Ullman Closes on Zandona After Third Day in Key West
From Joy Dunigan of the USMCA - The third day of racing at the 2007 ACURA Key West Race Week in the Melges 24 was as equally tremendous as the first two. Dave Ullman on "USA-505 Pegasus 505" got a little bit closer to the overall lead position but not without his share of trials and tribulations. On the other hand, Gabrio Zandona helming Giovanni Maspero's Joe Fly had a tough race today scoring a twentieth. This certainly closed the gap somewhat, but with two more days of racing time will only tell what is still in store for the Melges 24 Class.
Blue skies, light air and warmer-than-yesterday temperatures prevailed as forty-seven teams ventured into race five - the half way mark - of a scheduled nine race series. The Italian assault led by Zandona started the day with a fourteen point lead in the overall, first place position. Further back in the second through fifth positions, the battle waged forward. There was a very small points spread of separation between, Andrea Rachelli helming for Franco Rossini's "SUI-521 Blu Moon", Eivind Melleby helming for Lars Horn Johannessen on "NOR-366 Siste Stein", Ullman and Cedric Pouligny driving for Miles Quinton on "GBR-654 Mojo".
Races started on time, 5-8 knots of breeze with a moderate chop. First race was four legs with a distance of 1.7 miles, course bearing of 065 degrees. Leaping off on the start with speed was Ullman and Zandona - little did we know it would be a fight to the finish. Alongside of the two was Jack Jennings on "USA-659 Pied Piper" followed by Riccardo Simoneschi on "ITA-693 Giacomel Audi Racing" and Alan Field on "USA-587 Cujo" playing the left side as well.
Coming up to the top mark the fleet was spread evenly across the course. Zandona looked good in the speed department as did Brian Porter "USA-649 Full Throttle". Ullman chose the right, coming in hot at the mark in first as Zandona was forced to take his transom rounding second. Porter gets his act back in form rounding third. Kelly Gough driving for Shawn Grisham on "USA-674 Bulls-Eye" was fourth, then Simoneschi. Sets were clean, as they jetted to the gate.
Ullman on the second upwind beat appeared to put some distance between himself and the Italians when he tacked left, then back right in front of Zandona, who was now practically sitting on his transom. Porter kept the momentum going and John Gimson driving for Eamonn O'Nolan "GBR-676 Bateauneuf". Ullman rounded first, then Zandona three boat lengths behind. Porter was third. Gimson took Rachelli for fourth as they set their sights on the finish. Downwind the drama continued as Zandona's "other" gear couldn't be found. Ullman increased his lead as the rest of the fleet beared down on Joe Fly. Gimson and Porter match raced to the finish with Rachelli looking to get in on the action. Porter took it all the way forcing Ginson to gybe away as he slid across the line for third. Gimson was fourth then Rachelli in fifth.
The second race (five legs) of the day had a clean start just after noon, with a little more breeze and a slight course bearing adjustment to 080 degrees. The vast majority of the fleet went to leeward on the first beat. While the overnight leaders struggled to get to the top mark John Pollard on "GBR-650 Xcellent" came out from the left rounding first, Gimson was second and third was Bruce Ayres on "USA-637 Monsoon."
Downwind, Pollard continued his speed campaign but not for very long. Neither Pollard or Gimson could hold off Ayres as he charged for the lead and the lead he got! Ayres was first around at the second windward mark. Pollard followed. Next, three wide from left to right was Pouligny, Gimson then Simoneschi fighting for position. Pouligny and Simoneschi shut the door on Gimson. He stalls horizontally across the lane. Ullman with a lot of speed and desperate to catch the leaders turns to avoid a collision with Gimson. Other boats dodge him on the opposite side. Ullman obviously frustrated circles back around looking to get back in line settling for a tenth or worse rounding position in comparison to the sixth he had worked so hard to get. The tension was high as Gimson continued to struggle to perform his 720 while watching the competition fly right by. As the race progressed a change in wind direction was visually apparent as the entire fleet went right on the finish leg. Very few tried finding their way up the middle and next to none were to leeward. Pollard recovered on the finish leg taking the first place win just a boat length or two ahead of Ayres.
The overall standings after three days of racing has Zandona still sitting pretty in first place. His lead has been reduced to four points. Ullman is now in second place, Rachelli in third, Pouligny in fourth and Eivind Melleby driving for Lars Horn Johannessen on "NOR-366 Siste Stein" in fifth.
TOP TEN RESULTS
01. GABRIO ZANDONA/GIOVANNI MASPERO 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 20 = 29
02. DAVE ULLMAN 7, 6, 5, 5, 1, 7 = 31
03. ANDREA RACHELLI/FRANCO ROSSINI 2, 7, 2, 10, 5, 8 = 34
04. CEDRIC POULIGNY/MILES QUINTON 5, 4, 8, 12, 7, 4 = 40
05. EIVIND MELLEBY/ LARS HORN JOHANNESSEN 3, 1, 12, 7, 10, 10 = 43
06. RICCARDO SIMONESCHI 4, 9, 3, 17, 6, 5 = 44
07. JOHN GIMSON/EAMON O'NOLAN 12, 3, 10, 6, 4, 14 = 49
08. ALAN FIELD 13, 13, 13, 1, 8, 11 = 59
09. CHRIS LARSON/SCOTT HOLMGREN 6, 10, 11, 11, 12, 18 = 68
10. FRANCOIS BERNAC/PHILIPPE LIGOT 15, 5, 9, 2 =31
CORINTHIAN HEAT
Another stellar day for the Corinthians! In particular Simon Strauss and his Gill crew turned up the volume today. Great performances in races five and six have earned them the top Corinthian team of the day. International Chairman Henri Samuel also made a great show with his fair results a 13th and a 16th overall landed him the second position and Bruce Ayres wowed spectators in the second race taking it down to the wire between himself and John Pollard. Ayres performance was a shining example of what time in the boat, a consistent crew, solid boat handling and nice boat speed can do!
FULL CORINTHIAN DAILY RESULTS
01. Simon Strauss
02. Henri Samuel
03. Bruce Aryres
04. Loren Colahan
05. Bob Dockery
06. Othmar Von Blumencron
07. Sean Scarborough
08. Chris Doubek
09. Guy Mossman
10. Tom Single
11. Lance Smotherman
12. Marty Jensen
13. Gary Schwarting
14. Jim Golden
15. Clive Daem
16. Greg Houlihan