Melges 32 Audi-Tron Sailing Series - All things shift in light air

by Melges 32 on 17 May 2015 Five races are now complete with the top ten rankings shifting and shuffling significantly after the second day of racing at the Melges 32 2015 Audi-Tron Sailing Series. Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT is now in charge overall with a substantial eight point lead. Moving up five spots to end the day in second is Valentin Zavadnikov's Synergy GT. Holding steadfast in third is Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina's Torpyone.

Two more races were added to the scoreboard despite Saturday's light air and rainy conditions. An early AP gave way to a general recall then a black flag start to Race Four. Several teams suffered the consequences, but not Serena di Lapigio. He came on strong early and took the win ahead of Zavadnikov. Richard Goransson's Inga From Sweden finished third.

Andrea LaCorte's Vitamina/Celadrin won Race Five leaving Lupi/Messina and new European Fleet Melges 32 Class member Matteo Balestrero aboard Le Spezia Sailing Team to battle for position. Lupi/Messina finished well in second with Filippo Pacinotti's Brontolo coming from behind on the last upwind beat to take third.

For some teams - the day was not so lucky. For example, Alec Cutler's hedgehog suffered a black flag penalty in Race Four, then was dealt a very disappointing seventeenth in Race Five sending him from second overall to finish the day in tenth. Dalton DeVos on Delta went from the number one slot to fifth. On the yang side of the scoreboard, Balestrero had a phenomenal day catapulting his team from tenth to sixth.

All things could still change drastically on Sunday as the final events schedule include Race Six (and beyond) where each team will discard their worst score.

Top ten results (Preliminary - After Five Races)

1.) Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio/Branko Brcin, G-SPOT; 2-6-5 = 13
2.) Valentin Zavadnikov/Andy Horton, Synergy GT; 11-5-3 = 19
3.) Edoardo Lupi-Massimo Pessina/Lorenzo Bressani, Torpyone; 3-13-1 = 17
4.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 9-3-4 = 16
5.) Dalton DeVos/Jonathan McKee, Delta; 1-8-2 = 11
6.) Matteo Balestrero/Matteo Ivaldi, La Spezia Sailing Team; 8-12-8 = 28
7.) Filippo Pacinotti/Gabrio Zandona, Brontolo; 10-7-10 = 27
8.) Andrea LaCorte/Jesper Radich, Vitamina/Celadrin; 14-2-11 = 27
9.) Alessandro Rombelli/Francesco Bruni, STIG; 7-9-7 = 23
10.) Alec Cutler/Chris Rast, hedgehog; 5-1-6 - 12