Audi tron Sailing Series Bets On 3 Top Level Melges Boats
Milano, Italy – All three Reichel-Pugh-designed Melges boats Audi Melges 20, Melges 32 and from this year Melges 24 will be the main characters of the Audi tron Sailing Series taking place throughout 6 acts from April to October in Loano, Porto Venere, Riva del Garda, Porto Ercole, Trapani and Genova.
Melges 24
From a design by Reichel-Pugh produced at the beginning of the 90s in around 1000 models, the Melges24 is this year's Audi tron Sailing Series newcome that compared to the Audi Melges 20 and the Melges 32 is the only monohull not foreseeing the boat owner on the helm.
Such feature together with its easy-to-sail personality and high-tech performance have made it become one of the reference boats among the One Designs. The boat is typically sailed with a crew of four-five depending on the total weight that can never go over 375 kilos. Roles onboard are well defined: the helmsman controlling the mainsail, a tactician, a trimmer, a pitman and a bowman.
Among the class' top sailors we count Lorenzo Bressani, three-time world champion with Uka Uka Racing, Flavio Favini, two-time world champion on the helm of Blu Moon; as well as James Spithill, skipper on Oracle Team USA, world champion in 2005 in Key Largo with Luna Rossa. Another undiscussed leader in the last three world rankings has been Riccardo Simoneschi's Audi tron.
Audi Melges 20
The last born in the One Designs produced by the Melges Performance Sailboats - in 2012 gained the ISAF recognition and later at the end of the 2013 awarded with the first world title in Key Largo – the Audi Melges 20 is a monohull owner-driver designed by Reichel-Pugh accommodating three-four crew members . It does not allow any
hiking – meaning crew aboard must always keep the feet inside the cockpit – there is no weight restriction and usually crew finds its own ideal asset.
Leader of the past Audi tron Sailing Series was Guido Miani's Monaco Racing Fleet more determined than before to keep its leadership from competitors such as Maolca, Customly, Mascalzone Latino, Atlantichina and Audi g-tron.
Melges 20 BPSE/Melandri
Melges 32
The biggest of all monohulls taking part in the series organised by B-Plan Sport&Events, the Melges 32 has been the undiscussed leader of the Audi tron
Sailing Series 2014 edition. Since its creation in 2005 from a design by Reichel-Pugh, the Melges 32 is 9,70 mt long with a 3 mt beam, covering a 186 square meters total sailing surface, featuring glass fiber layout, carbon fiber steering and keel for an easy and quicker sailing. The crew consists of eight-nine members for an allowed total weight never over 629 Kilos.
Beside the helmsman, that as per regulations has to be the boat owner or a noprofessional sailor, we have a mainsail trimmer, a tactician, two trimmers, a pitman, a mid bowman and a bowman.
During the last sailing season we have seen Valentin Zavadnikov's Synergy team leading over Audi e-tron, Spirit of Nerina and Torpyone. Another top level team has been Robertissima, winner at the European Championship in Riva del Garda and the act in Talamone.
Melges 32 - BPSE/Melandri
