Melges 20 Sailing Series – Guido Miani conquers the first major title

by Melges 20 on 6 Jul 2016 International Melges 20 Class crowns the first major champion of the European season at the conclusion of Riva Del Garda event, forward march to Worlds in Scarlino.

The first victory cry of the European season rises from Guido Miani and his Out of Reach sailing team that includes tactician Gabriele Benussi and crew Massimo Gherarducci - together they are 2016 Melges 20 Sailing Series® Champions! As a direct result of winning one of the season's biggest titles, representing Yacht Club de Monaco, Miani has officially seized control of the 2016 World Series ranking also.

Riva del Garda offered up an exceptional range of racing conditions that gave way to great surprises and repeat emotions with the eight races completed. At the end of the first day, Richard Davies' Section 16 was still leading the Series after dominating Porto Venere (April) and Talamone (June).

Over the course of 30 races spanning four months, Davies failed to stop the always-determined Michael Illbruck on Pinta, who after two stages pulled ahead to finish second overall in the 2016 Sailing Series® ranking.

The final race in Riva was dramatic when Illbruck was still leading the event. An unfortunate penalty incurred by Illbruck in Race Eight played to Miani's favor. Miani who proved to be impervious to pressure, never looked back and without re-calculation drove his Melges 20 to a clean victory.

Wilma Homann sailing Fantastichina, was crowned 2016 Corinthian Melges 20 Sailing Series® Champion and takes full charge of the all-amateur division lead on the World Series ranking as well. She overtakes the lead from John Brown's Blind Squirrel now fourth. Austria's Klaus Shober on NN moves up to second overall, and Germany's Florian Rixner on Mojito now sits third.

For the International Melges 20 fleet, the batteries are being re-charged as it anticipates two final 2016 events - the Russian Open on 19-21 August, and then one week later, the Worlds hosted by Marina di Scarlino/Club Nautico Scarlino on 25-28 August.

The 2016 Melges 20 World Series includes a total of 15 events - eight in Europe, six in North America and one in Japan.

2016 Melges 20 World Series overall top ten results (After Nine Events)
1.) Guido Miani, Out of Reach = 82 pts.
2.) Alessandro Rombelli, STIG = 76 pts.
3.) Drew Freides, Pacific Yankee = 72 pts.
4.) Michael Illbruck, Pinta = 70 pts.
5.) Matteo Marenghi Vaselli, Raya = 69 pts.
6.) Richard Davies, Section 16 = 66 pts.
7.) Dario Levi, Fremito d' Arja; 60 pts.
8.) Igor Rytov, Russian Bogatyrs = 59 pts.
9.) Liam Kilroy, Wildman; 55 pts.
10.) Alexandr Ezhkov, Pirogovo Sailing = 51 pts.

2016 Melges 20 World Series Corinthian top ten results (After Nine Events)
1.) Wilma Homann, Fantastichina
2.) Klaus Shober, NN
3.) Florian Rixner, Mojito
4.) John Brown, Blind Squirrel
5.) Johannes Lind-Widestam, Intermezzo
6.) Paul Currie, Wild Deuces
7.) Mirko Bargolini, Spirit of Nerina
8.) Valerio Galati, #Melges20Next
9.) Matteo Puppo/Matteo Capurro, #Melges20Next
10.) Circolo Vela Erix, Circolo Vela Erix