2019 Melges 24 European Sailing Series - Estonian Lenny Scores its First Victory in the Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Portoroz

 

The morning in Portoroz was nice and sunny, but not very windy. However, the wind picked up as much as necessary to start the Race Five at 12.05 with South-Westerly wind of 6 knots. The Race Committee was signalling the wind shift to the left in the first gate, but the wind remained stable and steady enough to complete the race. Completion the race five was very much expected since the discard of the worse result came into play after this race.  

Eddy Eich's Musto Racing GER803 with Oliver Oczycz on helm to take the solid first bullet of the regatta. Photo (c) Andrea Carloni/IM24CA/ZGN 

Light conditions favoured the stalwart of the class from Germany, Eddy Eich's Musto Racing GER803 with Oliver Oczycz in helm to take the solid first bullet of the regatta. Great performance by Davide Rapotez' Destriero ITA579 from Trieste who was the second to cross the finishing line followed by the current regatta leader Lenny EST790 of Tõnu Tõniste as third, Hungarian FGF Sailing Team HUN728 of Robert Bakoczy fourth and Taki 4 ITA778 of Marco Zammarchi with Niccolo Bertola in helm fifth.

 

Since the wind dropped dramatically and after waiting for thirty minutes on the water, it was clear that no races can be sailed anymore today. With a score of 1-3-2-(8)-3 and 9 points in total past multi-time Melges 24 Corinthian European and World Champion Lenny EST790 with Tõnu Tõniste, Toomas Tõniste, Maiki Saaring, Tammo Otsasoo and Ants Haavel confirmed the solid victory of the Marina Portoroz Melges 24 Regatta, which is also their first ever victory in the Melges 24 European Sailing Series in overall ranking.

 

Interview with Tõnu Tõniste of LENNY EST790 - Interview edited by Stefano Bareggi / Zerogradinord

Lenny's helm Tõnu Tõniste was really happy about their victory in Portoroz, since the last time when they were racing, was in past September. "In the first place I would like to thank my super team - we had a great team work! As the day started, we were hoping that not many races will be sailed to keep our success, but on the other hand this is the first event of the season and we want to train and practice. Today's third result was enough to keep the rivals behind our back and to conclude, it was very nice sailing here!" 

 

 

Italian crew Taki 4 ITA778 of Marco Zammarchi, also Melges 24 Corinthian European and World Champion, with Niccolo Bertola, Giacomo Fossati, Giovanni Bannetta and Mattia Maviglia scored (7)-5-4-6-5 and 20 pts in total for the second classification.

 

 

Today's 14th place and the total score of 2-2-3-(31UFD)-14 was enough for Sergio Caramel's Arkanoe by Montura ITA809 with Filippo Orvieto, Riccardo Gomiero, Margherita Zanuso and Federico Gomiero to climb back to complete the podium, only one point separating them from the second place. The same teams completed also the Corinthian podium in Portoroz.

 

 

The competition was really tight in Top 8,  for the second to eighth classified teams, with just six points covering them. Very consistent racing of Miles Quinton's Gill Race TeamGBR694 with Geoff Carveth in helm with 22 points in total resulted to the fourth place, followed by Akos Csolto's Seven Five Nine HUN759 completing Top 5, one point behind.