2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Trieste - Overall
by IM24CA 5 Oct 02:30 PDT
2-4 October 2020
Peter Karrie's Nefeli, from Germany, who sailed a good race for third to secure the win of the regatta - the final event of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series © Patrizia Bagat
At the final event of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Trieste, Italy, Peter Karrie's team Nefeli, from Germany, secured the regatta win. The final race win went to Michele Paoletti's Stramabapapa, local team from Trieste. Being third on the podium in Trieste and also best Corinthian team, Michael Tarabochia's team White Room, from Germany, confirmed the overall victory of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, both in overall ranking as well as in the Corinthian division.
The final day in Trieste did not favour the sailors nor organizers much again. One race only was sailed due to increasing wind, but moreover, because of the shape of the waves and swell - to avoid any damages on the final day of the regatta. Lots of credit goes to the Race Committee of the Trieste Society of Sea Sports led by Stefano La Bella, who pushed to deliver four races on the first day of the regatta, considering the weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday, when, indeed, it was possible to add only two more races to the entire series.
Today's only race belonged to Italy. Michele Paoletti's Strambapapa ITA689, pleased his home town taking a bullet ahead of other Italian team Arkanoe by Montura ITA809 of Sergio Caramel crossing the finish line second. Italians were followed by the event leader, Peter Karrie's Nefeli, from Germany, who sailed a good race for third to secure the event win, tied on 11 points with Strambapapa.
"Unbelievable!" said a happy Peter Karrie. "We didn't expect this, but we are very happy with our boat speed, team work and we feel fantastic being able to win ahead of such a good sailor like Michele Paoletti, who is also local - this is a really great honour and we are really proud of our result!"
Luis Tarabochia, steering White Room, rounded off the day with a fourth to secure the third place on the overall podium, being the best Corinthian team of the regatta. Second place on the Corinthian podium belongs to Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team, from Great Britain, with Geoff Carveth at the helm. Phonobloc of Thomas Beck, from Germany, completes the Corinthian podium.
See Results of the regatta in Trieste [PDF] and the event website: www.stsm.it/melges24
Finale of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series
After four regattas with 29 single races sailed and seven discards, the winner of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, both in overall ranking and Corinthian division, is Michael Tarabochia's White Room, with Luis Tarabochia steering. White Room attended all events of the series - in Torbole, Italy; on Attersee, Austria; in Portoroz, Slovenia and in Trieste, Italy. THis German team won the regatta in Attersee, were seventh in Torbole and third in Portoroz and Trieste.
After the prize-giving in Trieste, Luis Tarabochia, the helm of White Room, admitted that the class has been lucky to have so many great and sunny sailing days during these four events sailing in the South in very nice places. "We are very happy that all went very well at these last events and the crew work was amazing - it was an extremely good season for us!"
Tactician Sebastian Bühler of White Room added, that it's been great to sail four events during the short season, since in March and April they didn't even think about being able to go sailing. Talking about the next season both sailors are looking forward to it hoping there will be possible more events to sail.
"We will compete again in the series, trying to defend our title, however, it will be extremely hard!" said Luis Tarabochia with a big smile.
Overall top three of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series:
1. White Room GER677 (Corinthian) of Michael Tarabochia, with Luis Tarabochia steering, Sebastian Bühler as tactician, Marco Tarabochia and Marvin Frisch in crew - 63pts.
2. Arkanoe By Montura ITA809 of Sergio Caramel - helm, Margherita Zanuso, Filippo Orvietto, Federico Gomiero, Michele Meotto, Karlo Hmeljak, Simon Sivitz - 97 pts.
3. Gill Race Team GBR694 (Corinthian) of Miles Quinton with Geoff Carveth steering, Oliver Wells, Adam Brushett, Suzy Russell, Lawrence Creaser, Ian Dobson in crew - 109.5 pts
Corinthian top three of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series:
1. White Room GER677 of Michael Tarabochia, with Luis Tarabochia steering, Sebastian Bühler as tactician, Marco Tarabochia and Marvin Frisch in crew - 63pts.
2. Gill Race Team GBR694 of Miles Quinton with Geoff Carveth steering, Oliver Wells, Adam Brushett, Suzy Russell, Lawrence Creaser, Ian Dobson in crew - 109.5 pts
3. Orca AUT643 of Helmut Gottwald, with Christian Egger, Manfred Ferch, Renate Resenig and Peter Hoffmann in crew - 164 pts.
2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series ranking results [PDF]
Thirty-five Melges 24 teams from seven nations participated in the short 2020 series. The International Melges 24 Class Association would like to thank all teams for their efforts to travel to the regattas in this challenging year! IM24CA is grateful to all local hosting clubs - Circolo Vela Torbole, Segelclub Kammersee, Yacht Club Marina Portoroz and Societa Triestina Sport del Mar - and Italian, Austrian and Slovenian Melges 24 classes and their administrators for organizing the regattas and encouraging Melges 24 sailors to attend!
A big thank you also to our media team of Zerogradinord and local clubs for their help to bring the news and photos of our wonderful class to the world!
Due to the exceptional year with Covid-19 restrictions affecting the number of events and participation, the Melges 24 European Sailing Series perpetual trophy and the Melges 24 European Sailing Series Corinthian division perpetual trophy will not to be handed out in 2020. The top three teams will be awarded with the medals of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series and trophies donated by our Class Officers Branko Parunov and David Bartol.
The schedule and venues of the 2021 Melges 24 European Sailing Series will be published shortly. Local Melges 24 classes in co-operation with the International Melges 24 Class Association are working closely to deliver great events to all the participants.