Bete Wins SNIM 2006
After four tough days of racing off the Mediterannean city of Marseille the victors spoils in the Melges 24 Class at SNIM 2006 go to the Italian Team of Amadori Ezio aboard Bete, helmed by Nicola Celon. Their final day scoreline was more than sufficient to hold their overnight lead and win the regatta by 15 points from second place Benjamin Cohen sailing Sogeti Transiciel for Monaco. The first French team was Philippe Ligot's Partner & Partners helmed by Francois Brenac in third, just ahead of the Excellent Team of John Pollard from Torquay, England.
Bete held their nerve in light and fickle conditions to pull off a magnificant victory. They match raced Sogeti Transiciel a little off the line and went on to finish third in the first race behind winner Excellent and second placed Flor Direct of Alain Roig.
In the second race Big Ship took the gun but were given ocs along with several other boats and it was Jean Marc Monnard aboard Poizon Rouge who ultimately took the gun with Andrea Racchelli of Altea second. Bete clocked up another third place in the final race of the series to complete what must have been a very satisfying regatta.
As always the SNIM attracted a hugely cosmopolitan entry with 60 teams from 12 countries across Europe and Scandinavia making the Easter trip to the French Riviera. Our thanks to Justin Chisholm of Team Barbarians for his reports from the race course and to the SNIM organisers for another fantastic regatta. The fleet is packing up now ready to move the circus on to Bari in Italy for the next event in the Italian Volvo Cup Series which takes place on 11-13 May. The next event in the European Ranking is the UK Nationals in Falmouth from May 31 - June 3.