2019 Melges 20 World League European Division at Riva del Garda - Preview
by Melges 20 Eurpean Class Association 12 Jul 2019 06:21 PDT
14-16 June 2019
The Melges 20 fleet is ready in Riva del Garda to join one of the most spectacular events of the sailing season, at the end of which the title of Melges 20 World League European Division 2019 winner will be assigned.
The appointment of Riva del Garda represents the ninth of the fifteen events that assign points for the world ranking and at the same time is the fourth and last of the Melges 20 World League - European Division 2019, after the previous ones of Villasimius, Marina di Puntaldia and Marina di Scarlino.
From the regattas of Riva del Garda we will then discover who will follow Filippo Pacinotti's Brontolo Racing in the golden books of the Melges 20 World League winners.
In Riva del Garda it will be a very open and extremely close challenge, given that all the contenders for the title of Continental Champion of the Melges World League 2019 can be found in a bunch of points at the top of the standings. It will also be a challenge of "generations" with some veterans of the Class and new emerging realities ready to conquer the first title of their Melges 20 career.
The first group includes Russian Bogatyrs by Igor Rytov, a highly decorated and current number 1 in the world ranking and leader of the European circuit with an impressive series of partial scores (two successes and a second place). Behind him, with a margin of only 3 points, one of the greatest surprises of the season, the Argentinian Boogie of Pierluigi Giannattasio, who gained good results this year as the first place in Puntaldia, the second in Villasimius and the fourth in Scarlino.
In the fight for the title are also included the names of Siderval by Marco Giannini, a team that has already secured the victory in the Corinthian ranking but that points to something even more important that would put the seal on a season that has been extraordinary so far.
The first heavy points that will begin to draw the classification both of act and circuit will be assigned starting from Friday, the first of the three days of this grand finale of the Melges 20 World League European Division.
The Melges 20 World League is supported by Helly Hansen, North Sails, Tiirenia, Quantum Sails, Garmin Marine, La Thuile, Rocket Performance, Revi Trento Doc, Loison Pasticceri dal 1938, Rigoni di Asiago, Dai Dai, Norda, XPouf, Le Formiche di Fabio Vettori, boutique hotel Rifugio Azul (Minorca) and Rifugio hotel Lilla (La Thuile), One Ocean Foundation; the season is also supported by Team Partners UYN (thanks to Brontolo and G3Bau Sailing Team;) l'Enoteca and Camarca Caffè (thanks to Fra Martina Sailing Team).
The event in Riva del Garda is supported by Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva Bar, Catering Firenze, Agraria Riva del Garda, Angelini Vivai, Officina 33.
Melges Europe and Melges World League proudly support and promote the message by One Ocean Foundation and Charta Smeralda.