Melges 20 Winter Series Finale at Coconut Grove Sailing Club - Day 1
by International Melges 20 Class Association 16 Mar 2018 20:08 PDT
16-18 March 2018
2017-18 Melges 20 Miami Winter Series - NIKA, Vladimir Prosikhin © International Melges 20 Class Association
With three light air races on Biscayne Bay, it was clear that determining the winner of the 2017-18 Miami Winter Series finale (Melges 20 World League Event No. 2), hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) would come down to the wire.
On a picture perfect Friday, PRO Blake Middleton made the respected call to postpone racing until after 1:30 p.m. By the time the Melges 20 fleet hit the water, the breeze was building and ready for racing.
The first race started clean just clear of Key Biscayne in a calm 5-7 knots. The majority of the fleet hedged left with the leaders emerging quickly. Out front and for the win, California's Daniel Thielman at the helm of Kuai claimed first, followed by Bob Hughes on Heartbreaker in second, then Alexis Michas on Midnight Sun taking third.
Race Two required a shift in course and re-tune of the boats for a little more breeze, a little further from the left. This time, 2017 Melges World League Champion Igor Rytov aboard Russian Bogatyrs fought hard, took charge and won, trailed by fellow countryman and overnight leader Vladimir Prosikhin on Nika. Italy's Dario Levi sailing Fremito D'Arja had a great race to finish third.
Light air was the continued theme of Race Three with the fleet pushing hard into the left corner, and at the head of the pack was none other than Rob Wilber's Cinghiale. Sailing strong, he acquired an early lead and never looked back. Wilber managed to hold off a hard-charging international offensive which included Rytov, Levi and Prosikhin. Wilber won, while they finished second-fourth respectively. Thielman rounded out the top five.
Post racing at Shake-A-Leg, a very special thanks to Atlantic Rigging who sponsored BBQ and Beer on the dock - well received after a long day on the water.
Looking ahead to Day Two at the Melges Rocks Regatta, Prosikhin's steady score today of 4-2-4 finishes atop the fleet - Levi is seated second, and Rytov is third overall.
More light air is in the forecast for the next two days.
Results after Day 1: (top five, 3 races)
- (RUS) Vladimir Prosikhin, NIKA; 4-2-4 = 10
- (ITA) Dario Levi, FREMITO D'ARJA; 5-3-3 = 11
- (RUS) Igor Rytov, RUSSIAN BOGATYRS; 9-1-2 = 12
- (USA) Daniel Thielman, KUAI; 1-7-5 = 13
- (USA) Bob Hughes, HEARTBREAKER; 2-5-7 = 14
View full event results here.
Miami Winter Series Results: (after two events and three races)
- (RUS) Vladimir Prosikhin, NIKA = 6 pts.
- (RUS) Igor Rytov, RUSSIAN BOGATYRS = 11 pts.
- (USA) Drew Freides, PACIFIC YANKEE = 17 pts.
- (MON) Achille Onorato, MASCALZONE LATINO, JR. = 17 pts.
- (USA) Alexis Michas, MIDNIGHT SUN = 18 pts.
View full 2017-18 MWS rankings here