OCEAN BMW M24 EUROPEANS - PREVIEW PRESS RELEASE

IMCA Press Release - The Ocean BMW Melges 24 European Championship gets underway in Torquay, England this weekend with 52 teams from 11 nations competing. Heading up the list of favourites are Giovanni Maspero’s reigning European Championship crew aboard Joe Fly, helmed for this event by Gabrio Zandona.

Even before the regatta begins the Italian Joe Fly team brought drama to the event when their boat and its tow vehicle were run over and written off on the way to Torquay by a sleeping truck driver. Fortunately boat captain Federico Michetti, who was changing a flat tyre on the hard shoulder at the time, escaped without injury and the team has subsequent been able to secure use of another boat with which to defend their title.

Among those determined to unseat Joe Fly from the top step of the podium is reigning World Champion Sebastian Col and the Partner & Partners team. Col, who is taking time out from his America’s Cup commitments with K-Challenge to compete, will fly into Torquay direct from the ISAF Match Racing Championship in Spain. Others equally keen to get their hands on the European trophy include Britain’s Stuart Rix, helming for Quentin Strauss’s Team Gill (reigning UK National Champion), Remy Arnaud of France aboard Dyneema/Liros (reigning French National Champion), Germany’s legendary Alba Batzill (fresh from his recent victory at the 6m Worlds) and local Torquay star John Pollard aboard Xcellent.

In the Corinthian Division, open to fully amateur crews, Finland’s Kenneth Thelen and his crew aboard Suunto will be hoping to add a second Corinthian European title to their trophy cabinet which also incudes three Corinthian World titles and an amazing ten overall National Championship titles.

The Royal Torbay Yacht Club is the home of the UK Melges 24 fleet and also hosted the first ever Melges 24 World Championship back in 1998. Racing for the Ocean BMW Melges 24 European Championship 2005 gets underway on Monday 19th September and concludes on Friday 23rd September with 12 races scheduled. The event is sponsored by Title Sponsor Ocean BMW, Gold Sponsor WKD Original Vodka Blue, and Silver Sponsors Devoti Sailing, North Sails UK Ltd, Westaway Sails and Musto Ltd.

Daily reports and results will be posted at www.melges24.com. Daily e-mail reports will be sent to this e-mail address. To add additional addresses to the circulation list or to receive daily photographs please contact fiona.brown@melges24.com.

For further information about the Ocean BMW Melges 24 European Championship 2005 and the International Melges 24 Class Association please contact Fiona Brown, IMCA Press Officer, e-mail fiona.brown@melges24.com, Tel +44 (0)7711 718470 or visit www.melges24.com.