Ian Ainslie’s Strange Brew is Melges 24 Hungarian Champion 2016
September 27, 2016 – Balatonfüred, Hungary – Like many years already Melges 24 Hungarian National Championship was traditionally organized by BYC – Balatonfüredi Yacht Club and MVM Sportegyesület in conjunction with the Hungarian Yachting Association, the Hungarian J/24 Class Association and the Hungarian Melges24 Class Association in Balatonfüred at Lake Balaton on September 22-25.
There were eight Melges 24 teams entered to the event. The favourites were FGF Sailing Team HUN728 helmed by Robert Bakoczy (6th in the recent Europeans in Hyeres) and Strange Brew HUN392 helmed by Ian Ainslie (South Africa).
Melges 24 Hungarian Nationals 2016 - photo Andras Kollmann
The good event was secured by the youngest International Judge Bence Böröcz, who just returned back from the Rio Para Olympic Games and PRO Benedek Fluck, IRO and Melges24 International Class Championship Coordinator in Europe, who just returned back from the Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship Hyères, France.
On the first racing day there were light east winds and two races held. FGF had quite a bad day. However Tamas Pomucz with team Nondiremai was the first race winner and HÒD team with Attila Bujaky ended the day in the best position in overall.
FGF Sailing Team HUN728 with Robert Bakoczy in helm - photo Aron Szanto
On the second day PRO started with AP ashore, then at 13.00 the first race of the day started and there were three very nice races in very constant conditions sailed. The whole fleet was pretty close to each other with remarkable fights until the finish line. Bakoczy had a great day and took over the lead, but Strange Brew had equal points with FGF and the third in the ranking was Akos Csolto with the Seven-FiveNine team.
On the third day there were two races in different conditions, but in a warm autumn sunshine. Unfortunately for the second race the wind was about to die - so it was quite challenging for the competitors to race. This was Ian's day and with two nice races they climbed up to the top of the ranking.
Ian Ainslie's Strange Brew HUN392 - photo Andras Kollmann
On the last racing day there was not enough wind to finish the race and the Hungarian National Melges 24 Champion2016 was found out with seven races and one discard. With eleven points in total the title was won by Strange Brew followed by FGF Sailing team (13 pts) and Seven-Five-Nine (16 pts).
Akos Csolto's Seven-Five-Nine HUN759 - photo Andras Kollmann
Congratulations for the winners and to all participating crews!
Written by Benedek Fluck
Photos by Andras Kollmann and Àron Szanto.