Melges 24 World Championships Overall

by Chris Ericksen 11 Oct 1999 08:32 BST

BRUN REPEATS AS CHAMPION AT 1999 MELGES 24 WORLDS

Long Beach, California -- Defending World Champion Vince Brun of San Diego, CA, with partner Ben Mitchell of Malibu, CA, did what he had to do on the last day to win the Open Division of the 1999 International Melges 24 World Championship Regatta, hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, and repeat as World Champion.

A sailmaker and standout for decades in numerous international one-design classes and an America’s Cup veteran, Brun went into the last day of the event in second place behind Italian Giorgio Zuccoli. In both races Sunday, Brun and Zuccoli sparred in pre-start maneuvers before the American moved ahead of his principle opponent. While finishing no better than seventh place of the day, Brun moved ahead as Zuccoli carded a 16th place finish in the first race of the day and 21st in the last, his poorest performance in the ten-day event.

The one-two finish for Brun and Zuccoli mimicked their positions at the end of the first Melges 24 Worlds, sailed last year in England.

Mike Wooten of Long Beach, CA, and partner Chris Collins of Valencia, CA, with Olympic sailor Jeff Madrigali of Alameda, CA, at the helm, moved into fourth place in the open division ahead of Newport Beach, CA, sailmaker Dave Ullman. Fifth place went to Michael Stone of San Rafael, CA, and helmsman Shawn Bennett of Berkeley, CA.

International Melges 24 Class President Tom Freytag, who hails from Lake Geneva, WI, but lives in Dublin, Ireland, finished tops in the Amateur Owner-Driver division, a feature in a class where sailmakers and professional sailors are often at the top of the standings. Brian Porter of Winnetka, IL, finished in second place, one point behind Freytag. Newport Beach businessman Argyle Campbell took third place ahead of Don Jesberg of Mill Valley, CA, in fourth and a German team of Vito Sustronk and helmsman Alba Batzill in fifth.

Sponsors of the 1999 International Melges 24 World Championship Regatta included Alizé de France; Boatscape.com; Golison Race Week; Harken; Melges Boat Works; Nextec; North Sails; Patagonia; the Rocky Mountain Water Company; Sailing Supply; Samuel Adams; Team McLube; Ullman Sails; United Sailing Technologies, LLC; West Marine; and the Marine Bureau of the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine.

Results Overall (10 races, 1 discard):

Pos	Sail No.	Helm	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Pts
1	USA 415	Vince Brun	6	2	(10)	5	1	6	5	9	7	8	49
2	ITA 139	Giorgio Zuccoli	1	4	12	17	3	9	2	1	16	(21)	65
3	USA 330	Jeff Madrigali	11	6	7	6	(21)	1	4	21	8	13	77
4	USA 3	Dave Ullman	2	9	9	11	9	(32)	8	7	3	26	84
5	USA 159	Michael Stone	19	8	(40)	25	17	11	3	8	4	2	97
6	GBR 419	David Johnson	14	10	20	1	5	16	6	17	(25)	10	99
Other British Placings:
19	GBR 420	Tony Wetherell	12	3	14	(34)	11	3	22	26	33.5	24	148.5
22	GBR 359	Keith Musto	15	22	25	20	22	(37)	18	13	27	12	174
39	GBR 253	Ian Cleaver	34	38	28	42	35	(47)	41	33	40	37	328