Melges 20 Audi-Tron Sailing Series - Wild ride - Three up, three down

by Melges 20 on 19 Jul 2015 The second day of racing in Porto Ercole boasted three heats, each one with its very own unique winner. Overall however, Dario Levi at the helm of Fremito D'Arja remains on top of the scoreboard with a crazy thirteen-point advantage over second place holder Alexandr Ezhkov's Pirogovo Sailing. American Wes Whitmyer Jr. on Slingshot slipped a spot to finish the day in third.

Hot temperatures, light shifty breezes and current brought about the three additional races in Porto Ercole, bringing the completed number to five.

With only about eight knots of breeze, Race Three featured Agusta Corrado's Customly edging out Marco Franchini's Mezzaluna and Lauro Bonora's Camay for the early lead. Corrado went on to win, with Bonora taking second and Whitmyer improving throughout the race to finish third, just ahead of Ezhkov in fourth. Valentin Zavadnikov/Matteo Tenti aboard Synergy GT completed the top five.

The second race of the day went to Yury Morozov's Russotrans, but it was anything but easy. Race Four was first abandoned due to no breeze and called for another attempt. The second start prompted a quick and initial attack from Levi, but it was Morozov who conquered all with Guido Miani's Out of Reach finding the right shifts in the light and fickle air to claim second. Japan's Hiroshi Kurokawa on Spray had a nice race to finish third.

Race Five, the final race of the day, saw Richard Davies on Section 16 taking the win. Corrado, Bonora and Ezhkov all had great position early in the race, but with the breeze dropping the course was shortened at the second weathermark. Davies was leading at the time and took the win. Corrado took second followed by Simoneschi's Audi G-Tron in third.

The fourth act of the 2015 Audi-Tron Sailing Series is hosted by Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario, and organized by B.Plan Sport and Events (BPSE) in cooperation with Melges Europe.

Top Ten Results - (Provisional - After Five Races)

1.) Dario Levi, Fremito D'Arja; 1-1-6-15-5 = 28
2.) Alexandr Ezhkov, Pirogovo Sailing; 6-13-4-11-7 = 41
3.) Wes Whitmyer Jr, Slingshot; 7-2-3-24-11 = 47
4.) Marco Franchini, Mezzaluna; 20-3-9-8-9 = 49
5.) Richard Davies, Section 16; 15-10-8-19-1 = 53
6.) Guido Miani, Out of Reach; 17-5-25-2-6 = 55
7.) Agusta Corrado, Customly; 27-22-1-4-2 = 56
8.) Mirko de Falco, Peccere; 2-16-14-23-8 = 63
9.) Oleg Evdokimenko, Kotyara; 8-25-17-5-10 = 65
10.) Riccardo Simoneschi, Audi G-Tron; 22-14-10-21-3 = 70