Simoneschi Takes Melges 24 Honours In Miami

Miami, Fla. - (2010 Feb. 13) - The final day of racing for the 23-strong Audi Melges 20 class and 11-boat Melges 24 fleet contingent has concluded revealing two division champs. Riccardo Simoneschi aboard Audi celebrated top honors in the hotly contested Melges 24 class and Paul Reilly on Red Sky Sailing won the progressive Audi Melges 20 fleet.

Conditions in Miami could not have been more perfect for the last day of racing at the 2011 Miami Winter Regatta hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC). All six races scheduled were conducted - four on Saturday and Sunday delivered two longer courses. Spectators were glued to the action with a steady 12-15 knots of breeze pumping in from the North-Northeast, gorgeous sunshine and flat seas for the start.

Simoneschi stole the show in the Melges 24 class. His best opposition came from Cary Seigler on Rock Steady, Kristen Lane on Team Brickhouse 812, Guy Mossman on Battle Rhythm and Brian Porter on Full Throttle. It was a constant dogfight between these teams, each trying to reign in Simoneschi's lead. The final race of the day found Simoneschi launched with a massive lead taking the win and the regatta title.

In the Audi Melges 20 fleet Jason Carroll aboard Argo put his best moves forward for a satisfying 1-2 Sunday score line. Carroll, also a Melges 32 owner, raced the Audi Melges 20 for the first time this weekend. Carroll had an amazing first race challenging Class Chairman Marc Hollerbach on Fu right at the finish. He strategically slid in from the right with less than a boat length of space, cruising across the line for first. The Fu crew were terribly disappointed, almost in complete disbelief settling for second. One, of two lady helmsman in the fleet, Mary Anne Ward on M&M Sailing Team placed third.

Event champion Paul Reilly had a less than fantastic ninth place result in the first race, but made up for it in race two with the ultimate win. He held off the likes of 2011 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series leader Michael Kiss on Bacio, Hollerbach and Carroll. At one point Kiss led the race, as did Carroll. On the final upwind finish beat, Reilly found the all right gears putting him across the finish in first, Carroll and Kiss finished respectively.

Both the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) would like to thank Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami Shake-A-Leg and Melges Performance Sailboats for an amazing event. PRO Taran Teague and staff were phenomenal. A very special thanks to the DeVos family as they enabled the class' to bring great photos, news and some live updates from the course via their protector tender Volpe.

And lastly, but most certainly not least, thank you to every team and competitor that traveled from near and far to compete. These events are nothing without you!

Full race reports and photo galleries have been posted online every day after racing. Check out the official class web sites for the Audi Melges 20 (www.melges20.com) and Melges 24 (www.melges24.com) as well as www.melges.com, and be sure to friend the Audi Melges 20 and U.S. Melges 24 on Facebook.

TOP FIVE RESULTS

MELGES 24 (After 6 Races, FINAL)
1.) Riccardo Simoneschi, Audi; 1-2-1-2-[2]-1 = 7
2.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle; [DNS/17]-1-2-7-3-2 = 15
3.) Kristen Lane, Team Brickhouse; 812; 2-5-3-1-5-[7] = 16
4.) Cary Seigler, Rock Steady; 6-3-5-3-1-[4] = 16
5.) Guy Mossman, Battle Rhythm; 4-4-[6]-5-4-5 = 22

Visit the 2011 Miami Winter Regatta Official Event Website for full entry lists and complete results - http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=415

View Melges 24 - 2011 Miami Winter Regatta Photo Gallery - http://www.melges.com/?p=photo-gallery/details&g1=Melges-24&g2=82_Miami-Winter-Regatta-(b)-JOY&return=/?p=pages/media/m24

AUDI MELGES 20 (After 6 Races, FINAL)
1.) Paul Reilly, Red Sky Sailing Team; 2-1-2-1-[9]-1= 7
2.) Jason Carroll, Argo; 1-4-[5]-4-1-2 = 12
3.) kent Haegar, Mach Schnell; [11]-2-3-5-4-5 = 19
4.) Tony Tabb, Elevation Racing; 5-5-1-3-6-[8] = 20
5.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; 6-3-6-2-[11]-3 = 20

MELGES 24 ROAD TO CORPUS PAVED WITH GREAT RACING
The U.S. Melges 24 Class is celebrating a terrific winter of sportboat racing. The famed Road To Corpus Series moves forward to the highly anticipated Bacardi Miami Sailing Week (RTC Event No. 3). Record breaking attendance is forecasted. From there, the fleet will migrate north to the lovely city of Charleston, S.C. for Charleston Race Week (RTC Event No. 4) in mid-April — then a grand finale in Corpus Christi, Tx. for the 2011 Melges 24 World Championship (RTC Event No. 5). Save the dates for the 2011 U.S. National Championship in Lake Geneva, Wisc. on September 29-October 2.

MELGES 24 (Top Five, After 2 Road To Corpus Series Event)
1.) Riccardo Simoneschi, Audi = 197
2.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle = 193
3.) Guy Mossman, Battle Rhythm = 186
4.) Rob Butler, The Beaver = 176
5.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon = 100

###

For media photos (web and/or high resolution) or class specific information about the 2011 Melges Miami Winter Regatta please contact:

Joy Dunigan
press@melges.com
U.S. Melges 24 Class Administrator, Press Coordinator
Mobile: +1 (912) 398-5776
Skype: joysavannah