Double for Mascalzone at Trieste Challenge

by Media on 16 Sep 2008 The match race regatta of the Trieste Challenge 2008 ended in Trieste. The strong wind of Bora, with gusts up to 30 knots, compelled the Race Committee to cancel all races that should have taken place in the day of the finals.

Mascalzone driven by Matteo Savelli won on Friday against Jes Gram Hansen in the first and sole regatta in the finals, and gained the highest step of the podium. Second position then for the Mascalzone Latino Trifork Team of Gram Hansen who, even if they won the two Round Robins, lost the regatta in the finals which was valid for the definitive results.

During the week the wind kept everybody waiting, and in some races it was rather unstable. The Race Committee put an end to two rounds of Round Robins and ended yesterday the sole regatta in the finals (1st/2nd place). Savelli, after the first mistake in the first regatta that cost him a point in favour of Mirsky, won four times and placed second at the end of the two Round Robins, equal won by Jes Gram Hansen.

The Frenchman Damien Iehl, fifth in the ISAF Match Race rankings, and the Australian Torvar Mirsky, fourth in the World Match Racing Tour rankings, ranked respectively third and fourth after the two Round Robins. Their position in the results didn't change, as they could not race any regatta of the finals for the 3rd/4th place due to too strong wind.

At the end of the event, Vincenzo Onorato, detained in Milan due to an important business engagement, commented on the results gained by his Mascalzone Latino Teams: 'I could not even think of such a great end! Great Jes and great Matteo!'.

The crew of Mascalzone Latino who won the Trieste Challenge 2008 is:

Matteo Savelli (skipper/helmsman), Furio Benussi (tactician), Andrea Ballico (trimmer), Davide Scarpa (bowman), Daniele Fiaschi (trimmer), Luca Albarelli (mast), Nicola Pilastro (pitman) and Pierluigi de Felice (mainsail).

After some days of rest, Mascalzone Latino will move to Newport where they will sail in the Mumm 30 World Championship, taking place from October 1st throughout 4th. Vincenzo Onorato will be at the helm of his boat, supported by Adrian Stead as tactician.