Melges 32 World Championship - Argo team above all in Porto Rotondo

by Joy Dunigan on 21 Sep 2013 At the Melges 32 World Championship, light winds, relatively calm seas and bright Italian sunshine enabled PRO Hank Stuart, with impeccable Race Committee support provided by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) to fire off three races on Friday. Each race presented a unique winner, making for a total of four complete at the 2013 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the Yacht Club Porto Rotondo (YCPR) in coordination with B.Plan Sports & Events (BPSE) and Melges Europe.

In the overall lead, ahead by six points, is American Jason Carroll and tactician Cameron Appleton along with their Argo team over Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino in second place with Gabriele Benussi on tactics. Japan's Naofumi Kamei aboard Mamma Aiuto! with tactician Manuel Weiller are now third. Carroll is the only Melges 32 thus far to maintain a solid single-digit scoreline hence his tip top of the chart position.

Racing commenced on time with Onorato seeing his way across the finish line for first in Race Two of the series, chased by Keisuke Suzuki on Swing in second. Audi Sailing Series Gaeta Champion Valentin Zavadnikov, on Synergy GT took third.

Onorato strived to deliver yet another amazing performance in Race Three, however it was Kamei who commanded the fleet. Although quite strong, neither went without stiff competition from Mauro Mocchegiani's Audi Ultra who grabbed second place honors. Onorato settled for third. Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica had a great race to finish fourth, and Deneen Demourkas on Groovederci came fifth.

The light air conditions continued as the last and final race of the day got underway a little past 3o'clock in the afternoon. Germany's Wolfgang Stolz on Opus One claimed his first bullet of the Championship, while Carroll improved his overall score with a second place finish. Andrea Pozzi on Bombarda came third.

Racing will continue on Saturday with a warning at 11.00. Very similar, if not identical conditions as today are expected. If three races are held, a discard goes into play after sixth, which may change the top ten standings dramatically.

Top 10 Results: (After Four Races)

1.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, ARGO; 5-4-6-2 = 17
2.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino; 8-1-3-11 = 23
3.) Naofumi Kamei/Manuel Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!; 7-9-1-8 = 25
4.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda; 2-21-8-3 = 34
5.) Alessandro Rombelli/Paul Goodison, Azimut by STIG; 4-8-9-13 = 34
6.) Valentin Zavadnikov/ Michele Ivaldi, Synergy GT; 11-3-20-5 = 39
7.) Keisuke Suzuki/Chris Nicolson, Swing; 10-2-7-21 = 40
8.) Deneen Demourkas/Francesco Bruni, Groovederci; 6-20-5-9 = 40
9.) Filippo Pacinotti/Nathan Wilmot, Brontolo HH; 3-24-16-7 = 50
10.) Malcolm Gefter/Steve Hunt, Celeritas; 16-5-17-12 = Event website