International Finn Cup XVII Andrea Menoni Trophy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine - Day 1
by Robert Deaves 3 Oct 00:09 PDT
Arkadii Kistanov, from Russia, has taken the early lead at the International Finn Cup - XVII Andrea Menoni Trophy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, Italy after two races in light and wet conditions on Lake Garda, on Friday. Michael Beyeler and Carlo Lazzari, both from Switzerland are second and third. The opening race was won by Juan Ignacio Perez, from Mexico.
A change in weather conditions overnight left a damp, dark and largely windless Lake Garda, with rain low cloud and low temperatures. The fleet was forced to wait ashore, sheltering from the incessant rain, until mid-afternoon. Eventually the rain stopped and the conditions improved and the 34 boat fleet was sent out for two races.
Perez made the best of the upwind in Race 1 to lead round from Kistanov and Gerhard Weinreich, from Austria. Perez maintained his lead through the gate, and then extended on the second upwind for a huge win.
Kistanov led Race 2 most of the way, with some big shifts shuffling the fleet amid the return of the rain. He lead round the top from Christoph Burger, from Switzerland and Italy's Marko Kolic. Kolic presented the strongest challenge and the two had a tough battle to the finish. Kistanov just kept his lead from Kolic while Marco Buglielli, from Italy, showed his light wind speed to come through for third.
Racing continues until Sunday.
Results after 2 races:
1 RUS 6 Arkadii Kistanov 3
2 SUI 20 Michael Beyeler 11
3 SUI 3 Carlo Lazzari 12
4 ITA 40 Marko Kolic 13
5 SUI 94 Friderich Andreas 16
6 ITA 4 Francesco Faggiani 17
7 AUT 333 Gerhard Weinreich 18
8 ITA 1071 Matteo Iovenitti 18
9 MEX 1 Juan Ignacio Perez 19
10 SUI 7 Christoph Burger 19
Full results available here.