Melges 32 World League in Villasimius, Sardinia - Overall
by Melges World League 31 Mar 2019 20:08 BST
29-31 March 2019
The first act of the Melges 32 World League came to an end today in the Sardinian race course of Villasimius. The three-days of racing was a real sailing show, with seven regattas completed out of a maximum of eight scheduled by the Notice of Race.
The victory, for the first time in his Melges 32 career, goes to the Argentinian team of Luigi Giannattasio, who writes the name of Donino in the golden books of the Melges World League.
The last day of racing brings massive changes into the final ranking and podium of the event organized by Melges Europe: with steady breeze ranging from 8 to 11 knots, the crew of Luigi Giannattasio, with Manuel Weiller calling tactics, immediately scores a bullet, leaving at his back the Moneguasque crew of G-Spot by Giangiacomo Serena Di Lapigio and the twice World Champions of Tavatuy by Pavel Kutznetsov.
The provisional leader of the ranking until that moment, the Italian Caipirnha skippered by Martin Reintjes (with tactician Gabriele Benussi), in an attempt to defend the lead in a very tight start-up phase, runs into an early start, revealing that the challenge between him and Donino is not only agonistic, but also psychological.
In the following race, Donino replicates the previous result, collecting another success (the third of six regattas completed so far) and collects a real match ball in view of the last and decisive race. Behind the fast Donino comes Tavatuy while Caipirinha proudly closes third.
The seventh regatta still opens under the sign of great nervousness on the starting line, where Donino tries to be conservative, strong of the seven lengths of margin with respect to Caipirinha, who instead is obliged to risk the maximum to try to make the stage his own.
However, Caipirnha still struggles in an early start which actually means leaving the stage clear for Giannattasio's well-deserved success: Donino closes the race in third position, preceded by G.Spot who finds the first bullet of the season and by Mascalzone Latino by Vincenzo Onorato (with Branko Bricin).
Caipirinha closes the event in second place of the overall standings, with a result that also represents the best placement for Reintjes in a Melges 32 event. The podium is completed by Tavatuy, author of an improving performance during the three days of racing in Villasimius. Fourth place for G.Spot and fifth Torpyone by Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina.
In the Corinthian ranking, the success goes to the Germans of Homanit by Kilian Holzapfel who precede in the order the Italian Dumbovit of Alessandro Lotto and Flavio Campana and the compatriots of Sjambok of Jens Kuhne.
Luigi Giannattasio - "I can only express great happiness for this result obtained on a boat that both myself and my son Pierluigi, who was on board with us and with whom I have the pleasure of sharing this success, love very much. A key role in this victory was played by the team, in a brand new shape, made up of great champions like Manuel Weiller, Seb Col and Federico Michetti, who were the key to the team's growth up to this level of competitiveness that puts us with great pride at the top."
The Melges 32 fleet will return to racing from 17 to 19 May in the race course of Puntaldia, Northern Sardinia, while Marina di Villasimius and the local Section of the Lega Navale Italiana will return to offer their hospitality to the Melges World League for the first stage of the Melges 20 World League circuit, scheduled from 26 to 28 April.
Melges Europe thanks the partners of the Melges World League 2019: Helly Hansen, North Sails, Quantum Sails, Tirrenia, Garmin Marine, La Thuile Valle d'Aosta, Xpouf, Uyn, Rocket Performance, Revi, Loison, Rigoni di Asiago, Dai Dai, Norda, Le Formiche by Fabio Vettori.
Melges Europe also thanks the local event partners of the event of Villasimius: Marina di Villasimius, Lega Navale Italiana Sezione di Villasimius, Comune di Villasimius, Villasimius area marina protetta Capo Carbonara, Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, Cagliari Airport, Suentu, Moby.
Melges Europe and Melges World League strongly support and promote One Ocean Foundation's message by signing the Charta Smeralda code of conduct adopted in each scope of its activities and events
Results available on www.melges32.com
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