Audi tron European Sailing Series Melges 24 in Riva - BluMoon Is Leading But Audi tron Is Chasing Up

04 July 2014 - Riva del Garda, Italy. This fourth act of the continental sailing circuit hosted by the Fraglia Vela Riva started yesterday in great style with three delivered races under a consistent Ora wind.

 This Audi tron European Sailing Series Melges 24 has signed Blu Moon (1-1-2) as the leader of the provisional ranking. The world champion and continental leading team helmed by Flavio Favini has lead over the more than forty participating teams with a two-point-margin over another hard fighting team Audi tron (3-2-1), the Audi Italia Sailing Team with Riccardo Simoneschi on the helm.

BluMoon SUI-825 with Flavio Favini and Aud tron ITA-840 with Riccardo Simoneschi
Photo by Pierrick Contin

Ranking third we have Gianluca Perego's Maidollis (2-3-3) with the Olympian Gabrio Zandonà.

As per tradition the Italian teams are the ones trying to get the most out of racing, in the top ten we have five more Italian teams: Andrea Racchelli's Altea (4-4-5) at fourth followed by Alfredo Capodanno's Marrakech Express (10-6-6) as the best Corinthian at seventh Wadadli (9-8-13) with Matteo Ivaldi, winner of the European title at Lake Balaton, at ninth and tenth Lorenzo Gemini's Magica (14-10-8) and Francesco Barbi's Strambapapà (5-14-14).

The best among the foreign teams we have Gill Race Team (11-7-12) of the Laser SB20 world champion, Geoff Carveth. 

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

The Top 3 in Corinthian (Pro Am - professionals not allowed) division: 
1. Marrakech Express ITA-636 - Alfredo Capodanno (10-6-6) 22 pts 
2. Magica ITA-764 - Lorenzo Gemini (14-10-8) 32 pts 
3. Strambapapà ITA-689 - Francesco Barbi (5-14-13) 33 pts

Marrakech Express ITA-636 with Alfredo Capodanno
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 will be coming 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

Audi Tron European Sailing Series 2014 - Melges 24 - Day 1
Video edited by Simona Bellobuono / Zerogradinord