MAURIZIO ABBA LEADS GOING INTO FINAL DAY AT SNIM

From Christel Durand of the French Class Association - The third day in SNIM brought superb conditions with an increasingly strong
West wind. Four races were run bringing to the total to 10 so far.
Winning the day were Team Gill (Quentin Strauss), Encore (Jean Francois
Cruette), Alina (Maurizio Abba) and Banca BSI (Massimo Bernasconi). The
leader overall after 10 races (8 to count) is former Mumm 30 World Champion
Maurizio Abba with Alina. However the first 4 boats are on almost equal
points (53 and 54 points) so the suspense is unbearable going into the
final day.

This third day brought traditional SNIM conditions with a wind of 270,
varying sometimes to 280/300 but only briefly. The day started in 10-15
knots but build to 20 knots in the final race. Of the four races three
were started under black flag. The first race went to Britain's Team Gill
(Quentin Strauss) ahead of Italy's Nautica (Simoneschi) and the French
O'Tomate (Francoise Bordaise).

In the second race it was a French benefit with victory for Encore (JF
Cruette) followed by Flor Direct (Nicolas Pietra) and Big Ship (Paul
Maxime). The third race went to overall leader Alina (Maurizio Abba), in
front of the Italian Ale Ali (Amadori) and the French O'Tomate (Francois
Bourdais). Finally the fourth races was snatched by Italy's Banca BSI
(Bernasconi) with Ale Ali (Amadori) second again from Norway's Lek
(Andersen).

The race results show the close competition and high the level of the
Melges 24 fleet at this regatta. An interesting change from last year is
the great rise to power of the Italian teams, who with their Italian Volvo
Cup Series now sail regularly at a very high level and thus are beginning
to dominate the European Melgists.