Wilson. Prosikhin is three points back
seated in third overall, then Freides and rising through the ranks to
finish the day in fifth is Russia's Igor Rytov at the helm of RUSSIAN BOGATYRS.
In
the Corinthian division, a heated battle ensues between two of the 2018
season's toughest all-amatuer competitors - Alexander Mikhaylik racing ALEX TEAM and Marco Giannini's SIDERVAL.
With three races completed, Mikhaylik got the upper hand today to head
into Friday's racing as first Corinthian, followed by Giannini in
second. Russia's Tim Katalevskiy's K&K is currently in third.
2018 World Championship racing continues tomorrow, Friday, October 12 at 13.00.
The
Melges 20 World Championship is supported by Moby, Tirrenia, Helly
Hansen, Garmin Marine, North Sails, Toremar, Harken, Norda, Lavazza,
Rigoni di Asiago and Melges Europe.
Melges
World League has signed and adopts the code of ethics of the Charta
Smerarlda strongly promoting the values of One Ocean Foundation.
MEDIA AND RACING COVERAGE
As with other Melges 20 events around the world, racing updates will be posted online at the Official Melges 20 Facebook Page. Be sure to also follow the fleet on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Tune in for the latest racing information, results, video interviews and photos at melges20.com.
As with other Melges 20 events around the world, racing updates will be posted online at the Official Melges 20 Facebook Page. Be sure to also follow the fleet on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Tune in for the latest racing information, results, video interviews and photos at melges20.com.
TOP FIVE RESULTS (PRELIMINARY - After Three Races)
1.) (ITA) Filippo Pacinotti, BRONTOLO; 4-8-1 = 13
2.) (USA) Jim Wilson, OLEANDER; 11-1-2 = 14
3.) (RUS) Vladimir Prosikhin, NIKA; 2-5-10 = 17
4.) (USA) Drew Freides, PACIFIC YANKEE; 1-4-13 = 18
5.) (RUS) Igor Rytov, RUSSIAN BOGATYRS; 7-12-6 = 25
View Full Results
1.) (ITA) Filippo Pacinotti, BRONTOLO; 4-8-1 = 13
2.) (USA) Jim Wilson, OLEANDER; 11-1-2 = 14
3.) (RUS) Vladimir Prosikhin, NIKA; 2-5-10 = 17
4.) (USA) Drew Freides, PACIFIC YANKEE; 1-4-13 = 18
5.) (RUS) Igor Rytov, RUSSIAN BOGATYRS; 7-12-6 = 25
View Full Results
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