Competition and Weather Hot Hot Hot in Key West
From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - Going into day two of the 2007 ACURA Key West Race Week Regatta, Gabrio Zandona at the helm for Giovanni Maspero on "ITA-550 Joe Fly" led the almost entirely European top ten. And, on Tuesday he increased his lead by a substantial amount, some fourteen points in the overall standings.
The first race of the day, race three in a series of ten experienced a short postponement. Once the breeze filled in, the forty-seven strong fleet went racing with a course bearing of 125 degrees with 1.5 mile legs. At the start, the winds were steady at 5-8 knots, the overcast skies dissipated and the sun shone through. The fleet was spread evenly across the start at the horn. The pin end was favored by Zandona, Andrea Rachelli at the helm for Franco Rossini "SUI-521 Blu Moon" and Chris Larson driving for Scott Holmgren on "USA-631 Rosebud." Following close behind was Corinthian competitors John Jennings driving for Bob Dockery on "USA-459 Barracuda" and Gary Schwarting on "USA-622 Obsession." The cream of the crop surfaced at the first weathermark with Zandona taking charge early. He rounded first, then Rachelli and Riccardo Simoneschi on "ITA-659 Giacomel Audi Racing." 2006 Melges 24 Key West Race Week Champion Dave Ullman rounded in fourth and Othmar Von Blumencron on "USA-679 Gannet" was fifth. Downwind was a blast as Zandona continued to hold his own. Back upwind he just got hotter! Simoneschi looking for a winning lane was not to far behind. Rachelli gave it all he had as he was neck-and-neck with Simoneschi coming into the final weathermark of the race. First around was Zandona followed by Rachelli, then Simoneschi and Ullman took his transom. The remainder of the race was all Joe Fly. At the finish Rachelli took a very close second place. Simoneschi took third. Further back in the fleet is where the finishes just got more interesting. Some finishers were stacked three and four wide in some cases.
Sunshine prevailed over the final race of the day with winds light, variable and the course bearing was identical to the first. The first start resulted in a general recall, however the second start was clean. The pin again was favored by the majority of race leaders. In contrast, Simoneschi and Ullman stayed center of the line, Dave in particular had nice speed. At the top mark the breeze built to 8-10 and the leeward side of the fleet came in fast. Leading the charge was class newcomer Alan Field on "USA-587 Cujo" from Los Angeles, California. Alan and his new found Cujo crew of only three days includes Steve Hunt calling tactics, Eric Champagne, Jeff Reynolds and Kate Schan. "Our tactician did a great job today, besides the great start. The competition in this fleet is simply amazing," commented Field. "We have lots to learn still." Field was around first, then another all-American, Corinthian favorite Bruce Ayres on "USA-637 Monsoon" in second and in third was Ullman. Field held on to his monumental lead and went on to win the race. Francois Bernac at the helm for Philippe Ligot on "FRA-571 Partner and Partners" came in second and, working his way back up after a tough start was none other than Zandona and his Joe Fly crew.
The overall standings after two days of racing has Zandona comfortably sitting in first place with a nice lead over second place. In second is Rachelli. Despite a mediocre day Eivind Melleby at the helm for Lars Horn Johannessen on "NOR-366 Siste Stein" is in third. Ullman moved up from sixth to fourth. Miles Quinton is fifth, Bernac in sixth, Eamonn O'Nolan holds in seventh and Simoneschi dropped from fifth to eighth. Larson hangs on by the skin of his teeth in nineth and last but not least, today's second race winner Alan Field is now in tenth.
TOP TEN RESULTS
01. GABRIO ZANDONA/GIOVANNI MASPERO 1, 2, 1, 3 = 7
02. ANDREA RACHELLI/FRANCO ROSSINI 2, 7, 2, 10 = 21
03. EIVIND MELLEBY/ LARS HORN JOHANNESSEN 3, 1, 12, 7 = 23
04. DAVE ULLMAN 7, 6, 5, 5 = 23
05. MILES QUINTON 5, 4, 8, 12 = 29
06. FRANCOIS BERNAC/PHILIPPE LIGOT 15, 5, 9, 2 =31
07. EAMON O'NOLAN 12, 3, 10, 6 = 31
08. RICCARDO SIMONESCHI 4, 9, 3, 17 = 33
09. CHRIS LARSON/SCOTT HOLMGREN 6, 10, 11, 11 = 38
10. ALAN FIELD 13, 13, 13, 1 = 40
CORINTHIAN HEAT
It was a banner day for the Corinthian division of the Melges 24s in Key West. The skill level in the class has really shot through the roof as more and more teams make noticeable, flawless clean sets and gybes they just need to find some more speed! For day two of the competition Bruce Ayres grabbed the daily honors. Following closely was another extraordinary skipper and crew Sean Scarborough onboard "USA-541 Rhino" and IMCA Chairman Henri Samuel "FRA-625 Zig Zag 17" was third.
FULL DAILY RESULTS
01. Bruce Aryres
02. Sean Scarborough
03. Henri Samuel
04. Othmar Von Blumencron
05. Loren Colohan
06. Bob Dockery
07. Marty Jensen
08. Gary Schwarting
09. Tom Single
10. Lance Smotherman
11. Jim Golden
12. Guy Mossman
13. Clive Daem