Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series heads to Torbole this weekend

by Joy Dunigan on 6 Jul 2013 The penultimate event on the 2013 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series takes place this weekend in Torbole, Italy on July 6-7, hosted by Circolo Vela Torbole. Twenty-seven teams representing seven countries are in attendance, and some arrived a few days early in an effort to better prepare, fine tune their boats and dial in their handling skills as they prepare for some of the toughest competition ever.

With the very first Audi Melges 20 European Championship taking place in late August, several high-level American teams are making their presence known including current USA Sailing Series leader Michael Kiss on Bacio with tactician Chris Rast, and Olympic medallist Charlie McKee will offer up his tactical expertise to 2013 Miami Winter Series Champion Richard Davies on Section 16. Russell Lucas and tactician Harry Melges on Shimmer is also back for more great racing action.

Leading the Italian assault are top winners of previous events such as current Audi Sailing Series leader Guido Miani, this time with tactician Branko Brcin on Out of Reach, Achille Onorato will helm his Mascalzone Latino, Jr. with the assistance of the extraordinary Lorenzo Bressani, and Portoferraio Champion Alessandro Rombelli will climb aboard his STIG Audi Melges 20 with the guidance of tactician Paul Goodison.

Heated competition is also expected from Francesco Farneti's ITA-157 with tactician Alberto Bolzan, Federico Albano on 3Menda with Giulio Desiderato on tactics, Giancarlo Capolino helms his Legionario with Francesco Ivaldi calling the shots and last, but certainly not least is Renato Vallivero's Audi Turnover with Enrico Fonda as tactician.

Torbole will definitely be an exciting stage in Audi Melges 20 sailing, but also for car enthusiasts as everyone has the opportunity to enjoy another round of Audi quattro® Experience test drives. The Audi S7 and the newest Audi A3 Sedan will be showcased. The new A3 Sedan is Audi's latest four-door compact car model directly from Ingolstadt making its first debut here in Torbole. Thanks to Audi's great manufacturing, they have created a car with amazing features. It is light, powerful and has highly efficient engines, not to mention possesses a number of high-end infotainment solutions as well as driver assistance systems.

The fourth leg of the 2013 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series is organized by B-Plan Sport&Events in full collaboration with the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association and Melges Europe. Racing is set to commence on Saturday and conclude on Sunday. A maximum of six races are scheduled with a limit of no more than four heats per day and a discard of the worst result going into effect after the series completion.

Past Torbole, only one regatta remains in the Series. Happening on 29 August - September 1, the very first Audi Melges 20 European Championship hosted by Yacht Club Porto Rotondo will take place in Porto Rotondo, Italy.

Now recognized by ISAF as an International Class, the Audi Melges 20 Class Association (IM20CA) is pleased to present its very first World Championship on December 11-14 at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo Florida. The Notice of Race is now available and Online Registration is open. Ocean Reef is an exquisite venue offering the very best in yacht racing conditions and social atmosphere. It perfectly complements the Audi Melges 20's trademark attributes of sheer simplicity and sophistication. Ultimately, the 2013 World Championship will be the pinnacle event of the year for the class and the one design performance racing industry.

Full Entry List:

1.) Jan Kuchar/Martin Trcka, Aloha
2.) Joe and Stephanie Lacy, Fantome
3.) Robert Wilber/Anthony Kotoun, Cinghaile
4.) Frtiz Homann/Jan Koalski, Fantastichina
5.) Jurgen Fuchs/Nicolas Optekamp, Hellcat
6.) Achille Onorato/Lorenzo Bressani, Mascalzone Latino, Jr.
7.) Dario Levi/PietroSibello, Fremito D'Arja
8.) Alessandro Rombelli/Paul Goodison, STIG
9.) Claudio Dutto/Fabio Zeni, Asante Sana
10.) Davide Albertini Petroni/Nathan Wilmot, Leviathan
11.) Mirko de Falco/Guglielmo Giordano, Peccerè
12.) Vincenzo Adessi/Dario Desiderio, Raffica
13.) Lauro Bonora/Carlo Fracassoli, Camay
14.) Francesco Farneti/Alberto Bolzan, ITA-157
15.) Stefano Santucci/Andrea Fornaro, Tomahawk
16.) Saverio Bifulco/Paolo Scutellaro, Noi di Notte
17.) Manfredi Vianini Tolomei/Lorenzo Bodini, Maolca
18.) Simone Anichini/Filippo Anichini, Hanneken
19.) Marco Zaoli/Gabrio Zandona, Shadow
20.) Giancarlo Capolino/Francesco Ivaldi, Legionario
21.) Federico Albano/Giulio Desiderato, 3Menda
22.) Renato Vallivero/Enrico Fonda, Audi Turnover
23.) Guido Miani/Branko Brcin, Out of Reach
24.) Russell Lucas/Harry Melges III, Shimmer
25.) Wes Whitmeyer/Maxwell Fraser, Slingshot
26.) Michael Kiss/Chris Rast, Bacio
27.) Richard Davies/Charlie McKee, Section Audi Sailing Series website