View Full Portoferraio Results

View Full 2012 Audi Sailing Series Results (After 2 Events)

The President of the Race Committee, Fabio Barrasso, was patient as he and his team waited for the breeze, always observing the conditions while the fleet stayed at the moorings.

At 1 'clock, after a two-hour on land postponement, teams went afloat. Another postponement was put into effect until 3 o'clock. In the very late afternoon, crews received an unexpected call. Although weak and unstable, the breeze came in from the north commencing the first race. The wind died as the race progressed, eventually resulting in a shortened course at the leeward gate.

Line honors were handed to the "local" crew of Mascalzone Latino helmed by Vincenzo Onorato with tactician Nathan Wilmot, who, started the regatta at the pin. Turning the windward mark in second was Mauro Mocheggiani and Matteo Ivaldi on Rush Diletta, still in the limelight after the good performance in Loano, but today finished fifth overall after a difficult, final leeward mark rounding.

Seated second overall, overnight is Audi F.lli Giacomel Fra Martina helmed by Edoardo Pavesio with Gabriele Benussi as tactician, defended the position from an aggressive Carlo Alberini aboard Calvi Network with tactician Enrico Fonda. Fourth place was awarded to Frenchman Jean-Francois Cruette on Teasing Machine.

At the end, four teams protested the inadequacy of the current weather conditions with which the race was held. The discussion of the protests is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7.00 am (Italy).

The second event of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series will end tomorrow. The Race Committee has established the first starting signal at 9 am, but Sunday's weather forecast is similar to that of today.

Each leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series consists of a maximum of eight races, with the limit set at no more than three heats per day. The only event that will be an exception is the European Championship in Porto Cervo, where four days of high-powered action will take place with a maximum of ten races.

The Audi Sailing Series is articulated in five acts. Marina di Loano was the first event crowning Lanfranco Cirillo champion. The Melges 32 fleet is now in Portoferraio (24-27 May), then travels to Porto Cervo (June 28-July 1), Malcesine (19-22 July) and lastly Naples (18-21 October).

As usual, Thursday was reserved to four rolling starts and a practice race. The light wind imposed a stop to the fleet.

Owners happily arrived to a new surprise in Portoferraio. Ashore for all the participants, title sponsor Audi offered sailors the opportunity to test drive their latest automotive models — the A1 Sportback, R8 V10, RS3 Sportback and A6 Avant.

Besides Audi, the Audi Sailing Series are supported by the Maison Haute Horlogerie Eberhard & Co, the official timekeeper of the season, and sponsor Musto.

View Photo Gallery - Guido Trombetta
View Photo Gallery - Max Ranchi

The very calm conditions made for a long wait for crews. The Race Committee, chaired by Fabio Barrasso remained on the water until late afternoon, a mile north from Lo Scoglietto, hoping that the breeze would increase in intensity and stabilize in direction.

At about 18.30, however, rain appeared and took away all hope of any races on day one. The Committee was forced to expose AP over Alfa.

The second leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series continues on Saturday with the first warning signal at 10.30. The weather forecast for tomorrow predicts another day of light winds, although in the afternoon, the conditions should produce favorable racing conditions.

Each leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series consists of a maximum of eight races, with the limit set at no more than three heats per day. The only event that will be an exception is the European Championship in Porto Cervo, where four days of high-powered action will take place with a maximum of ten races.

The Audi Sailing Series is articulated in five acts. Marina di Loano was the first event crowning Cirillo champion. The Melges 32 fleet is now in Portoferraio (24-27 May), then travels to Porto Cervo (June 28-July 1), Malcesine (19-22 July) and lastly Naples (18-21 October).

As usual, Thursday was reserved to four rolling starts and a practice race. The light wind imposed a stop to the fleet.

Owners happily arrived to a new surprise in Portoferraio. Ashore for all the participants, title sponsor Audi offered sailors the opportunity to test drive their latest automotive models — the A1 Sportback, R8 V10, RS3 Sportback and A6 Avant.

Besides Audi, the Audi Sailing Series are supported by the Maison Haute Horlogerie Eberhard & Co, the official timekeeper of the season, and sponsor Musto.

View Photo Gallery - Guido Trombetta
View Photo Gallery - Max Ranchi

The appointment, sponsored by the city of Portoferraio and organized by Plan-B & Sports Events in collaboration with Melges Europe, the Lega Navale Italiana Portoferraio and the Comitato Circoli Velici Elbani, welcomes the major players of the Class. First on the line is Cirillo's Fantastica with tactician Michele Paoletti, fresh off of his victory of the Italy Finn Cup. Cirillo and his team will have to deal with the aspirations of a large group of enemies, determined to leave no stone unturned while making life difficult to the leader of the ranking.

All eyes are now on Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino with tactician Nathan Wilmot, Audi F.lli Giacomel Fra Martina is strong as usual thanks to the experience of Riccardo Simoneschi and Gabriele Benussi. Filippo Pacinotti's Brontolo HH employs Ross McDonald and Gabrio Zandonà in the cockpit. Edoardo Lupi's Torpyone is now really fit for the high ranking, and Mauro Mocchegiani's Rush Diletta is looking for confirmation after his third place finish in Loano.

But be careful not to underestimate the outsiders, from which one might expect something more than just a winning angle. The "category" consists of Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima, who will rely on calls by Lorenzo Bressani. Calvi Network helmed by Carlo Alberini, helped by the trio composed by Fonda-Grassi-Bianchi, Bombarda owned by Andrea Pozzi and tactician Flavio Favini, Marc de Antonio's Bribon-Movistar accompanied by Gustavo Martinez Doreste and Hugo Rocha, and Yukihiro Ishida's Yasha Samurai banks of talented Hamish Peppe as tactician can be considered 'in the running'.

Each leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series consists of a maximum of eight races, with the limit set at no more than three heats per day. The only event that will be an exception is the European Championship in Porto Cervo, where four days of high-powered action will take place with a maximum of ten races.

The Audi Sailing Series is articulated in five acts. Marina di Loano was the first event crowning Cirillo champion. The Melges 32 fleet is now in Portoferraio (24-27 May), then travels to Porto Cervo (June 28-July 1), Malcesine (19-22 July) and lastly Naples (18-21 October).

As usual, Thursday was reserved to four rolling starts and a practice race. The light wind imposed a stop to the fleet.

Owners happily arrived to a new surprise in Portoferraio. Ashore for all the participants, title sponsor Audi offered sailors the opportunity to test drive their latest automotive models — the A1 Sportback, R8 V10, RS3 Sportback and A6 Avant.

Besides Audi, the Audi Sailing Series are supported by the Maison Haute Horlogerie Eberhard & Co, the official timekeeper of the season, and sponsor Musto.

View Full Photo Gallery

In preparation for the 2012 Melges 32 World Championship, taking place in September, Newport is jam-packed with a number of incredible events this summer providing multiple, perfect opportunities for team training, tuning and high-performance yacht racing.

The first two events are non-sanctioned two-day regattas hosted by Worlds host - the New York Yacht Club. The Annual Regatta happens on June 9-10 and the NYYC RaceWeek At Newport presented by Rolex follows in July on the 20th-22nd. After a recent IM32CA survey and some e-mail exchanges, both events are expected to draw 10-12 teams as they ramp-up for two of the class’ marquee championships, the U.S. Nationals hosted by Sail Newport on July 27-29 and the Worlds on September 22-29.

In between, be sure to make arrangements to attend a very Special Tuning Weekend with the Argo Team in Newport on August 17-19.

If you plan to attend, you are encouraged to register as soon as possible:

2012 Melges 32 World Championship
Official Event Website
Register Online
View Current List of Entries

2012 U.S. National Championship
Register Online
View Current List of Entries

NYYC 158th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex
Register Online
View Current List of Entries

NYYC Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex
Register Online
View Current List of Entries

Argo would like to put the idea out of a informal/formal training session in August. We feel there is a long period between the last event in July and the Worlds, and as we all have our boats in Newport, it might be an easy time to get the teams together. We realize the date might not be the most ideal for everyone and it will be hard to make it suit all parties when we have US holidays and other events in close proximity but here is what we are proposing:

Date: 17th - 19th August

Location: Newport, RI

Concept: Open training session for all teams interested. The idea is to have this weekend open for everything but the sailing rules. So, open coaching through out the weekend even during the racing would be permitted. Choice of any sails at anytime. (It is not encouraged to sail before Friday!)

Format:
Friday, August 17 - Tuning 1/2 day (Split into small groups) Practice starts (emphasis on starting) finish with 1 lap race.
Saturday, August 18 - (Tuning in the morning change groups up) 4 races 2 laps but 1.2nm legs.
Sunday, August 19 - (Tuning in the morning change groups up) 2 Longer races.

Racing: Depending on the level of interest and how many boats want to do this we will try and arrange a race officer to run the days sailing with all the teams helping with the marks. We should be able to share this around and handle the mark laying between all the teams and there support boats.

To add your name to list of participants or express interest, please contact: 
Chad Corning