Carlo Alberini on ITA-186 Calvi Network with Gabriele Benussi as tactician, Lorenzo Bodoni, Gaetano Di Granara, Alessandro Frizzarin, Sergio Blosi, Irene Bezzi and Fabio Gasperoni are Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series Champions!

Alberini has been holding the lead flag since Lerici. He signed on early in the season for success with seven impressive victories of the 23 total starts. This alone proves with measurable value that Alberini and tactician Benussi are an incredible force to reckon with on a Melges 32.

It has not been an easy this weekend for Alberini, as it was not until the very last race that he regained the Series lead from defending champion Claudio Recchi on ITA-93 Team 93. Recchi overtook Alberini on Friday, but Alberini remained cool and calm, even with yesterday’s decision to call off the racing due to too much breeze.

In a 25 knot mistral, three spectacular races were conducted today, Alberini without hesitation attacked without calculation, immediately placing his bow in front of his great opponent.

Credit is given to Recchi, as he gave it his best. Steadily, he closed the points gap with the Series leaders. Today, however was not his best day, where he scored two of his worst results of the entire Series ruining any chances of retaining the title.

In third overall is Mauro Mocchegiani on ITA-187 Rush Diletta with Andrea Casale as tactician. Mocchegiani won the race against Francesco Martino’s ITA-161 Pilot Italia (fourth in the ranking) and Luigi Melegari’s Contina d’Ampezzo ITA-181 Matrix. This is one of the best surprise results of the year and definitely a great leap forward in comparison to last year. The third place finish is a crowning touch.

European Melges 32 Fleet President Filippo Pacinotti on ITA-667 Brontolo, with Swedish champion Freddy Loof on tactics is the inevitable rookie in this competitive class. Moments of success throughout, especially in heavy air resulted in a seventh place ranking.

While the record has set for the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2009, it also marks victory for Pieter Taselaar’s USA-169 Bliksem team with Olympic 470 Gold Medallist Nathan Wilmot and his brother Jeremy. They have competed twice and won twice, for now they appear unbeatable. This is their calling card presented to the fleet on the way to the World Championship in Porto Cervo, exactly two months away. Taselaar, also the winner in Scarlino battled neck-and-neck with Lorenzo Santini’s ITA-1 Uka Uka Racing, especially in the last race. Along with his tactician, Lorenzo Bressani, it can be confirmed that these two gentleman have a sincere closeness to the Costa Smeralda venue.

The International Melges 32 Class Association wishes to extend a sincere gesture of appreciation to Sailing Series title sponsor Audi; to Melges Europe - especially to Luisa Bambozzi; and Melges Performance Sailboats.

A very special thanks to all the teams who competed on the circuit during 2009. Without you, this Series would not be possible. A phenomenal 25 teams competed this year, making it a great success.

With the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2009 officially over, the countdown officially begins for the premiere event of the season — title sponsored by Audi, happening September 20-27, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda — the Audi Melges 32 World Championship 2009.

Top Ten Final Results : Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2009
1- CALVI NETWORK (Carlo Alberini / Gabriele Benussi) pt.91
2-TEAM 93 (Claudio Recchi / Gabriele Benussi) pt. 102
3- RUSH DILETTA (Mauro Mocchegiani / Andrea Casale) pt.119
4-PILOT ITALIA (Francesco Martino / Michele Paoletti) pt.125
5-UKA UKA RACING (Lorenzo Santini – Alessio Marinelli / Lorenzo Bressani) pt.133
6-MATRIX CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Luigi Amedeo Melegari / Matteo Ivaldi) pt. 135
7-BRONTOLO (Filippo Pacinotti / Freddy Loof) pt.140
8-FANTASTICAA (Lanfranco Cirillo / Nico Celon) pt.157
9-HIGHLIFE - GBR(Peter Rogers / Rob Larke) pt.189
10-BLIKSEM – USA (Pieter Taselaar / Jeremy Wilmot) pt.19

View Full Series Results

Top Five Final Results (After 4 events)
1-BLIKSEM- USA (Taselaar / Wilmot) 2,4,1,5,(dnf): pt.12
2-UKA UKA RACING (Santini-Marinelli / Bressani) 8,1,2,(13),3: pt.14
3-ARGO-USA (Carrol / Bardwell) 3,8,(14),3,5:pt.19
4-RUSH DILETTA (Mocchegiani / Casale) 6,6,(20),4,4:pt.20
5-BRONTOLO (Pacinotti / Loof) 12,2,6,(17),1:pt.21

The day opened with an immediate and powerful jolt from Recchi, favoring the left, coming in hot at the mark well ahead of the fleet special thanks to the tactical decisions of Jonathan McKee. For Alberini, with Gabriele Benussi serving as tactician, things seemed to be far more complicated than they needed to be as they rounded, buried in the fleet. Recchi’s closest competition was the American team of Taselaar, winner of the Scarlino edition AM32SS. Recchi’s strong desire for success kept him out front for the win.

Race two resulted in the two parties carefully monitoring one another, each cautiously and conservatively interpreting the diminishing wind, while shifting left. It was a tough race for Recchi having to settle for fourtheenth. Alberini suffered a big disappointment in the results as well with an eighteenth. The race was won by Lorenzo Santini’s Uka Uka Racing with Armando Guilietti at the helm and Lorenzo Bressani on tactics.

The Cagliari edition of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2009 overnight leader is Taselaar with Jeremy Wilmot on tactics. They have been in extraordinary form and perceived as tough opponents as the fleet looks ahead to the World Championship.

In the overall Series, Recchi is the new leader, now it is all up to Alberini to re-seize control.

Overall Series : Top Five Results (Provisional after three events):
1- TEAM 93 (Claudio Recchi / Jonathan McKee) pt. 69
2- CALVI NETWORK (Carlo Alberini / Gabriele Benussi) pt.76
3- PILOT ITALIA (Francesco Martino / Michele Paoletti) pt. 91
4- RUSH DILETTA (Mauro Mocchegiani / Andrea Casale) pt.98
5- MATRIX CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Luigi Amedeo Melegari / Matteo Ivaldi) pt.101

Full Series Results After Day 1 In Cagliari

Overall Event Results : Top Five Results (Provisional after two races):
1- BLIKSEM (Pieter Taselaar / Jeremy Wilmot) 2,4: pt.6
2- UKA UKA RACING (Lorenzo Santini / Armando Guilietti / Lorenzo Bressani) 8,1: pt.9
3- MATRIX CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Luigi Amedeo Melegari / Matteo Ivaldi) 4,5:pt.9
4- ARGO -USA (Jason Carroll / Ben Bardwell) 3,8: pt.11
5- ACTION TEAM (Francesco Martino / Michele Paoletti) 9,3: pt.12

View Photo Gallery by Max Ranchi

Visit the official website of the Audi Sailing Series.  

The following rules have been updated:

NEW A.5.1. 
These class rules shall be read in conjunction with the International ERS and measurements shall be taken in accordance with these unless specified. Where a term is used in its defined sense, it is printed in 'bold' type if defined in the ERS and in 'italic' type if defined in the RRS.

NEW C.2.3.1. 
Not more than 1 mainsail, 3 headsails, (a L/M jib, M/H jib, and a Heavy Jib), and 2 asymmetrical spinnakers shall be carried on board during class sanctioned events. For IRC, PHRF or any handicap races 1 code zero reaching spinnaker may be carried but shall not be a buttoned sail.

NEW C.2.3.2.
Not more than 1 mainsail, 3 headsails,(a L/M jib, M/H jib and a Heavy jib), 2 asymmetrical spinnakers shall be presented for measurement and/or registration at a class event.

NEW G.1.4.
Starting January 1st 2008. In addition to the base inventory outlined in rule C.2.3.2., each yacht is permitted six new class sails per calendar year (January 1-December 31) to be used in Melges 32 One Design Class events. Starting January 1st 2009, a yacht attending a minimum of four sanctioned class events in the prior calendar year is permitted seven new class sails for the next calendar year. A yacht attending a minimum of six sanctioned class events in the prior calendar year is permitted eight new class sails for the next calendar year. Each sail shall be registered with MPS or the ICA which ever is the authority at the time and shall be marked with the appropriate sail Button purchased by the owner, and supplied by MPS or the ICA. Sail Buttons shall be purchased for $30 and displayed on each sail in the original inventory, and each additional sail purchased. Sail buttons shall be sewn on the sail near the tack sailmakers logo on the starboard side. Additional sail buttons purchased beyond the base inventory will not roll over to future years, sails must be ordered within the year the button is purchased and new sails delivered by April 1st of the year following the purchase year of the sail button. Unless otherwise specified in the Sailing Instructions, each yacht shall register no more than the base inventory outlined inC.2.3.2. and shall use only those registered sails for the duration of the regatta. Owners who purchase a used boat are entitled to the base inventory of buttons outlined in ruleC.2.3.2.plussixnew class sails the first year of ownership. The owner may choose to check in sails purchased with the boat and those sails shall have buttons which will be recorded against their first year allotment of sail buttons. Charterers who do not own a Melges 32 may purchase an original inventory, plus five buttons per year, and transfer sails to different chartered boats. Charterers and Melges 32 owners who charter are permitted to transfer their own sails to a chartered boat, or may use sails registered to the chartered boat, but may not combine inventories. Melges 32 owners cannot charter a boat and purchase a set of charter sails. Melges 32 owners with multiple boats cannot transfer sail inventories from boat to boat. Transfer of boat ownership to either immediate family members or a non-sailing Owner to increase sail entitlements is not permitted. Swapping of boat ownership between Melges 32 owners to increase sail entitlement is not permitted. Should a sail be destroyed during a regatta, the owner of the boat or a representative from that boat may apply to the Race Committee for a replacement sail to be registered in place of the destroyed sail. If a sail is destroyed or a sail button lost the sail/button replacement form may be filled out and submitted to MPS or the ICA for replacement.

NEW C.4.8. 
A MPS designed hydraulic cylinder and pump may be used to jack the mast up and down to facilitate rig tuning in changing conditions and rigging and unrigging. The hydraulic pump may be adjusted while racing, but extreme caution must be used and it is stronglyrecommendedthat it not be adjusted under load. The hydraulic jack shall be set up in the maximum down position with a minimum of 400kgs (#5 on PT-3 Loos tension gauge) of tension on the Upper shrouds with the boat at rest, backstay eased at the dock. This reading shall betaken with the Loos Model PT-3 tension gauge and converted to Kgs. using the Applied Fiber tensionchart. The upper shrouds shall not be loosened beyond this point at any time. To measure the piston extension, with the mast up and tuned in the boat and the hydraulic jack in the fully released and down position, measure from the aft bottom corner of the mast basecasting up 500mm and place a mark on the aft side of the mast. Now measure down along the aft side of the mast from the top of the mast step plate to the mark on the aft side of the mast. This dimension shall not exceed530mm.The hydraulic mastjack pump location is optional provided that it remains either on the aft side of the main bulkhead at the mast, the forward side of the main bulkhead at the mast, or on top of the longitudinal runningforward of the mast.

After three eventful stages - Malcesine, Lerici and Scarlino, the Cagliari act will take place from July 17-19 and will be the final round of this intense challenge. Head-to-head for the win is Calvi Network’s Carlo Alberini (current overall leader) and defending champion Claudio Recchi on Team 93.

Only three points separate the two teams so the weekend’s call of action is no mistakes. The duel will deliver a high level of tension, speed, tactics and technique, above all - nerves of steel.

Recchi on the other hand has a team of high potential, not to mention is a class veteran. The beginning of the season was slow, but over time has he has climbed the leaderboard. Consistent performances with tactics from Jonathan McKee, this team shows no stopping.

Lining up for third, a heated battle between Francesco Martino on Pilot Italia, Mauro Mocchegiani on Rush Diletta and Luigi Amedeo Melegari on Matrix.

This is the last event in the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2009. The next battle will take place at the Audi Melges 32 World Championship scheduled for Porto Cervo, Sardinia on September 20-27, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. 

Also competing this weekend and slated to appear in Porto Cervo for Worlds is Vincenzo Onorato on Mascalzone Latino, fleet newcomer Wolfgang Stolz on Opus One and from the USA, Jason Carroll on Argo.

Top Ten Series Results
1-CALVI NETWORK (Carlo Alberini) pt.65
2-TEAM 93 (Claudio Recchi) pt. 68
3-PILOT ITALIA (Francesco Martino) pt. 91
4-RUSH DILETTA (Mauro Moccegiani) pt. 99
5-MATRIX CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Luigi Amedeo Melegari) pt. 104
6-BRONTOLO (Filippo Pacinotti) pt. 119
7-FANTASTICAA (Lanfranco Cirillo) pt. 119
8-UKA UKA RACING (Lorenzo Santini) pt. 126
9-HIGHLIFE – GBR (Peter Rogers) pt.132
10-SEI TU 32 (Antonello Morina) pt. 137

View Full Series Results (after 3 events) 

Dear Sailors:

I know that most of you are busy this week preparing for the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. As you may have read elsewhere, the Mac and the Verve Cup will be providing a "combined" weather service to our sailors this year.

Chris Bedford, from Sailing Weather Services will be providing the weather briefing for the Race to Mackinac and then, at the Skippers' Meeting for the Verve Cup (held August 13, 2009 at 6:30 PM, at Monroe), will be returning to:

• Recap his Race to Mackinac forecast and tell us how actual weather varied from the forecast.
• Show us ideal routing, given the conditions that actually affected the race course.
• Using race tracking, show us how different boats handled the conditions and what sort of decisions were made by sailors as the weather unfolded.
• Answer questions from the competitors about what they saw during the race.
• Provide a briefing for the Verve Cup Weather.

To make Chris' presentation at the skippers' meeting as fruitful as possible, Chris has asked me to reach out to the Verve sailors to see if anyone doing the Race to Mackinac is interested in taking hourly observations of weather conditions and sharing them with him so that he can better prepare his analysis for the Verve Skippers' Meeting.

If your boat is participating in the race to Mackinac and would like to/can help out by being a part of the data collecting team for Chris, please drop me an email at w.soldani@comcast.net and I will provide you with a form to use to track your observations. We would of course, like to get a wide range of boats so that the data are as helpful as possible to our audience, and hope you'll consider participating.

There will be much more about all that we have planned for the Verve in the weeks to come, but for now, we wish you the best in the Race to Mackinac. We then look forward to hosting you all at the Chicago Yacht Club From August 13-16 for the Verve Cup Regatta!

Sincerely

Winn Soldani
Chairman
Chicago Yacht Club Verve Cup Committee