Key West 2013 – Melges 32 - Excellent racing on Day 4

by Joy Dunigan on 25 Jan 2013 Key West Race Week 2013 completed another day of racing for the Melges 32 fleet with Andrea Pozzi’s Bombarda still lording on top of the standings while Keisuke Suzuki’s Swing and Alex Jackson’s Leenabarca found themselves in ideal position for a podium finish after 10 races.

It was yet another challenging day of performance yacht racing for the Melges 32 fleet at Premiere Racing's Quantum Key West 2013. PRO Dave Brennen fired off three more races for the 11-strong class of supersonic thrill seekers under classic conditions. Thursday's warm Florida sun and moderate breeze gave Andrea Pozzi on Bombarda every opportunity needed to defend his leadership position. Keisuke Suzuki on Swing and Alex Jackson on Leenabarca moved up the scoreboard ending the day second and third respectively.

Race One of the day, Race Eight in the Key West Series went to Joel Ronning on Catapult. Ronning, a veteran A Scow Sailor, first entered the Melges 32 Class almost two years ago and was fully prepared on Thursday to go head-to-head with 2013 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Nominee Deneen Demourkas on Groovederci. She powered through the first weather mark ahead of Ronning yet slipped to finish the race in third. Ronning won with Sukuzi nipping at his heels to take second.

Demourkas came back strong in Race Nine taking a big win, just ahead of a heated battle between Pozzi placing second and Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica finishing third.

With the breeze knocking off from its comfortable 15-18 knots, Alex Jackson's Leenabarca took the early lead in Race Ten with more competition from Demourkas. Jackson submitted a winning performance to take the bullet. Pozzi had another great race with a top three finish, ultimately helping him retain the overnight lead. Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima 1 and Cirillo rounded out the top five.

Friday's racing will make for a grand finale in Key West with Pozzi leading the march ahead by nine points.

Top Five Results (After Ten Races – Preliminary)

1.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda; 1-[8]-6-1-6-1-2-5-2-3 = 27
2.) Keisuke Suzuki/Chris Nicolson, Swing; 5-4-[8]-4-2-3-5-2-4-7 = 36
3.) Alex Jackson/Paul Goodison, Leenabarca; [11]-2-4-7-3-7-1-7-5-1 = 37
4.) Deneen Demourkas/Kelvin Harrap, Groovederci; 3-7-2-10-[11]-5-4-3-1-6 = 41
5.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino; 6-[10]-1-2-4-4-3-6-7-10 Melges 32