Drama Queen - Goransson wins Melges 32 National Championship

by Sam Rogers on 22 Aug 2016

2016 Melges 32 U.S. National Champion, Richard Goransson - Inga From Sweden Kate Wilson

2016 US Melges 32 National Championship - After a weekend of challenging, moderate conditions in Newport, RI, Richard Goransson and his Inga from Sweden team have claimed the 2016 US Melges 32 National Championship hosted by Sail Newport. Capping a weekend full of tight racing with lead changes around the track, it was fitting that the final race had three teams fighting for the regatta win which was ultimately decided by less than half a bowsprit.

Three races were scheduled for the final day and PRO Anderson confidently brought the fleet to the 'Halfway Rock' course North of the Newport Harbor Bridge. After two days of pounding chop and light air on the outside course the move inside was a welcome relief for trimmers and drivers.

Ryan DeVos, Volpe © Kate Wilson

Laying in the weeds at fifth place overnight, Ryan DeVos and his Volpe team recovered after a tough start and took the bullet in Race Six. Regatta leaders Jason Carroll with Graham Landy at the helm of Argo and Goransson stubbed their toes and had tough races in the tricky inside conditions.

With an increasing east-southeast breeze and ebb tide, conditions became more lively for Race Seven and the standings grew even tighter. Starting mid-line, nailing the left side of the first beat and showing solid speed, Goransson grabbed the race win followed by a suddenly dangerous Volpe team, and Argo in third place.

Fleet start at 2016 Melges 32 National Championship © Kate Wilson

Headed into the final race, Carroll/Landy held a two-point lead over Goransson, and three points over Ryan DeVos. With a strong battle for the pin, Carroll/Landy and Goransson both found themselves OCS and having to buck the current to clear themselves. Ryan DeVos started clean but struggled on the first beat with the three leaders rounding deep at the first top mark.

Ryan and Goransson extended on the first run and gained in a big right shift that saw them advance to first and second at the gates, while Carroll/Landy gybe-set and rolled snake eyes rounding deep. DeVos held a slim margin on the final downwind, and in a who-beat-who battle to win the event. Goransson snuck in at the pin in a simo-gybe to grab the bullet and regatta win. Carroll/Landy charged hard on the final run to grab fifth, finishing the event in third overall.

2016 Melges 32 Corinthian U.S. National Champion, Chris Wientjes - Stormvogel © Kate Wilson

Corinthian Champs Crowned

Having steadily climbed the Melges 32 ladder the past few season, Chris Wientjes and his Stormvogel team fended off the Morgan Kiss on Hydra to claim the 2016 Corinthian National Championship title. Wientjes won Race Four while the kids showed they came ready to play with a second place finish in Race Fiver. In the end, Wientjes and his new squad won the title by two points.

Thank You

A huge thank you to Anderson Reggio, Sail Newport RC, volunteers and judging team for providing a first-class race course allowing the fleet to keep the battle on the water and focus on the racing. The Melges 32 class returns to Newport September 27th for the beginning of the 2016 Worlds Championships hosted by Sail Newport. An epic event is in the works and if the Nationals is any indication, the World Championship will be determined by the slimmest of margins.

Richard Goransson/Vasco Vascotto, Inga From Sweden © Kate Wilson

Full Results (Final - After Eight Races)

1.) Richard Goransson/Vasco Vascotto, Inga From Sweden; 2-[5]-3-3-4-4-1-1 = 18
2.) Ryan DeVos/Mark Mendelblatt; Volpe; [7]-3-4-5-3-1-2-2 = 20
3.) Jason Carroll-Graham Landy/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 3-4-2-2-1-[6]-3-5 = 20
4.) Rick DeVos/Ed Baird, Delta; 6-2-1-4-[7]-5-5-3 = 26
5.) Andrea Lacorte/Gabriele Benussi, Vitamina; 1-1-[7]-7-5-3-4-6 = 27
6.) Chris Wientjes/Nick Voss (CORINTHIAN), Stormvogel; 4-6-6-1-6-7-7-[8] = 37
7.) Morgan Kiss/Alex Post (CORINTHIAN); Team Hydra; [8]-8-5-6-2-8-6-4 = 39
8.) Ed Tillinghast/Chris Larson, Dark n'Stormy; 5-7-8-8-[9/DSQ]-2-8-7 = 45

2016 Melges 32 National Championship - Preliminary Cumulative Results

			Bow	Sail Number	Yacht Name	Yacht Design	Owner/Skipper	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Race 7	Race 8	T O	Total
National Championship Racing
	One Design Division
		Melges 32
		1.	322	SWE 322	INGA	Melges 32	Richard Goransson	2	5	3	3	4	4	1	1	[5]	18.0
		2.	18	USA 180	Volpe	Melges 32	Ryan DeVos	7	3	4	5	3	1	2	2	[7]	20.0
		3.	128	USA 128	Argo	Melges 32	J Carroll/ G Landy	3	4	2	2	1	6	3	5	[6]	20.0
		4.	12	USA 1215	Delta	Melges 32	Rick DeVos III	6	2	1	4	7	5	5	3	[7]	26.0
		5.	201	ITA 201	VITAMINA	melges 32	Andrea Lacorte	1	1	7	7	5	3	4	6	[7]	27.0
		6.	155	USA 155	Stormvogel (Corinthian)	Melges 32	Chris Wientjes	4	6	6	1	6	7	7	8	[8]	37.0
		7.	512	USA 512	Hydra (Corinthian)	Melges 32	Project Sail	8	8	5	6	2	8	6	4	[8]	39.0
		8.	151	USA 151	Dark N'Stormy	Melges 32	Edward Tillinghast	5	7	8	8	9/DSQ	2	8	7	[9]	45.0

2016 Melges 32 National Championship - Corinthian Teams - Preliminary Cumulative Results

			Bow	Sail Number	Yacht Name	Yacht Design	Owner/Skipper	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Race 6	Race 7	Race 8	T O	Total
National Championship Racing
	One Design Division
		Melges 32
		1.	155	USA 155	Stormvogel	Melges 32	Chris Wientjes	4	6	6	1	6	7	7	8	[8]	37.0
		2.	512	USA 512	Hydra	Melges 32	Project Sail	8	8	5	6	2	8	6	4	[8]	39.0