76 Teams Already Registered As Entry Deadline For 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship Approaches
Tallinn, Estonia - 24 June 2010 - The opportunity to compete for the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship title at the 1980 Moscow Olympic regatta venue in Tallinn, Estonia has drawn entries from across Europe and even as far afield as Japan. With several days still to go until the final entry closing date on 30th June, entries have already been received from seventy-six teams representing no less than sixteen nations.
Melges 24 championships always attract a heady mix of the best amateur sailors competing alongside some of the word's most accomplished sailing superstars and this year's event is certainly no different. The list of professionals who will be racing in Tallinn in August includes past Melges 24 World and European champions as well as Olympic and America's Cup sailors. In turn, the Corinthian Division, which will make up around forty percent of the overall entry, includes some the most talented amateur sailors on the planet. The amateur and professional crews will race together as one fleet for the overall Melges 24 World Championship, with the points for the Corinthian division (which precludes any ISAF Category 3 sailors) also being scored separately towards the 2010 Melges 24 Corinthian World Championship title.
Competition in the Corinthian Division looks likely to be particularly hot this year, with many of the teams competing having previously demonstrated their ability to get in amongst the pro teams at the head of the overall fleet. None more so than Norway's Storm Capital Sail Racing Team helmed by Oyvind Jahre who won both the Corinthian World title in 2008 and the Corinthian European crown in 2009. From the host nation Tonu Toniste steering Lenny and Tiit Vihul at the helm of Rock City will each be looking to put their local knowledge to good use and are likely to be strong contenders. The Corinthian Division also includes seasoned campaigners like Michael Good's Swiss entry ZeroEight, Italy's Mario Ziliani helming Fish Dog and Sonke Boy steering the Swiss boat Music 55, all of which will fancy their chances of a Corinthian podium position. Finland's Kristian Raij aboard Lumi has also proved to be a potent force so far this season and will be keen to convert this potential into a meaningful Corinthian result in Tallinn.
Whilst it is the Finns who boast the largest entry at this point with thirteen boats, the eleven boat Italian squad perhaps represents some of the strongest challenges for the overall title. Arguably the team with the best pedigree is the 2008 World and 2009 European champions UKA UKA Racing, which will be steered as usual by serial one-design champion Lorenzo Bressani. Beyond UKA UKA Racing however, there is considerable depth in the Italian line up, including class stalwart Riccardo Simoneschi on AUDI, newly crowned Italian National Champion Niccolo Bianchi helming Saetta and the well proven Alberto Bolzan steering Hurricane - Murphy and Nye. Additionally, class veteran Andrea Racchelli at the helm of Altea, who has been turning in his best ever season this year, is also likely to be a major contender in Tallinn.
The six-strong Norwegian contingent includes Olympic Star class campaigner Eivind Melleby helming Full Medal Jacket, who at his first attempt finished in third place at the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship in Annapolis. Melleby is
reported to have been training hard for this year's championship and can certainly be considered as a likely front-runner. Surely travelling the furthest to compete is Japanese 470 Olympian and match racer Tetsuya Matsunaga, who will be helming Three Bond. Matsunaga is no stranger to European Melges 24 racing however, having competed at the 2008 European Championship in Hyeres and been a regular on the Italian Volvo Cup circuit this year. The familiar Swiss entry Blu Moon will once again be helmed by Italian sailing legend Flavio Favini. A multiple world champion and America's Cup hero, Favini has been on top form leading up to this year's championship and will be attempting to reprise his 2001 World Championship win in Key West.
With this already impressive line-up and further entries confidently expected before the final deadline, the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship has the makings of a true classic. Certainly a Melges 24 fleet of this calibre competing at a wonderful venue like Tallinn is a mouth watering prospect, and the organisers are justifiably confident of some scintillating action once racing begins.
Alongside an outstanding racing programme the organisers are also planning a fantastic après sailing schedule featuring some of Estonia's best know musicians and performers including Dave Benton, the 2001 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest; DJ Hannes Kalamäe; mulit-award winning singer Sofia Rubina; the amazing Anneliis Kits who will perform with Soulful Connections; Violina, the long legged, beautiful and incredibly talented pop/rock fusion violin trio; and vocalist James Werts from the USA who will join saxophonist Danel Aljo and DJ Hannes Kalamäe for an evening of classic disco. Every day after racing the biggest and oldest brewery in Estonia, A. Le Coq, will offer free beer to all the competitors. Party venues will include Kalev Yacht Club, Reval Café, Museum Lounge and the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. Estonian hospitality and love of a good party is the stuff of legend and it is clear that the hosts of the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship intend to live up to that reputation.
The warm up event for the Worlds will be the 2010 Estonian and Finnish Championship, which will take place from Friday 30 July to Sunday 1 August and the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship will take place from 4-12 August with championship racing scheduled from Sunday 7 to Thursday 12 August. Competitors are reminded that the final closing date for entries is Wednesday 30 June 2010.
Notice of Race, Online Entry, logistical information and all the latest updates are available from the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship Event Website and via the event's Facebook Group.
Members of the press who would like to receive further information about the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship, or who wish to attend the event should contact IM24CA Administrator & Media Coordinator Fiona Brown on E-mail Fiona Brown, Skype fpbrown or Tel +44 (0)7711 718470.
The 2010 Melges 24 World Championship is sponsored by:-
Title Sponsor & Official Clothing Partner - Marinepool
Official Marina Services Partner - TopCity
European Capital of Culture 2011 - City of Tallinn
Official Hotel Partner - Pirita Top Spa Hotel
Official Travel & Accommodation Partner - Reisiekspert
Official Ferry Transport Partner - Tallink
Apres Sailing Refreshment Partner - A.Le Coq
4energia Renewable Energy Company
Enterprise Estonia
LTT Wholesale Groceries
KSA Eye Centre
Brand Factory
Visit the Official Event Website of the 2010 Marinepool Melges 24 World Championship.
The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportsboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association and the Finnish and Estonian Melges 24 Class Association.