Sailing Series® Melges 20 - Rombelli on a roll in Riva
by Melges 20 on 2 Jul 2016
Fleet in action - 2016 Sailing Series® Melges 20 Barracuda Communications
2016 Sailing Series® Melges 20 - A strong but stable, classic Riva del Garda ora allowed for great competition and three races on the opening day at the fourth act of the Sailing Series® Melges 20.
Atop the field of 50 high-quality teams, Alessandro Rombelli's STIG is seated in first place overall. An impressive one – one - nine scoreline has him in the lead with a three point advantage ahead of American Drew Freides on Pacific Yankee in second. The third spot on the overnight podium is occupied by the ever advancing Michael Illbruck on Pinta.
With the breeze at a solid 14 knots for the start of Race One, Rombelli took charge early chased by Igor Rytov on Russian Bogatyrs, South Africa's Tina Plattner and Tony Norris on TNT Racing and Alexander Mikhaylik's Alex Team. Although Rombelli took the win, it was a nice finish for Rytov in second and Plattner/Norris in third.
With Race Two getting underway almost right away, an early advancement from Guido Miani's Out Of Reach, Rytov and Illbruck was not strong enough to hold off Rombelli as he went on, coming from behind to take his second bullet of the day. A photo finish gave Rytov second again, 2016 Miami Winter Series Champion Liam Kilroy on Wildman claimed third, Illbruck was fourth and Miani fifth.
The final race of the day went to Freides, but it did not go without great challenge from Miani and Dario Levi's Fremito D'Arja. Miani stayed the course to take second, Illbruck had a phenomenal third place finish, Levi came fourth and Monaco's Corrado Agusta on 081 rounded out the top five.
Leading the Corinthian division, Mirko Bargolini on Spirit of Nerina had a mid-fleet end to the day, his best finish being an eighth in Race Two. Emanuele Savoini on Evinrude is currently seated second and Wilma Homann's Fantastichina in third.
Top Ten Results (Preliminary - After Three Races)
1.) Alessandro Rombelli, Stig; 1-1-9= 11 pts.
2.) Drew Freides, Pacific Yankee; 6-7-1= 14 pts.
3.) Michael Illbruck, Pinta; 12-4-3= 19 pts.
4.) Liam Kilroy, WildMan; 16-3-6= 25 pts.
5.) Dario Levi, Fremito D'Arja; 8-14-4= 26 pts.
6.) Rob Wilber, Cinghiale; 9-11-7= 27 pts.
7.) Manfredi Vianini Tolomei, Maolca; 5-13-10= 28 pts.
8.) Yuriy Morozov, Russotrans; 11-6-16= 33 pts.
9.) Ishida Yukihiro, Yasha Samuray; 13-9-11= 33 pts.
10.) Achille Onorato, Mascalzone Latino Jr.; 4-12-21= 37 pts.
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