ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY IN PROTISCO

From the Italian Class - The first day of the Italian Melges24 Championship started off with light breeze, and one race. 44 boats on the starting line, with all the top crews of the fleet: Alina, Nautica, Dream Team, Devotissimo; Altea; Aleali, BancaBSI, FireBolt, Golf Club Paradiso.. Did we forget someone? Sure: Paolo Cian on Sherekhan, fresh winner of the grade 1 Match Race Trombini in ravenna, and even the Joe Fly team is back! Their helmsman Gabrio Zandona' plays at home, since his crew on the 470, Francesco della Torre, is one of the organizers. There were 10 non-italian boats as well. Some of them are well aquainted friends of the Volvo Cup, others are here for the first time this year, but they are here to fight for gold, like Quentin Strauss and his Team Gill, last year's winners.

After the grand opening at the terrace overloooking the Marina di Portisco, the boats went out on the water for some serious competition. With the light and shifty breeze, it has not been an easy regatta. The fleet split right after the start, gathering back at the windward mark. No surfing this time, the boats sliding on the waters at 6-some knots at its best. Then a course change, just 10 degrees, the committee this time really seems up to the task.

Roberto Martinez on Firebolt-Unicredit wins, then it's Alina, with their brand new mast (they broke it in Torbole) and no tuning troubles, and Sandro Montefusco on Golf Club Paradiso. But the game has just begun, we have eight more races to go, and the wind should be coming in stronger tomorrow. Racing should start at 12.30. We'll keep you updated!

Top Ten Provisional Results - Day 1
1 ITA574 - Carla Ubertalli/Roberto Martinez
2 ITA409 - Maurizio Abba/Luca Valerio
3 ITA590 - Claudio Dutto/Sandro Montefusco
4 ITA139 - Ezio Amadori/Nicola Celon
5 ITA438 - Andrea Racchelli
6 ITA598 - Antonio Binacchi/Pietro D'Ali
7 GER582 - Eddy Eich/Alba Batzill
8 ITA572 - Riccardo Simoneschi
9 ITA579 - Massimo Bernasconi/Gabriele Benussi
10 ITA583 - Maurizio Cardascio/Paolo Semeraro