MVM Balaton Melges 24 Regatta - Nearly perfect weather on day 2

by Istvan Rujak on 27 Apr 2013 On day two of the MVM Balaton Melges 24 Regatta, the inaugural event of new European Sailing Series, the race committee led by Gert Schmidleitner made the best of the nearly perfect weather conditions so the fleet could sail four nice races. Fifteen to twenty knots of southwest wind was blowing all day in a slightly tricky manner as is usual on lakes.

The clear dominance of the Italian Audi Team has continued. They have an upper edge on boat handling, speed and tactics as well. Throughout the entire day there were just two occasions when any opponent could reach a mark in front of Riccardo Simoneschi's team. As a result the fight was on for the remaining places. Five teams have shown quite similar quality performances on the race course.

After two days and seven races it's all change in the overall standings and a Corinthian is now in second place on the overall leader-board. The Austrian team 'Die Weisse', helmed by Franz Urlesberger, has already finished three times in second place and counting one less discard they are clearly ahead of the professionals.

Ian Ainslie and his eclectic inter-continental team including a South African, an Australian, an American and a Hungarian sailor racing under the Hungarian flag plus the Swiss team led by Jörg Hotz have sailed steadily and mostly near the top of the fleet. As a result they share the third and fourth places with minor points differences.

The German Peter Glöckel (helped by the young hungarian tactician Robert Bakóczy) and the Danish Corinthian team helmed by Bo Boje Pedersen have sailed nearly as consistent on the second day's races just missing the beat on the second race. So they are now a step behind in fifth and sixth place overall but still in contention for third place.

As seven races are now sailed only one remains to finish the MVM Balaton Melges 24 Regatta on Sunday. The forecast for the final day promises more excellent conditions to ensure a spectacular finale to what has already been an outstanding opening event for the 2013 Melges 24 European Sailing Series.

Provisional Overall Top Five After Seven Races

1 Audi - ITA819 - Riccardo Simoneschi - (1),1,1,1,1,1,1 = 6
2 Die Weisse - Franz Urlesberger - (15),2,2,4,7,3,2 = 20
3 Strange Brew - HUN392 - Ian Ainslie - 3,3,(12),6,4,5,3 = 24
4 Andele - SUI821 - Jorg Hotz - 2,(7),6,5,2,4,6 = 25
5 Pearl - GER672 - Peter Goeckel - 6,4,(14),3,13,2,4 = 32

Provisions Corinthian Top Three After Seven Races

1 Die Wiesse - AUT681 - Franz Urlesberger - (7),1,1,2,3,1,1 = 9
2 DEN823 - Bo Beje Pedersen - 1,2,3,1,(7),2,2 = 11
3 DEN358 - The Pimp - Thomas Sorensen - 4,3,4,5,2,3,(6) = 21

Full results and further information are available at the event website.