Audi tron European Sailing Series Melges 24 - A Hard Head-to-Head Between BluMoon and Audi tron

05 July 2014 - Riva del Garda, Italy. The Audi tron European Sailing Series Melges 24 has shown to be a very engaging racing.

The all-around event is making everyone enjoy deep emotions and lots of dramatic moments with pretty tricky and changeable weather conditions; very close racing between the two leading teams such us Franco Rossini' s Blu Moon (10-3) and Audi Italia Sailing Team's Audi tron (6-2).

Despite any attempt to deliver more than two races, the total of five races sees a provisional ranking with the two leading teams divided by only one point followed by Gianluca Perego's Maidollis (4-5) with the Olympian Gabrio Zandonà.

BluMoon SUI-825 with Flavio Favini in helm
Photo by Pierrick Contin

Thanks to yesterday's double victory ranks at fourth Matteo Balestrero's Giogi (1-1) with tactician Nicola Celon already leading character at the European from Lake Balaton last May.

Giogi ITA-693 with Matteo Balestrero in helm
Photo by Pierrick Contin

Other Italian teams ranking fifth and seventh place are Andrea Racchelli's Altea (22-7) Amati-Ivaldi's Wadadli (18-4) and Di Terlizzi-Capodanno's Marrakech Express (12-36) being the best Corinthian (Pro Am) at the same time.

Gill Race Team (27-11) has lost some positions ranking ninth behind the German Musto Racing (36-9) helmed by Schaefer Kicker.

The Top 3 in open (Pro) division: 
1. BluMoon SUI-825 - Flavio Favini (1-1-2-10*-3)  7 pts 
2. Audi tron ITA-840 - Riccardo Simoneschi (3-2-1-6*-2) 8 pts 
3. Maidollis ITA-822 - Gabrio Zandonai (2-3-3-4-5*) 12 pts

The Top 3 in Corinthian (Pro Am - professionals not allowed) division: 
1. Marrakech Express ITA-636 - Alfredo Capodanno (10-6-6-12-36*) 34 pts 
2. Marduc CZE-792 - Fedor Kubes (8-17*-15-16-6) 45 pts 
3. Fundanything.com FIN-742 - Tomi Hakola (24*-11-7-7-21) 46 pts 
Positions and points according to the overall scoring.

Marrakech Express ITA-636 with Alfredo Capodanno in helm
Photo by Pierrick Contin

Racing are resuming today and concluding on Sunday. A total of 12 races are planned with a daily limit set at three. The discard came into effect after the fifth score.   

This year's edition of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series will introduce the Corinthian ranking as it is usual in all the events of the Melges 24 Class and this will be called as Pro Am. This series has proven to be a success from the first edition with a very high participation.  

You can check the entry list here 
For the results see the webpage of Fraglia Vela Riva

Photo gallery - Pierrick Contin 
High resolution images are available to accredited media.  
For further information please E-mail Piret Salmistu

Audi tron European Sailing Series 2014 - Melges 24 - Day 2 
Video edited by Simona Bellobuono / Zerogradinord