Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series act 3 in Portoferraio - Day 2
by International Melges 32 Class Association 1 Jun 2013 22:05 BST
31 May - 2 June 2013
Melges 32 fleet ready for heated Sunday battle
With Saturday's racing complete, the stage is officially set for a final showdown in Portoferraio on Sunday. Another unpredictable day of competition that included more of the same light and tricky breeze, and three races has delivered Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica in first, and overnight leader Roberto Tomasini Grinover on Robertissima in second, both with an equal 27 points each. Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino stands firm six points back in third. This event is clearly still up for grabs.
The brutally light air conditions on day two in Portoferraio offered up more tough racing conditions. Andrea Ferrari and his bow-to-stern, all-amatuer crew aboard Spirit of Nerina advanced to an early lead in the first race of the day, followed by Japan's Keisuke Suzuki on Swing and Edoardo Lupi's Torpyone in third. Ferrari lead the fleet through the gate with a change of course being implemented. Soon after, the course was shortened to finish at what was to be the second weather mark with Ferrari winning his first race ever in the Melges 32 class.
With the breeze holding steady, the second race got underway with Edoardo Pavesio's Fra Martina in charge at the top, chased aggressively by Onorato. Pavesio went on to win, ultimately holding off second place finisher Onorato, Cirillo finished third.
A hard-fought victory in Race Five was celebrated by Cirillo, a win that would take him from eighth to first overall. Playing the right side for best pressure, he took control at the first windward mark, Deneen Demourkas on Groovederci followed in second, while Ferrari got back into the action rounding third. Demourkas won the gate, but speed was on Cirillo's side. Back upwind, Cirillo regained the lead at the final weathermark of the race, Naofumi Kamei's Mamma Aiuto! moved up for second while Demourkas slid backwards to third. Cirillo won, Kamei had a great race to finish second. Andrea Pozzi's Bombarda found a podium spot to take third.
Competition in Portoferraio continues on Sunday with the final three races of the scheduled eight set to complete.
Portoferraio is organized by BPSE B.Plan Sports & Events in full coordination with the IM32CA and Melges Europe. The next Audi Sailing Series event takes place in 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.
Results after Day 2: (top ten, 5 races)
1.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica; 16-3-4-3-1 = 27pts
2.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 2-4-9-6-6 = 27pts
3.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino; 5-5-2-2-19 = 33pts
4.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda; 17-2-3-10-3 = 35pts
5.) Naofumi Kamei/Manuel Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!; 6-16-6-7-2 = 37pts
6.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Branko Brcin, Audi Ultra Giacomel; 3-13-13-5-5 = 39pts
7.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 1-8-10-11-10 = 40pts
8.) Andrea Ferrari/Mirko Bargolini, Spirit of Nerina; 7-18-1-9-7 = 42pts
9.) Malcolm Gefter/Sam Rogers, Celeritas; 11-6-12-8-12 = 49pts
10.) Edoardo Lupi/Pietro Sibello, Torpyone; 13-1-7-13-16 = 50pts