2009 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series - Bliksem in lead in Scarlino

by Melges 32 media on 6 Jun 2009 It was a great day of sailing in Scarlino, Italy at the third regatta in the five part 2009 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series. And who's in first is no surprise.

The extremely determined Pieter Taselaar (New York, N.Y) on USA-169 Bliksem. Taselaar, more common to the North American Melges 32 racing circuit, has carried his crew to Italy for Audi events number 3 (Scarlino) and 4(Cagliari) in preparation for the fifth and final stage — the 2009 Melges 32 World Championship on September 20-27 at Porto Cervo, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Aboard Taselaar's sleigh of speed is Jeremy Wilmot on tactics alongside his brother, Olympic Gold Medallist Nathan Wilmot. Also along for the ride is Paul Atkins, Michael Coxon, Williem Van Waay, Alex Clegg and George Peet. This is the full team that enabled victory from start to finish, earning them the title 2009 ACURA Miami Grand Prix Champions.

Friday's conditions were dead-on picture perfect — 15-17 knots out of the Southeast with Mauro Mocchegiani on ITA-187 Rush Diletta with Andrea Casale as tactician winning an amazing first race of the day. They battled against Lorenzo Santini's ITA-1 Uka Uka Racing with Armando Guilietti at the helm and Lorenzo Bressani on tactics who took second and in third was the great Claudio Recchi on ITA-93 Team 93 with the tactical expertise and assistance of American Jonathan McKee.

The second race of the day found the left side favored with overall Audi Sailing Series leader Carlo Alberini on ITA-186 Calvi Network and tactician Gabrielle Benussi taking the lead early and winning the race. Taselaar dug his heels in and held on for second place followed by European Fleet President Filippo Pacinotti on ITA-667 Brontolo and Freddy Loof on tactics taking third.

For race three, Taselaar came on with speed taking the win and securing the overall lead. Antonello Morina on ITA-179 Sei Tu 32 found his way around the course well to take second and in third, from the UK is Peter Rogers on GBR-121 Highlife.

Tomorrow racing continues with the Italian fleet aiming to steal away Taselaar's comfortable eight point lead.

FULL RESULTS (After three races)
1-BLISKEM – USA (Pieter Taselaar / Nathan Wilmot) 6,2,1: pt.9
2-TEAM 93 (Claudio Recchi / Jonathan McKee) 3,7,7: pt.17
3-FANTASTICAA (Larnfranco Cirillo / Nico Celon) 9,6,5: pt.20
4-BRONTOLO (Filippo Pacinotti / Fredrik Loof) 4,3,14: pt.21
5-RUSH DILETTA (Mauro Mocchegiani / Andrea Casale) 1,9,13: pt.23
6-PILOT ITALIA (Francesco Martino / Michele Paoletti)7,12,4: pt.23
7-CALVI NETWORK (Carlo Alberini / Gabriele Benussi)5,1,20(BFD): pt.26
8-UKA UKA RACING (L.Santini/Lorenzo Bressani)2,4,20(BFD): pt.26
9-SEI TU 32 (Antonello Morina / Branko Brcin)16,11,2: pt.29
10-JANAS (Roberto Pardini / Matteo Simoncelli)14,10,6: pt.30
11-MATARAN (Stefano Di Properzio / Enrico Fonda)11,5,15: pt.31
12-BITIPI – MON (Savino Formentini / Tommaso Chieffi)8,14,9: pt.31
13-BAGUA (Andrea Cecchetti / Vasco Vascotto)13,8,10: pt.31
14-MATRIX CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Luigi Amedeo Melegari / Matteo Ivaldi)10,13,12: pt.35
15-HUBLOT BIG BANG (Ferdinando Battistella / Sandro Montefusco) 15,16,8: pt.39
16-HIGHLIFE – GBR (Peter Rogers / Kelvin Harrap)20(DNC),20(DNC),3: pt.43
17-TORPYONE (Edorardo Lupi / Roberto Benamati)12,20(BFD),11: pt.43
18-FRA MARTINA (Edo e Vanni Pavesio / Luca Antonini)17,15,20(BFD): pt.52
19-LEA (Ernesto Faraco / Eugenio Marsaglia)18,17,20(BFD): pt.55

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