Nefeli wins Trieste regatta, White Room is the winner of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series

October 4, 2020 - Trieste, Italy - After one more race at the final event of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Trieste, Italy, Peter Karrie’s team Nefeli, from Germany, has secured the win of the regatta. The 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 victory of the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series, both in overall ranking as well as in the Corinthian division. 

The final day of the Melges 24 regatta in Trieste did not favor 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, 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 win of the regatta, tied on 11 points with Strambapapa. 

“Unbelievable!", said happily 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 honor and we are really proud of our result!” 

Interview with Peter Karrie

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 and Phonobloc of Thomas Beck, from Germany, completes the Corinthian podium. 

Results of the regatta in Trieste
Event website - results and photos
Photos of the event - Miriam Zorzenoni & Patrizia Bagat & Francesca Rossetto

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 White Room of Michael Tarabochia, 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. German team won regatta on Attersee, were 7th in Torbole and 3rd in Portoroz and Trieste. 

After prizegiving 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. 

Interview with Luis Tarabochia and Sebastian Bühler

Overall Top 3 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 3 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

Thirty-five Melges 24 teams from eight nations participated in our short 2020 series. 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! 

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. Top 3 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. Stay tuned!

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2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series:

1. August 7-9 – Torbole on Lake Garda, Italy
2. August 28-29 – Kammersee on Attersee, Austria
3. September 11-13 – Portoroz, Slovenia
4. October 2-4 – Trieste, Italy

More information about the history of the series you’ll find at the website www.melges24.com/europeansailingseries

For further information on the event or class specific information about the Melges 24 please contact:

Simone Viduli
Event Coordinator
Società Triestina Sport del Mare
Mobile/WhatsApp: +39 339 822 7491
Mail: info@stsm.com

Piret Salmistu 
International Melges 24 Class Association 
Administrator & Media Coordinator 
Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Mail: piret@melges24.com