Melges 32 World League in Puntaldia, Sardinia - Day 2
by Melges Europe 18 May 2019 20:02 BST
17-19 May 2019
Tavatuy on day 1 of the Melges 32 World League in Puntaldia © MWL / Barracuda
After the forced stop of yesterday under the gusts of Scirocco of more than 30 knots, the race course of Puntaldia allows the Melges 32 fleet to complete three races today, whose main protagonist was the Russian entry Tavatuy.
The Russian crew by Pavel Kuznetsov, assisted in tactical choices by Evgeny Neugodnikov, twice World Champion in 2017 and 2018, immediately set the pace to the regattas, winning the first two races and thus building an important rut in terms of points between himself and opponents.
Tavatuy has shown an immediate confidence with the race course such of Puntaldia, that had never been tested before by all the Melges 32 World League teams and sailors.
In the first race of today, Tavatuy anticipates on the finish line the Italians of Caipirinha by Martin Reintjes (with Gabriele Benussi on tactics) and Mascalzone Latino by Vincenzo Onorato (supported by the Slovenian Branko Brcin).
In the second race, Tavatuy repeated its result, leaving this time at his back the reigning Melges World League Champion, Giogi by Matteo Balestrero (with Matteo Ivaldi at tactics) and Fritz Homann's German crew of Wilma (with Nico Celon as tactician).
The last race of the day is the most challenging, with wind from 275 degrees and gusts up to 25 knots: Calvi Network by Carlo Alberini (assisted by Karlo Hmeljak from Slovenia) takes his first bullet of the season, preceding Caipirinha and the Monegasque G.Spot of Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio (with Michele Paoletti) on the finish line. In the same regatta, Tavatuy runs into a 20% penalty due to a missed precedence with the Norwegian entry Pippa by Lasse Petterson. This does not prevent Tavatuy from gaining the top of the general ranking after day 1: the Russian crews holds to the top with 4 points margin on Calvi Network and 6 points over Caipirinha; the ranking is still very short, with the first seven boats tied in only 9 points.
Results at yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=7330
The warning signal for the final day of racing of the Melges 32 World League in Puntaldia is scheduled for tomorrow, 10.30am.
The Melges 32 World League event in Puntaldia is supported by the local partners Swiss Life, Tirrenia, Comune di San Teodoro, Consorzio di Puntaldia, ImmobilSarda, Mag.nus, Ichnusa, Catellani & Smith, Aeroporto Olbia-Costasmeralda, Ristorante Silvio, Cantina Santa Margherita, Cantina Nuraghe Crabioni, Cantina Del Vermentino Monti, Cantina Argiolas, Beta, Moby, La Serra Fiorita, Auriemma.
Melges 32 World League is supported by Helly Hansen, North Sails, Tiirenia, Quantum Sails, Garmin Marine, La Thuile, Rocket Performance, Revi Trento Doc, Loison Pasticceri dal 1938, Rigoni di Asiago, Dai Dai, Norda, XPouf, Le Formiche di Fabio Vettori and One Ocean. Melges World League European Division also counts on the team partners support by UYN (thanks to Brontolo and G3Bau Sailing Team) and l'Enoteca (thanks to Fra Martina Sailing Team).
Melges Europe and Melges World League strongly support One Ocean Foundation and Charta Smeralda.