2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Matteo Balestrero in action

2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Act 2 Barracuda Communications

2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Act 2 © Barracuda Communications

'We have experienced a pretty engaging weekend. We not only went up against the top teams in this class, but also survived to win a very tricky race course,' said Cassinari post racing. 'Matteo is one of the quickest helmsman in the fleet. He is very focused and with his best concentration, together with great teamwork, our upwind speed made the game a little easier.'

Holding steadfast in second place, closing the gap by two points was Vincenzo Onorato and his legendary Mascalzone Latino with Cameron Appleton serving as tactician.

2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Act 2 © Barracuda Communications

'It's a great joy for me to be out sailing with my team again,' said Onorato, after nearly a two-year hiatus. 'I decided to come back racing after a pretty close encounter with a bull shark during an underwater fishing session that left a permanent 'souvenir' on my left arm. I think it's better to race on a Melges 32, and at the moment, it's the best racing boat in the world.'

Rounding out the podium is another new arrival in the fleet, Norway's Lasse Petterson aboard Pippa. Petterson, along with tactician Matteo Ivaldi had a great day, not only placing third overall in the finals, but also won Race Seven.

2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Act 2 © Barracuda Communications

For early event leader Richard Goransson on Inga From Sweden, modest results in the later half of the event enabled him to only finish fourth.

Other shining stars of the day include Andrea LaCorte on Vitamina who came second in Race Seven, finishing the event in fifth overall. Missing the podium this time around, Turkey's Ahmet Eker on Eker ended the event on a high note winning Race Eight.

The next event happens on June 3-5 in Talamone for the third act of the Sailing Series®.

A very special thanks goes to Circolo Nautico e della Vela Argentario and BPSE and all the Melges 32 teams!

Top Five Results (Preliminary - After Eight Races, One Discard)

1.) Matteo Balestrero, Giogi; 5-3-2-3-3-1-11-7 = 24
2.) Vincenzo Onorato, Mascalzone Latino; 1-4-5-7-4-[8]-5-2 = 28
3.) Lasse Pettersen, Pippa; 10-5-[11]-2-1-6-1-4 = 29
4.) Richard Goransson, Inga From Sweden; 6-1-1-4-6-[7]-6-5 = 29
5.) Andrea LaCorte, Vitamina; 9-[10]-6-1-2-4-2-10 = 34

2016 Melges 32 Sailing Series - Act 2 - Preliminary Cumulative Results
   

Bow Sail Number Yacht Name Yacht Design Owner/Skipper Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 T O Total European Sailing Series // Act 2 Racing One Design Division Melges 32 1. 172   ITA 172 GIOGI Melges 32 Matteo Balestrero 5 3 2 3 3 1 11 7 [11] 24.0 2. 21   ITA 2121 MASCALZONE LATINO Melges 32 Achille e Vincenzo Onorato 1 4 5 7 4 8 5 2 [8] 28.0 3. 212   NOR 212 PIPPA Melges 32 Lasse Petterson 10 5 11 2 1 6 1 4 [11] 29.0 4. 321   SWE 321 INGA Melges 32 Richard Goransson 6 1 1 4 6 7 6 5 [7] 29.0 5. 194   ITA 194 VITAMINA melges 32 Andrea Lacorte 9 10 6 1 2 4 2 10 [10] 34.0 6. 181   MON 181 G-Spot Melges 32 Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio 2 7 9 6 7 3 3 6 [9] 34.0 7. 159   TUR 3212 EKER Melges 32 AHMET EKER 3 6 10 5 11 5 7 1 [11] 37.0 8. 77   Mon 13 SynergyGT Melges32 Valentin Zavadnikov 8 9 3 8 5 2 10 3 [10] 38.0 9. 193   GER 193 WILMA Melges 32 Fritz Homann 4 2 4 9 8 9 4 11 [11] 40.0 10. 223   RUS 223 TAVATUY Melges 32 Pavel Kutznetsov 7 8 8 11 9 11 9 9 [11] 61.0 11. 164   MON 1 LA PERICOLOSA Melges 32 Christian Schwoerer 11 11 7 10 10 10 8 8 [11] 64.0