Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series - Argo dominates on day 2

by Joy Dunigan on 24 Feb 2013 The OtterBox Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series 2013 first event, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Virgin Gorda, continued to provide spectacular sailing condition on day two but the three-bullet performance by Jason Carroll's Argo made Friday's racing special.

Jason Carroll's Argo got back on champion track in the first race of the day, hammering up the right side of the course for extra added pressure to take an early lead at the top mark. Downwind Alex Jackson's Leenabarca charged ahead to take the lead at the gate heading right, while Carroll went left. Back upwind they traded positions again as Carroll had great boat speed, surging to regain the top spot and ultimately, taking the win. Jackson remained solid to finish second, and Ryan DeVos on Volpe did well to claim third.

Carroll went on to deliver an impressive, not one but two carbon copy performances in race two and three of the day.

Race two was purely about an excellent start and great speed, the last race however, was all Richard Goransson's Inga From Sweden right up until the final run. Carroll and his Argo Team over-powered Goransson, commanding an unbelievable coup d'état for the lead about half way to the finish, ultimately cleaning up the day with three bullets.

After two days and six races, discards are into effect. After Carroll's astounding performance, he now sits atop the field of competitors, tied in points with second overall Jackson. Overnight leader Roberto Tomasini Grinover on Robertissima 1 had a less than productive day slipping back to third, but are only one point away from the top two boats. Ryan DeVos had a good day coming up fourth and the BVI's Mark Plaxton finished the day in fifth.

More racing is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013. First warning is at 11.00 BVI.

About The Series
The OtterBox Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series 2013 consists of three exquisite events and is the first ever of its kind for the progressive sportboat class. Act one of the three-part series, the BVI Sportboat Regatta takes place this weekend, February 21-24, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Virgin Gorda. The second event happens in conjunction with the International Rolex Regatta in the U.S. Virgin Islands on March 22-24, 2013. The grand finale of the Series, the 2013 Caribbean Championship happens in late April on the luxurious and very private Peter Island.

(Preliminary - After six races/one discard)
1.) Jason Carroll, Argo; (15 points)
2.) Alex Jackson, Leenabarca; (15 points)
3.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover, Robertissima (16 points)
4.) Ryan DeVos, Volpe (17 points)
5.) James Mark Plaxton, INTAC (19 points)
6.) Richard Goransson, Inga from Sweden 3 (20 points)
7.) Valentine Zavadnikov, Synergy GT (24 points)
8.) Dalton DeVos, Delta (31 points)
9.) Jaime Torres, Smile and Wave (43 The OtterBox Melges 32 Virgin Islands Sailing Series website