2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series - In the First Day of the Regatta, Portoroz Gets Colored in Stars and Stripes

27.04.2018

April 27, 2018 - Portoroz, Slovenia - The second event of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series kicks off with a full day of racing in the spectacular Slovenian bay of Piran: after having left the moorings of Yacht Club Marina Portoroz for the start at 12.00 as by schedule, the twenty-five participating crews of eleven nations have completed three races with Northerly breeze that progressively went decreasing in the afternoon.

The first bullet of the series was scored by Matteo Omari's Aria (ITA753, 1-16-22 the scores of today) that could benefit at the best from the wind shift to the right side of the race course in the first stages of the race, leaving at his back Mauro Verri's A&M Sailing Team (ITA693, 2-UFD-12) and General Lee by Mario Ziliani (ITA793, 3-12-7).

War Canoe USA841 by Mike Goldfarb affirms itself as most consistent of the day. Photo © ZGN/ IM24CA

The second race was dominated by War Canoe USA841, American entry at its first appearance in the 2018 edition of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series circuit: with partial scores of 5-1-3, the boat by Mike Goldfarb from Corinthian Club Seattle affirms itself as most consistent of the day, gaining the leadership in the preliminary overall ranking.

Gian Luca Luca Perego's Maidollis ITA854 with Carlo Fracassoli in helm is on the second position two points separating them from the leader. Photo © ZGN/IM24CA

The overall provisional podium is completed by the reigning World Champions aboard Gian Luca Perego's Maidollis (ITA854, 7-2-2) helmed by Carlo Fracassoli in second position and by the winners of race number three of the day, the already twice Corinthian World Champions of Marco Zammarchi's Taki 4 (ITA778, 11-8-1) helmed by Niccolo Bertola.

Team of Taki 4 ITA778 by Marco Zammarchi with Niccolo Bertola in helm is completeing the provisional podium, being the best Corinthian team after first day. Photo ©ZGN/IM24CA

Taki 4 leads also the ranking of the Corinthian division with a margin of three points over the Estonian entry Lenny (EST790, 9-6-8) of Tõnu Tõniste and of seven points over Hungarian Seven_Five_Nine (HUN759, 4-11-12) by Akos Csolto.

Lenny EST790 of Tõnu Tõniste is the second best Corinthian after first day in Portoroz. Photo ©ZGN/IM24CA

The crews will now enjoy some after racing party during a cocktail hosted by Portoroz Casino, getting ready for the races of tomorrow that will resume at 11.00 am.

Melges 24 fleet in Portoroz - ZGN/IM24CA

Melges 24 regatta in Portoroz. Photo ©ZGN/IM24CA

1 USA 841 War Canoe - Mike Goldfarb, Corinthian Club Seattle, WA 9,0 - 5 1 3
2 ITA 854 Maidollis - Gian Luca Perego/Carlo Fracassoli, YC Cortina d'Ampezzo 11,0 - 7 2 2
3 ITA 778 Taki 4 (COR) - Marco Zammarchi/Niccolo Bertola, YC Italiano 20,0 - 11 8 1
4 HUN 728 FGF Sailing Team - Domonkos Rozsnyay/Robert Bakoczy, SVE 21,0 - 13 4 4
5 ITA 793 General Lee - Mario Ziliani, YC Cortina d'Ampezzo 22,0 - 3 12 7
6 EST 790 Lenny (COR) - Tõnu Tõniste, Kalevi Jahtklubi 23,0 - 9 6 8
7 DEN 837 upupup - Bo Boje Pedersen, Hellerup Sejlklub 26,0 - 15 5 6
8 HUN 759 Seven_Five_Nine (COR) - Akos Csolto, D-One VSE 27,0 - 4 11 12
9 GBR 694 Gill Race Team (COR) - Miles/Quinton/Geoff Carveth, RORC 28,0 - 16 7 5
10 SUI 821 Andele (COR) - Joerg Hotz, Züricher Yacht Club 29,0 - 6 9 14

See the full results

Day One photo gallery by Zerogradinord

Onsite media coverage is provided by Silvia Gallegatti and Mauro Melandri of Zerogradinord.

See the full press release

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