The Melges 24 Europeans drew to a close with a final seventh race in Torbole today. Racing started just before 9am in a brisk northerly breeze with most of the overall leaders opting for the left end of the line and the left hand side of the course.
Race six at the Melges 24 Europeans saw major upsets with Cedric Pouligny and Favio Favini caught OCS. After a six and a half-hour postponement sailing finally got underway at 5.30pm.
450 Melges sailors and official from the Circolo Vela Torbole enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Riva's smartest hotel last night. The crews enjoyed a wonderful italian meal with endless free wine before watching a very moving film tribute to Giorgio Zuccio and video from the first two days of sailing.
After another two-hour delay waiting for wind the race committee were finally able to get the days proceedings underway. For a short while it looked as if Garda might deliver the conditions for which she is so famous and race four started in a building 12 knot breeze.
PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE After another two-hour delay waiting for wind the race committee were finally able to get the days proceedings underway.
PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Racing was delayed for several hours at the Melges 24 Europeans in Torbole today. Crews sat ashore enjoying an unexpected pasta lunch will they watched the torrential rain and waited for wind.
FB Youve just come back from winning the IMS 50 Worlds. It must be a big change from that to Melges 24 sailing. How are you finding it?FF I like the boat very much. Ive always been sailing both big boats and little boats, I come from dinghy sailing originally as so many sailors.
FB So what was it like out there today Rob?RS Its quite a radical place I would say! I think the whole event is going to be snakes and ladders. Today we were very very fortunate because we had a strategy, which for about 11 or 12 minutes looked horrible but then started to look good.
The opening day of the Melges 24 Europeans in Torbole produced two fantastic races in near perfect sailing conditions and glorious sunshine. Race one started in around 8 knots with the right hand side of the course paying up the first beat.
