Melges 24 European Sailing Series - The King of the Lake is Marrakech Express
25.05.2015
24 May, 2015 – Riva del Garda, Italy – Third event of the Audi tron Sailing Series Melges 24 „The King of the Lake“, being at the same time the third event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series, ended with the victory of Marrakech Express ITA-8 (today 1-2), an event that brought to Riva del Garda forty six teams from fourteen nations.
All podium places were saved by the Italian teams. ITA-8 owned by Angelo di Terlizzi and helmed by Matteo Ivaldi, reigning European champion and former Olympian, won two races from five in the complicated weather conditions during the three racing days. 19 points was as score that allowed him to wear the crown of “The King of the Lake” followed by Gianluca Perego’s Maidollis ITA-822 (today 2-4) with the combination of Fracassoli-Bianchi duo, and Andrea Rachelli’s Altea ITA-735 (3-3).
Marrakech Express ITA-8 - Photo BPSE/Mauro Melandri
Maidollis ITA-822 - Photo BPSE/Mauro Melandri
"It’s a great satisfaction to win an event of the circle here in Riva del Garda,” said Angelo di Terlizzi, owner of Marrakech Express. “Talking about the helmsman Matteo Ivaldi I’m so confident: he is a great sailor, capable of extraordinary things what he has been demonstrating today ".
Czech Olympian Martin Trcka’s ICZ / Rodop CZE-704 (today 4-6) ended the event on the fourth position followed by Riccardo Simoneschi’s Audi tron ITA-840 (23-1)as fifth with the equal points of the yesterday’s leader John den Engelsman’s Mr. Henri NED-645 (21-8), who was scoring the sixth result.
Lenny EST-790 - Photo BPSE/Mauro Melandri
Among the Corinthian/Pro-Am division the win was grabbed by the two-time 470 Olympic medalist Tõnu Tõniste as the helmsman of Lenny EST-790, finishing eleventh in the overall standings. The second best in Corinthian division was Fedor Kuber’s Marduk CZE-792, being 14th in open division followed by Peter Warrer’s Salty Dog DEN-779 as 15th in the overall ranking.
Current rankings after three events completed from the series of six will be published shortly. The overall leader after two events – the first in Portoroz, Slovenia in March and second in Balatonfüred, Hungary - was Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team (GBR-694) with Geoff Garveth and Marshall King in helm and Pro-Am division was led by Oleg Dyvinets' Marusia (UKR-819).
Audi tron Sailing Series event in Riva del Garda was organized by B.Plan Sports & Events in cooperation with Melges Europe and International Melges 24 Class Association and was hosted by the Fraglia Vela Riva Yacht Club.
All recorded LiveStream footages produced by Zerogradinord and supported by Bombarda Racing can be found under this link http://livestream.com/zerogradinord/atss2015rivadelgarda
Full results - overall ranking ; Corinthian/Pro-Am division
Photo gallery by BPSE/Mauro Melandri
The next big event for the Melges 24 fleet, the biggest in 2015, will be the World Championship in Middelfart, Denmark from June 30 until July 5 with around 100 entries http://www.melges24worlds15.dk/