126 entries for Melges24 Worlds in Hyeres

by IMCA media on 22 Aug 2006 [Sorry, this content could not be displayed]Sunday 27 August will see a record breaking 126 Melges 24 teams from fourteen nations commence battle on the beautiful Hyères Bay in the South of France for the 2006 Melges 24 World Championship sponsored by Aigle, Euro-Voiles and Hyères Les Palmiers.

The COYCH is hosting the regatta and the town of Hyères is preparing to welcome some 600 competitors and their families for this incredible festival of sailing.

The exceptional number of entries dictates that the fleet will be split between two courses to ensure fair racing. Registration will open on Wednesday 23 August with practise racing on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August.

Championship racing begins on Sunday 27 August with the first of six round robin races to decide the gold and silver fleets. Once the gold and silver fleets have been split a further six races are scheduled to complete the championship which concludes on Friday 1 September.

With reigning World Champion James Spithill and his Luna Rossa crew unable to defend because of their America’s Cup commitments a new champion will definitely be crowned and already many of the crews are out practising on the beautiful Bay of Hyères. With hot sunshine and strong afternoon sea breezes forecast conditions should be perfect for some high speed Melges 24 action.

Principle Race Officers Corinne Aubert and Michel Viallet will be in charge on the race courses while Jury Chairman Tony O’Gorman and his team will be in action afloat and in the jury room to ensure fair play.

The French are fielding the largest team with 38 boats and among those hoping for a home team win will be the 2004 World Championship winning Partner & Partners Team from La Rochelle. This crew, which is led by Philippe Ligot and helmed by François Brenac, is one of the most experienced and consistent in the class and they will certainly have their sights set on a second win.

Equally determined to bring honour to France are Maxim Paul sailing Marseille-Big Ship-Quantum; Antoine Frickey helming Sogeti Hyeres for Benjamin Cohen; and Christophe Barrue helming Denis Infante’s Euro-Voiles.

At 35 boats the Italian team may not be quite as large but it is probably the strongest in the regatta. The top Italian crews include 2006 Melges 24 Volvo Cup winner Cesara Bressan, sailing GEBL for Sandro Montefusco; Maurizio Abba, sailing Alina for Luca Valerio; Andrea Racchelli aboard Altea; Ezio Amadore, helming Nicola Celon’s Bete; and Riccardo Simoneschi in F.lli Giacomel. All of these teams have great track records in both the Melges 24 and other keelboat and dinghy classes and will be well worth watching.

As always there are several British teams to keep an eye on including John Pollard aboard Xcellent and Jamie Lea helming Team Barbarians for Stuart Simpson. The ever competitive Strauss brothers, Quentin and Simon, will once again be vying for a major title and Irish Olympian Mark Mansfield will helm for Simon aboard Team Gill while Stuart Rix will helm for Quentin aboard Gill.

The US contingent may be small but it is perfectly formed as it incorporates the legendary Dave Ullman, sailing for Philippe Kahn’s Team Pegasus from California, and reigning Melges 24 North American Champion Brian Porter, whose Full Throttle crew from the Mid-West includes 2002 World Champion Harry Melges.

From Germany Alba Batzill and Eddy Eich aboard No Woman No Cry are looking to add the Corinthian (all amateur) World Title to their haul which already includes the European Corinthian title. Franco Rossini’s Blu Moon won the Melges 24 Worlds in 2001 with Flavio Favini at the helm and will be hoping for a repeat performance with new helm Chris Rast of 470 and 49er fame.

Other crews to watch include Estonian Olympic 470 Bronze Medallists Tonu and Thoomas Toniste and crews from the Ukrain, Slovenia and the Czech Republic who are making their first appearances at a Melges 24 World Championship.