2015 Audi Melges 20 World Championship - Day 2
by Joy Dunigan on 2 Oct 2015
2015 Audi Melges 20 World Championship Joy Dunigan
Three spectacular races on Day Two of the 2015 Audi Melges 20 World Championship hosted by The San Francisco Yacht Club (SFYC) gave way to three different winners under classic San Francisco/Berkeley Circle conditions - sunshine, a moderate 15-20 knots of breeze and a smashing good ebb tide for extra fun. It's safe to say that the San Francisco World Championship venue completely redeemed itself after yesterday's complete wash of racing.
John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti came on strong in the first race of the day for the win. Kilroy, from the very get-go, got ahead of the 39-boat fleet and extended at each turn of the marks. His next best competition was Bob Hughes' Heartbreaker and Guido Miani's Out of Reach. Miani was tenacious as Hughes attempted to shut him out at the final weathermark successfully securing second place. Hughes was third. Julian Plante, the designated principle helmsman of Australian entry Guido Belgiorno-Nettis' Transfusion, grabbed an impressive fourth place finish. At the final offset, Plante rounded in the teens but somehow found a right-side flyer that cleverly zipped him to the front of the fleet. Cesar Gomes Neto's Portobello rounded out the top five.
Race Two went to twelve-year old Liam Kilroy on Wildman. After a thirteenth in Race One, the younger Kilroy sailed well, holding off reigning Melges 32 World Champion Alessandro Rombelli on STIG and Gomes Neto. A solid second-place finish for Gomes Neto allowed him to tie things up even with John Kilroy in the overall standings after two races. Rombelli was third. Drew Weirda's Merga had a great race finishing fourth ahead of Michael Illbruck's Pinta in fifth.
The last race of the day demanded every last drop of endurance and stamina from the teams. Winner Drew Freides aboard Pacific Yankee made it look easy. Staking his position early, out on the right, it was a wire-to-wire win.
'It really was a beautiful day. The conditions were perfect,' said Freides post racing. 'We've been out here practicing for the last five months, so our hard work paid off today.'
Jim Wilson's Oleander got off the starting line well, finding himself battling in the top tier to take a very satisfying second place finish in Race Three. The senior Kilroy finished third, followed by Achille Onorato's Mascalzone Latino, Jr. and Miani finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Going into the third day of racing, Kilroy leads with a substantial 10-point lead. Seven points separate the top-five runners. Notables include the one and only lady helm, Canadian Rhonda Joyce on Grinning Streak sitting pretty in the top ten.
More racing is scheduled for Friday, so all things could change dramatically as a discard of each team's worst score goes into play after the completion of six.
The Corinthian Chase is on
Paul Currie's Wild Deuces leads the Corinthian, all-amateur division after an initial three heats. Russia's Oleg Evdokimenko and this team on Kotyara are currently seated second Corinthian overall. Jay Golison aboard Midlife Crisis is third after a great eleventh place finish in Race One.
'T' is for trevor
The legacy of lost 2012 U.S. Sailing Team member Trevor Moore was celebrated on the race course today through a very simple and endearing gesture. Jason Michas on Midnight Blue and his father Alexis on Midnight Sun, wore an appropriate 'T' on their mains during racing in remembrance of their friend. Moore, who was lost over the summer on Biscayne Bay, is for sure here with us in spirit. His beautiful smile and warm heart is missed by the fleet every day.
Brat and Beer Please
There is nothing like a brat and beer at the end of a hard-fought day on the water. Clearly, it was a late afternoon, a long day that reassured everyone this Championship is not for the faint of heart. Teams arrived back at the docks around six o'clock in the evening to enjoy some brats - a special/delivery order from Wisconsin-based Melges USA and beer. It was the perfect end to a perfect day!
Top ten results (Preliminary - After Three Races)
1.) John Kilroy, Samba Pa Ti; 1-6-3 = 10
2.) Liam Kilroy, Wildman; 13-1-6 = 20
3.) Alessandro Rombelli, STIG; 10-3-8 = 21
4.) Cesar Gomes Neto, Portobello; 5-2-16 = 23
5.) Achille Onorato, Mascalzone Latino Jr.; 6-13-4 = 23
6.) Drew Freides, Pacific Yankee; 18-8-1 = 27
7.) Guido Miani, Out of Reach; 2-22-5 = 29
8.) Jim Wilson, Oleander; 9-25-2 = 36
9.) Michael Illbruck, Pinta; 16-5-15 = 36
10.) Rhonda Joyce, Grinning Streak; 14-11-12 = 37
Top three Corinthian Results (Preliminary - After Three Races)
1.) Paul Currie, Wild Deuces; 21-14-24 = 59
2.) Oleg Evdokimenko, Kotyara; 19-29-26 = 74
3.) Jay Golison, Midlife Crisis; 11-35-34 = 80
2015 Audi Melges 20 World Championship - Preliminary Cumulative Results
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