European Melges 24 teams rule at ACURA Key West 2009

by Event media on 24 Jan 2009
Lorenzo Bressani helming for Lorenzo Santini on ITA-715 Uka Uka Racing is still very much in the overall lead going into the final day at ACURA Key West. Chris Rast helming for Franco Rossini on SUI-621 Blu Moon hacked away, but made little progress at taking over Bressani's lead as did Gabrio Zandona helming for Giovanni Maspero on ITA-777 Joe Fly.

Race one of the day, race seven in a series of nine delivered a change-up in the running order of results. American entrant Alan Field on USA-587 WTF blasted off the starting line with some impressive momentum putting him out ahead of the fleet almost immediately.

At the top mark Field's lead was quite substantial, and as the race progressed his WTF Melges 24 just stretched the lead further. Zandona and Rast put on a great chase to catch him but clearly, Field had the race figured out. The real battle was for second and third between Zandona, Vince Brun on USA-553 Bailout and Rast. Zandona grabbed second while Rast settled for third. Brun managed a fourth place finish, while Bressani got fifth.

The start of the last race of the day was interesting as the breeze went hard left right at the gun, putting the fleet almost horizontal with the starting line. Bressani understood how important it was to get back in the game on this race as he vied for just the right starting position alongside Rast.

The start resulted in several individual recalls including a set back for Brun as he was called over early. The running order from the first top mark to the finish was Rast in first, Bressani in second and Brian Porter on USA-749 Full Throttle in third. Riccardo Simoneschi on ITA-783 Giacomel Audi wound up fourth, Zandona held on to fifth after being challenged regularly by Henry Colie with Peter Commette at the helm of USA-736 Babs finishing up in sixth.

As the fleet looks to the last day of racing in Key West, and the last two races of the event, throw outs are now in effect. Only one of Bressani's fifth place finishes is eliminated, Rast loses his seventh place finish in race five, and for Zandona his tenth finish in race one is gone.

Usually this process brings the points spread closer but not this time in the Melges 24. This fleet is one of the most diverse and toughest in the world.

Bressani knew coming into this event that he must be strong and persevering — the results show he has achieved that goal as he has a comfortable lead of seven points. But, he is anything else but 'out of the woods'. Just a simple mistake could cost him dearly. This same principle rings true for Rast in second overall only six points ahead of third place Zandona.

Melges 24 - Leading Results after eight races

1.) Lorenzo Bressani/Lorenzo Santini, Uka Uka Racing; 1-1-[5]-1-1-2-5-2 = 13
2.) Chris Rast/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon; 4-2-2-2-[7]-6-3-1 = 20
4.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly; [10]-3-3-4-8-1-2-5 = 26
4.) Alan Field, WTF; [13]-4-1-6-4-8-1-8 = 32
5.) Riccardo Simoneschi, Giacomel Audi; 6-5-4-3-2-[18]-12-4 = 36
6.) Vince Brun, Bailout; 2-6-[14]-5-9-3-4-10 = 39
7.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle; 5-8-8-7-[10]-4-6-3 =41
8.) John Kolius, KO Sailing; 3-7-9-[12]-3-5-7-9 = 43
9.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon; 7-12-15-8-6-7-[16]-14 = 69
10.) Kyle Vowels; One Sixty; 8-13-11-10-12-12-14-[19] = 80

Corinthian Heat

It was a disappointing day for leading Corinthian Bruce Ayres on USA-747 Monsoon. Miserable top twenty finishes were the product of the day as obviously, the tricky, shifty, sometimes lighter, sometimes heavier conditions took their toll. Loren Colehan on USA-556 Lounge Act didn't have such a great day either yet managed to hold steady as the second overall Corinthian.

1.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon
2.) Loren Colehan, Lounge Act
3.) Gary Schwarting, Obsession
4.) Peter Cucci, El Matador