Corinthians Prepare For Battle As Teams Arrive In Medemblik

The word Corinthian isn't a synonymous with a less competitive fleet: the Corinthian entry list includes a number of crews who, for various reasons, have written important pages in the history of sailing and of the International Melges 24 Class Association. Last but not least, the Corinthian teams will achieve a double success because the fleet sails as one so the Corinthians will be scored in the open division as well as in the Corinthians, which is valid as a competition in itself.

Now that Peder Jahre's Storm Capital Sail Racing has opted to sail only in the open division after a great series of Corinthian successes, the best know Corinthian is Lenny. Owned by two-time Olympic medalist Tonu Toniste (silver in Seoul 1988 and bronze in Barcelona 1992 in the 470 class), this Estonian crew has achieved a good number of brilliant results. It won the Worlds in Hyeres 2006 and the Europeans in Neaustadt 2007 and Aarhus 2011.  Can they make it a Europeans hat-trick and claim a third title in Medemblik?

So they are the reigning champions, but they will have to guard against attack from their fellow countrymen aboard Rock City, owned by Tiit Vihul, another long-time owner in the International Melges 24 Class Association.  Rock City can always be relied upon to put in an outstanding performance so perhaps their time has come this year?

Another interesting crew could be Marrakech Express. Representing Fraglia Vela Riva, this Italian crew is coming from the northern side of Lake Garda and will be led by Augusto Poropat, one of the youngest sailors of the fleet at 23 years of age.  This already strong team have been sailing extremely well this season so perhaps they will become the first Italian team to claim the Corinthian European Melges 24 crown.

A new crew for us all to watch out for is that of Mark Eriks aboard Phoenix, who come from the small state of Lienchtestein, one of a number of new countries currently developing Melges 24 fleets.

Organised by the Royal Yacht Club Hollandia in collaboration with the International Melges 24 Class Association and the Dutch Class, the Magic Marine Melges 24 European Championship will officially open on August 15. The races are scheduled between Saturday 17 and Thursday 22, when there will be no starting sequence after 14.30. The notice of race provides for a maximum of ten races, with a discard after the end of the sixth race.