2021 Melges 24 European Sailing Series Event 2 at Fraglia Vela Riva - Overall
by International Melges 24 Class Association 26 Jul 05:23 BST
23-25 July 2021
The second event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021, considered also Act 4 of the Italian Melges24Tour 2021, finished in Riva del Garda today, where two final races were held to constitute the series of nine. Garda played tricks, showing both the usual face and presenting also tricky conditions for the Melges 24 fleet of eighteen teams from nine countries.
Three days of racing and three different leaders, where Estonian Tõnu Tõniste's team on Lenny managed to climb to the top on final day, taking overall and Corinthian victory. Italian Paolo Brescia's Melgina follows second and the podium is completed by German Peter Karrie's Nefeli.
After seven races completed within two first days the Race Committee scheduled the first warning signal for 11am this morning. The fleet went out around midday as the Ora started to build the first race was at 1pm in light to medium winds and the second race with stronger but not the normal Ora due to the clouds. The wind conditions were rather tricky with some holes and then again with stronger gusts on the race course. Due to its shifts the timing of the gybes became crucial and the teams, who made their decisions on time and had a bit more luck, were successful today.
Two final races shuffled the cards bringing the change in the podium placements and in top six ranking. Estonian Lenny EST790 of Tõnu Tõniste got his steady pace and scored second result in the first race and like a cherry on top of the cake, grabbed a bullet on the final race winning the event in overall ranking, being also the best Corinthian team.
Tõnu Tõniste, helmsman of Lenny was really happy that his team won the regatta. "It was three days of very nice sailing, however with not the usual Garda conditions. Also, it was very tight on top, since before the final race we were third in the ranking and several boats had a chance to win. We managed to round the top mark first in both races, scoring second result and a victory in the final race. With this result we made it to win the regatta. I really need to thank my team of Toomas Tõniste, Tammo Otsasoo, Henri Tauts and Maiki Saaring, because they are so good and made this win possible. We are very much looking forward to see what will happen at the European Championship in Portoroz in September!"
Struggling a bit with wind shifts today, Paolo Brescia's team on Melgina ITA693 scored third and fifth places, but was consistent and strong enough to keep the second position until the end of the regatta. Peter Karrie's Nefeli GER 673 scored sixth and eleventh today, completing the overall podium followed by Sergio Caramel's Arkanoe by Montura ITA809 even on points.
Fifth place in the overall ranking belongs to Michael Tarabochia's White Room GER677 with Luis Tarabochia at the helm. They took a bullet from today's first race and scored seven in the second, being with this result second best Corinthian team. At the same time Taki 4 ITA778 of Marco Zammarchi with Niccolo Bertola at the helm posted 11-9 today and switched places with White Room, being now sixth in overall and third in completing Corinthian podium. There were six Corinthian teams in Top 10. In conclusion lots of changes in the regatta with strong performances from all the teams and some new teams.
Overall Results: (top six, 9 races, 1 discard)
1. LENNY EST790 (C) of Tõnu Tõniste (10)-3-4-8-1-3-2-2-1 24 pts
2. MELGINA ITA693 of Paolo Brescia 1-2-(6)-4-5-2-5 -3-5 27 pts
3. NEFELI GER673 of Peter Karrie 9-1-3-2-3-1-4-6-(11) 29 pts
4. ARKANOE BY MONTURA ITA809 of Sergio Caramèl 2-6-2-5-4-(8)-3-4-3 29 pts
5. WHITE ROOM GER677 (C) of Michael Tarabochia with Luis Tarabochia helming 6-7-7-(10)-2-4-1-1-7 35pts
6. TAKI 4 ITA778 (C) of Marco Zammarchi with Niccolò Bertola helming 3-4-1-(13)-6-5-6-11-9 45 pts
The next appointment for Melges 24 fleet is in one-month time on August 20-22 at the same place - third event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series and Act 5 of the Italian Melges24Tour will be hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva again. But the most anticipated event of the Melges 24 season awaits the sailors on September 4-11 in Portoroz, Slovenia, where the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 will be the first major championship hosted by the International Melges 24 Class Association since Worlds in Villasimius, Italy in 2019 as a result of the pandemic. Marina Portoroz and YC Marina Portoroz are looking forward to welcome you in September!
Results after 9 races available here.