Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Day 1 – Light winds spoil opener
by Joy Dunigan on 8 Dec 2012
Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series 2013 Day 1 USMCA/ Joy Dunigan
http://www.melges24.com/
The Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series saw its opening day spoiled by light winds as only one of the two races scheduled for the day took place on the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay. Richard Davies on Section 16 captured the win in the first race while Marc Hollerbach on Fu and Alessandro Rombelli on STIG finished second and third, respectively.
The first day of the Miami Winter Series was held in absolutely beautiful with warm weather, lots of sunshine, and forty-two teams ready for a day of competitive sailing. Unfortunately due to little breeze the race committee was only able to run one of the three races scheduled for the day.
The first and only race of the day started right on time in the gorgeous Biscayne Bay with 7-9 knots of breeze. At the start, Tom Ritter on Tramp suffered an OCS but quickly got back in the action. With the help of a little bit of pressure from the left, Marc Hollerbach on Fu, Richard Davies on Section 16 and Marcus Eagan on Cajun Underwriting battled for position and lead the fleet through the first mark. At the gate, Davies gained the lead over Hollerbach while Eagan held steady at third. Approaching the final mark, Davies held the lead but there was a heated fight for second and third place.
With great technique and amazing light air skills upwind, Davies extended his lead at the final mark for the win followed by Hollerbach finishing seconds later. The one and only competing Italian boat, STIG owned by Alessandro Rombelli made a huge move right at the end ousting Eagan for a third place finish for the day.
The wind was beginning to die down towards the end of the first race. The Race Committee closely monitored the breeze but after a couple of hours, PRO Bruce Golison was forced to call the racing for the day.
Saturday will mark day two of the Miami Winter Series Event No. 1 Championship. Three races are on the schedule.
Top Ten Results (After One Race)
1.) Richard Davies, Section 16; 1 = 1
2.) Marc Hollerbach, Fu; 2 = 2
3.) Alessandro Rombelli, STIG; 3 = 3
4.) Marcus Eagan, Cajun Underwriting; 4 = 4
5.)John Arendshorst, Blink 20/20; 5 = 5
6.)Paul Reilly, Red Sky Sailing Team; 6 = 6
7.) John Kilroy Jr., Samba Pa Ti; 7 = 7
8.) Rob Wilber, Cinghiale; 8 = 8
9.) Russell Lucas, Shimmer; 9 = 9
10.) Mark Plaxton, INTAC; 10 = Melges 20 website
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