SAILING SERIES MELGES 32 - Balestrero Wins Porto Ercole

Porto Ercole, Italy - After a hard fought and intense battle on the final day of racing in Porto Ercole, the second act of the Sailing Series® Melges 32, Matteo Balestrero at the helm of Giogi is the event Champion! Sailing with Balestrero is the phenomenal Daniele Cassinari as tactician and crew members Andrea Casale, Francesco Di Caprio, Davide Di Maio, Cristiano Giannetti, Leone Taddei and Elio Borio.

Although Balestrero's daily results were clearly not his best of the weekend, he and his team managed to maintain their overnight lead for the overall win. This is his first regatta win in the Melges 32 fleet.

"We have experienced a pretty engaging weekend. We not only went up against the top teams in this class, but also survived to win a very tricky race course," said Cassinari post racing. "Matteo is one of the quickest helmsman in the fleet. He is very focused and with his best concentration, together with great teamwork, our upwind speed made the game a little easier."

Holding steadfast in second place, closing the gap by two points was Vincenzo Onorato and his legendary Mascalzone Latino with Cameron Appleton serving as tactician.

"It's a great joy for me to be out sailing with my team again," said Onorato, after nearly a 2-year hiatus. "I decided to come back racing after a pretty close encounter with a bull shark during an underwater fishing session that left a permanent "souvenir" on my left arm. I think it's better to race on a Melges 32, and at the moment, it's the best racing boat in the world."

Rounding out the podium is another new arrival in the fleet, Norway's Lasse Petterson aboard Pippa. Petterson, along with tactician Matteo Ivaldi had a great day, not only placing third overall in the finals, but also won Race Seven.

For early event leader Richard Goransson on Inga From Sweden, modest results in the later half of the event enabled him to only finish fourth.

Other shining stars of the day include Andrea LaCorte on Vitamina who came second in Race Seven, finishing the event in fifth overall. Missing the podium this time around, Turkey's Ahmet Eker on Eker ended the event on a high note winning Race Eight.

The next event happens on June 3-5 in Talamone for the third act of the Sailing Series®.

A very special thanks goes to Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario and BPSE and all the Melges 32 teams!

TOP FIVE RESULTS (PRELIMINARY - After Eight Races, One Discard)
1.) Matteo Balestrero, Giogi; 5-3-2-3-3-1-11-7 = 24
2.) Vincenzo Onorato, Mascalzone Latino; 1-4-5-7-4-[8]-5-2 = 28
3.) Lasse Pettersen, Pippa; 10-5-[11]-2-1-6-1-4 = 29
4.) Richard Goransson, Inga From Sweden; 6-1-1-4-6-[7]-6-5 = 29
5.) Andrea LaCorte, Vitamina; 9-[10]-6-1-2-4-2-10 = 34
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