Melges 40 Grand Prix announces 2018 finals in Lanzarote
by Melges 40 Class 7 Sep 2018 06:13 PDT
8-11 November 2018
2018 Lanzarote Melges 40 Grand Prix © Zerogradinord / Melges 40 Grand Prix
The Melges 40 Class is proud to announce that the final event and location for the 2018 Grand Prix circuit will be Calero Marinas | Marina Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain.
Marina Lanzarote and the onsite Calero Marinas Shipyard, conveniently situated in the island's capital, Arrecife, will serve as the teams' logistics headquarters as they prepare for this year's culminating event, scheduled to take place from November 8-11, 2018. The Real Club Náutico de Arrecife will co-organise the racing, set to take centre stage right in front of the town and has cordially invited participants to enjoy their comfortable club facilities during the events.
The Melges 40 is one of the fastest boats that Melges has ever designed and produced. Presented in Dubai last year and featured mainly at Mediterranean regattas, the Melges 40 will for the very first time reach the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful Spanish island of Lanzarote, the northernmost and easternmost of the autonomous Canary Islands. From a technical point of view, it will be quite spectacular and is predicted to be one of the most interesting and highly competitive stages for the fleet
With the Real Club Nautico de Palma events complete, the Melges 40s are in transit, direct to Lanzarote. Once arrived, the entire Melges 40 fleet will settle in for the winter as the weather, conditions, high-profile facilities and services guaranteed by Calero Marinas are also ideal for off-season training sessions.
"We are really pleased to be guests of Calero Marinas and the island of Lanzarote, two names in the sailing world best known for great events and high-profile races," said Melges Europe CEO, Federico Michetti. "The Melges 40 Grand Prix is constantly searching for the highest quality venues and events. This is the watchword for our entire organization. The opportunity to collaborate and make the final 2018 Grand Prix event, as well as the opening sessions for 2019 a reality with a partner like Calero Marinas ensures the highest levels of success."
The Lanzarote Melges 40 Grand Prix marks the final act of the 2018 season, which started last May as part of PalmaVela, then continued with the One Ocean Grand Prix in Porto Cervo, and the third event at Copa del Rey Mapfre 2018.
Lanzarote has also been selected to host the first two Melges 40 Grand Prix events of 2019 - a warm-up on January 24-27, and a season opener on March 21-24.
José Juan Calero, Managing Director for Calero Marinas announced that he was delighted with the new Class's decision to come and race in Lanzarote, where the local conditions continue to attract the world's best sailors: "Together with the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife, we are thrilled with the opportunity to host this exciting one-design fleet during the 2018-19 season and look forward to some sensational racing over the winter."
The Melges 40 Grand Prix circuit counts on the support of Helly Hansen, Garmin Marine, and Melges Europe.
Melges 40 Grand Prix has signed and adopts the code of ethics of the Charta Smeralda strongly promoting the values of One Ocean Foundation.