Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021 in Riva - Nefeli embraces the Ora and makes a leap forward in the ranking

August 21, 2021 - Riva del Garda, Italy - Although weaker than the weather forecast, today's Ora did not prevent holding of three other races valid for the third event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021 and Act 5 of the Italian Melges24Tour, an event that is taking place on the northern side of the Garda Lake thanks to the organization of the Fraglia Vela Riva, a club that has hosted several circuit regattas and main events of the International Melges 24 Class Association, the one design class par excellence.

After seven races, and net of the discard, German Nefeli (today 1-4-6) of Peter Karrié has increased his margin compared to Melgina (3-7-2) of Paolo Brescia that is twelve points behind the leader and has to contain the attacks of the former World Champions of Altea (6-5-9), indeed they appeared far from the best shape, the one that allowed Andrea Racchelli's team to dominate part of the last appointments signed by Melges 24.

Strambapapà (4-8-4) also bursts into the fight for the podium: Michele Paoletti, despite being in command of a family crew, gets the satisfaction of always crossing in the middle of the leading group.

Podium, that instead, seems to escape the Sergio Caramel’s crew with Karlo Hmeljak calling the tactics: Arkanoé by Montura (8-2-8) is actually fifth, six lengths away from the aforementioned Altea, but in front of him now also has the bulky silhouette of Michele Paoletti.

This is a complicate stage for the Corinthians, who currently do not occupy any of the top five position, but the non-PROs are waiting for the final day to take a toll. At the moment the leader of the Corinthian ranking is Miles Quinton’s Gill Race Team (2-3-12) with Geoff Carveth at the helm, who has returned to shine under the Garda sun thanks to a positive day: the GBR-694 crew still knows they cannot sleep peacefully, given that Marco Zammarchi's Taki 4 (9-10-3) with Niccolo Bertola at the helm is there, just one point behind. Third in the Corinthian ranking is Michael Tarabochia’s White Room with Luis Tarabochia at the helm from Germany, who posted also a bullet today (10-1-10).

To find out how this event will end, which in fact serves as a preview of the European Championship scheduled in a few weeks in Portorož, you have to wait for tomorrow morning: the preparatory signal for the penultimate race is scheduled at 8.00.

Full results
Photo gallery by ©IM24CA/ZGN - Mauro Melandri

The third fraction of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series will continue on Saturday: the Race Committee plans to run three more races in order to complete the program early Sunday morning and allow participants to leave the Garda Lake in the early afternoon and thus escape some big traffic announced in all the Italian highways.

Event website
Sailors and supporters are invited to follow the races live on: http://www.metasail.it/incoming/229/

Event press officer and photographer: Mauro Melandri / Zerogradinord

After Riva event the most anticipated event of the Melges 24 season awaits the sailors on September 4-11 in Portoroz, Slovenia, where the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 will be the first major championship hosted by the International Melges 24 Class Association since Worlds in Villasimius, Italy in 2019 as a result of the pandemic. Marina Portoroz and YC Marina Portoroz are looking forward to welcome you in September!

2021 Melges 24 European Sailing Series will consist of 6 events:

1. June 25-27 – Malcesine, Garda lake, ITA
2. July 23-25 – Riva del Garda, ITA
3. August 20-22 - Riva del Garda, ITA
4. September 4-11 – Portoroz, SLO – Melges 24 Europeans 2021
5. September 24-26 - Attersee, AUT
6. October 1-3 - Trieste, ITA

More information about the event and series available at melges24.com/europeansailingseries