Melges 32 Sailing Series heads to Napoli

by International Melges 32 Class Association on 20 Oct 2012 It’s been nearly three months since the fourth event of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series took place in Malcesine (Lake Garda). The final event of the Series is back, ultimately rounding out the 2012 International Melges 32 racing calendar. During the season, the fleet has battled in Marina di Loano, Portoferraio, Porto Cervo, Malcesine and now, in Naples where racing will take place between Friday and Sunday, the leader of the circuit will be awarded, succeeding 2011 Series Champion Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica.

At the moment, the final success is for Vincenzo Onorato aboard Mascalzone Latino, which will compete on his home waters, guarding fiercely against defending champ Cirillo. Fresh from a less than bright performance at Worlds, Onorato is determined to leave no stone unturned when it comes to winning.

Cirillo is nineteen points away from the top of the ranking, but has a margin of seventeen on Mauro Mocchegiani's Rush Diletta in third overall thanks to some solid finishes throughout the season. Another team who aims high for the podium is Edoardo Pavesio's Audi F.lli Giacomel.

Other teams making an appearance in Naples with a chance at the top spot include Marc de Antonio's Bribon-Movistar, Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima and Synergy GT.

The format of this final leg of the Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series, organized by B-Plan Sport and Events with the collaboration of the International Melges 32 Class Association, Melges Europe and the local Circolo Canottieri Napoli, will be the same as before. A maximum of eight races will be sailed (with the limit set at no more than three heats per day) and a discard will go into effect after six races.

The final event of the Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series also serves as the run up to the Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup on November 1-4, 2012, the third event of its kind taking place on the Gulf of Naples. It will be a don't miss event as both defending champ Alessandro Rombelli on STIG and European Champion Guido Miani on Audi F.lli Giacomel Out of Reach are expected to be in attendance.

Full Entry List:

1.) Carlo Perrone, Diego Negri, Atlantica 19
2.) Edoardo Pavesio/Gabriele Benussi, Audi F.lli Giacomel - FRA Martina
3.) Marc de Antonio/Gonzalo Araujo, Bribon Movi-star
4.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica
5.) Francesco Serena/Romeo Piero, H2SO4
6.) Carlo Varelli/Guglielmo Giordano, LEA
7.) Vincenzo Onorato/Nathan Wilmot, Mascalzone Latino
8.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima
9.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Paolo Cian, Rush Diletta
10.) Leonid Lebedev/Morgan Reeser, Synergy GT
11.) Simon Coleridge/Tim Collins, Velvet Melges 32 website