Melges 32 goes to Riva del Garda for third World League Challenge
by IM32CA 25 Jul 2018 10:10 PDT
26-28 July 2018
Melges 32 World League, European Division - Riva del Garda © Melges World League / Barracuda Communication
With the Melges 20 World League event now complete, the racing continues this weekend with the Melges 32 Class competing for its third trophy of the 2018 season.
Riva del Garda is a critical stage for the fleet as many teams long for the Melges 32 World League title. As the third event, it also marks the opportunity to be identified as 'in' or 'out' of the running for overall circuit success. Mathematically speaking, a team's result this weekend will ultimately define their ability and establish them as a real challenger/candidate to receive the season's highest honors - that of World Champion, and Melges 32 World League Circuit Champion.
The venue is also well known for its spectacular racing conditions. It's a very dynamic race course, therefore opportunities and options can never be discounted, especially considering the 'pitfalls' that can happen from a tactical perspective. For sure once again, the winner will be decided on the last leg of the last race, right down to the final moments.
At the forefront of the fleet, Vincenzo Onorato's MASCALZONE LATINO (who won the European Championship on Lake Garda in 2015) with Paul Goodison as tactician will attempt to defend his current World League leadership against some of the toughest teams in the fleet.
2017 Melges 32 World League Champion Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio at the helm of G.SPOT with Michele Ivaldi as tactician still feels he has more to prove despite a huge victory in Scarlino. Currently seated second overall, he and his team will strive for more success in Riva del Garda.
Four points further back in the overall World League standings is Germany's Christian Schwoerer aboard LA PERICOLOSA with Nick Asher as tactician, and Italy's Matteo Balestrero's sailing GIOGI with Branko Brcin on tactics.
Among the sixteen registered teams, others that stand out as potential winners are reigning World Champion Pavel Kuznetsov aboard TAVATUY, European Champs Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina on TORPYONE, Fritz Homann's WILMA, Lasse Petterson's PIPPA, Martin Reintjes' CAIPIRINHA, and the Pavesio brothers on FRA MARTINA.
Racing for the eight-part series begins on Thursday, July 26 and concludes on Saturday, July 28.
The Melges World League is supported by Helly Hansen, Garmin Marine, North Sails, Toremar, Lavazza, Rigoni di Asiago and Melges Europe.
Melges World League has signed and adopts the code of ethics of the Charta Smerarlda strongly promoting the values of One Ocean Foundation.