2013 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series - Full of surprises on Day 1

by Joy Dunigan on 13 Jul 2013 The first day of racing in Torbole at the 2013 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series was full of ranking surprises. Today was proof that predictions and expectations can suddenly be anything other than what anyone could anticipate. This is very true for overnight fleet leader, Spain's Marc de Antonio aboard Bribon-Movistar. His 14-1-2 performance earned him the lead placing him ahead by three with seventeen points total.

In second is Filippo Pacinotti's very stylish Brontolo HH Melges 32, while American Jason Carroll on Argo is third.

With an awesome, breeze-on Ora maxing out at 18 knots, yet maintained a steady 13-15, put forth the opportunity for three incredible races that did not get underway until midday.

The Japanese teams of Keisuke Suzuki on Swing and Naofumi Kamei's Mamma Aiuto! round out the top five in fourth and fifth. Kamei in particular had an amazing day taking the Race One win.

Points are tight across the board and remain so throughout the top ten. Edoardo Lupi's Torpyone and current series leader Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica are tied sixth and seventh with equal points. Three points separate Vincenzo Onorato on Mascalzone Latino, Roberto Tomasini Grinover (Race Three winner) on Robertissima one and Andrea Pozzi's Bombarda, are close in the eighth, ninth and tenth positions.

Racing continues on Saturday as eight races are scheduled with a discard in effect after six. Torbole is organized by BPSE B.Plan Sports and Events in full coordination with the IM32CA and Melges Europe.

Onward to worlds
Next up - the grande final event of the season is the 2013 Melges 32 World Championship on 18-22 September in Porto Rotondo, Italy hosted by Yacht Club Porto Rotondo (YCPR) in coordination with Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), BPSE B.Plan Sports and Events, Melges Europe and Melges USA. Any team that has not completed Online Registration, is asked to do so now. View The Current List Of Entries as it is expected to build to as many as 30 teams!

The Audi Quattro experience test drives are back
The Sailing Series continues its test drive tradition in 2013. At every event, the Audi Quattro Instructors will be available to guide all those interested in experiencing some of the most recent Audi models. For more information and test drive bookings, please call 345.3472530 or send an email to the Audi Quattro Experience.

The The Audi RS4 Avant 4.2 FSI Quattro S Tronic, Audi SQ5 3.0 TDI BiTurbo Tiptronic, Audi RS5 Cabrio 4.2 FSI Quattro S Tronic and Audi A1 Sportback Admired 1.6 TDI will be available in Torbole. An Audi S7 will be showcased and the all new A3 Sedan four-door concept will make its debut.

Audi Melges 32 sailing series partners
In addition to title sponsor Audi, the 2013 Sailing Series is supported by official sponsor AstiHour, a very refreshing fruit cocktail that will be served during happy hours at the Audi Hospitality Village. Other sponsors include Kuehne+Nagel, Yeykey, Helly Hansen, and SimBroker e Nacora.

Top ten results (After Three Races)

1.) Marc de Antonio/Gustavo Martinez Doreste, Bribon-Movistar; 14-1-2 = 17

2.) Filippo Pacinotti/Nathan Wilmot, Brontolo HH; 12-2-6 = 20

3.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 11-6-5 = 22

4.) Keisuki Suzuki/Chris Nicholson, Swing; 16-3-4 = 23

5.) Naofumi Kamei/Manuel Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!; 1-10-13 = 24

6.) Edoardo Lupi/Pietro Sibello, Torpyone; 2-14-9 = 25

7.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Nicola Celon, Fantastica; 3-11-11 = 25

8.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino; 4-15-7 = 26

9.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima 1; 13-13-1 = 27

10.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda; 6-9-14 = 29