Flavio Favini and Brian Porter Ranking Champions
Congratulations to Flavio Favini and the crew of Franco Rossini's Blu Moon for winning the 2008 Melges 24 World and European Rankings and to Brian Porter and his Full Throttle crew for winning the 2008 North American Ranking. It was a tough season with a total of 25 qualifying regattas in the World Series, 11 in North America and 14 in Europe. In the World Ranking competitors count their top four results and in the Continental Rankings competitors count their top three results.
For Italian America's Cup star Favini, who has sailed in the class for almost a decade, this was his first World Ranking win, although he won the European Ranking previously in 2004. 2006 Melges 24 World Champion Nicola Celon of Italy gave Favini the closest run for his money in the World Ranking with America's Brian Porter third.
For Brian Porter and the evergreen Full Throttle crew this was a record fifth North American Ranking win and their fourth successive victory. Alan Field took second place overall, while third place went to Simon Strauss. One of the closest fought battles in the 08 NA Ranking was the skirmish for fifth place between husband and wife Peter and Kristen Lane. The good news is that they ended up with a dead heat and share fifth place so marital harmony can continue to reign.
Although Favini sails for Franco Rossini's Switzerland registered Blu Moon team he is in fact an Italian National and so that effectively makes the European Ranking Top Ten an all Italian affair for the first time ever. It was also the most closely fought of the rankings this year with just ten points separating the top four boats. Luca Valerio took second place with Nicholo Bianchi third and Nicola Celon fourth.
The Rankings also demonstrate that almost half of the 800 Melges 24s in existance are regularly competing on the international circuit - a remarkable achievement for any class. In Europe 236 boats completed at least one Ranking event, in North America
there were 172 competitors and overall 402 boats recorded results in the World Ranking. Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2008 Ranking events for helping to keep the Melges 24 right at the very top of the sportsboat world.
World Ranking Top Ten
1. Flavio Favini (SUI)
2. Nicola Celon (ITA)
3. Brian Porter (USA)
4. Alberto Bolzan (ITA)
5. Lorenzo Bressani (ITA)
6. John Pollard (GBR)
7. Jamie Lea (GBR)
8. Alan Field (USA)
9. Simon Strauss (GBR/USA)
10. Andrea Racchelli (ITA)
North American Ranking Top Ten
1. Brian Porter (USA)
2. Alan Field (USA)
3. Simon Strauss (GBR/USA)
4. Paul Hulsey (USA)
5. Peter Lane (USA)
=5. Kristen Lane (USA)
7. Mike Dow (USA)
8. Argyle Campbell (USA)
9. August Hernandez (USA)
10. Steve Kopf (USA)
European Ranking Top Ten
1. Flavio Favini (SUI)
2. Luca Valerio (ITA)
3. Nicolo Bianchi (ITA)
4. Nicola Celon (ITA)
5. Lorenzo Bressani (ITA)
6. Alberto Bolzan (ITA)
7. Luca Bursic (ITA)
8. Roberto Martinez (ITA)
9. Matteo Ivaldi (ITA)
10. Carlo Fracassoli (ITA)