2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series - Day 1
by IM24CA 12 Sep 08:04 BST
11-13 September 2020
Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team GBR694 with Geoff Carveth at the helm is ranked third at the 2020 Melges 24 European Sailing Series Event #3 in Portoroz, Slovenia after Day One © Zerogradinord / IM24CA
This week would normally have seen the Melges 24 European Championship 2020 taking place in Portorož, but the pandemic led to its rescheduling to 2021. Instead of that, sailors have been given the opportunity to race at the Marina Portorož Melges 24 Regatta, the third event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.
"Given current global conditions, it's really an unique privilege to be able to put on an international event and to see teams from six countries tackle the winds in Slovenian waters," said David Bartol, the President of the hosting club YC Marina Portoroz.
Participants left the shore at 11:00 and enjoyed excellent sailing conditions throughout the day with 6 to 13 knots blowing from NE.
"This is our third time in Portorož. The day started with light winds, which developed in the afternoon allowing us to run four races. We scored our first bullet in the Melges fleet ever and won also the fourth race, so it was a great day for me and we will definitely celebrate this success tonight," was pumped up Peter Karrie, helmsman of Nefeli (GER 673), who is sitting in first place with 7 points.
Arkanoe by Montura (ITA 809), skippered by Sergio Caramel, took a very close second with 9 points, while Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team (GBR 649) with Geoff Carveth at the helm is ranked third overall with 11 points, being at the same time best Corinthian team.
Michael Tarabochia's White Room GER677 with Luis Tarabochia at the helm is second best Corinthian team with Fabio Rochelli's Zero-24 ITA528 third in the Corinthian division.
Racing continues tomorrow, day two of the event, with race number 5 scheduled at 10:00.
Full results available here.