Opening Volvo Cup A Huge Success - Fifty Five Boats, Fifteen Nations, New Countries Represented & Victory For Giovanni Pizzatti
The 2010 European Melges 24 season got off to a flying start in Sanremo, Italy last weekend at the opening event of the 2010 Melges 24 Volvo Cup series. With 55 boats from 15 nations competing in the three days regatta it was a sign of great things to come this year. Whilst the Italian crews remain dominant this weekend's results clearly indicate that the other European nations have raised their game and are rapidly catching up with no less than seven nations represented in the top twenty.
As well as a great turnout from the established Melges 24 nations it was also fantastic to see good representation from several of the new countries including Hungary, Solvenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and South Africa. The team from South Africa is in fact a combined crew of South African and Hungarian sailors and includes South African triple Finn Olympic representative Ian Ainsley on the helm. Ainsley and his crew proved to be the dark horses of the regatta as going into the event they were definitely outsiders with the bookies. Their first two results of 30th and 40th may have lulled the established teams into a false sense of security that this new team were nothing much to worry about, but in race three they began to find their feet with a 14th and they rounded out the series with a fourth and two sixths which pulled them right up into sixth place overall - the best result by a non-Italian team. Clearly this is going to be a team to watch out for as the season progresses.
Clear blue skies, a spring like 8-12 degrees and light to moderate winds of 8-12 knots from the south/south-west made it not only very enjoyable to be on the water but also ensured some incredibly close and competitive racing. At the top of the leader board the battle for the overall lead was an impressive one and after five extremely challenging races only one team could count an all top ten scoreline. Giovanni Pizzatti ultimately took overall victory from Niccolo Biannchi by just four points with Andrea Rachelli third, Alberto Bolzan fourth and Piero Sibello fifth.
As always the Volvo media team was on hand to record the event so follow the links below to view great video clips and photos as well as the full results. The next Italian Melges 24 Volvo Cup event takes place in Scarlino from 9-11 April (further details at www.melges24.it).