Melges 24 European Championship 2021 - Corinthian frontrunners on Day One in Portoroz

September 07, 2021 - Portoroz, Slovenia - A tricky first day of racing opened the Melges 24 European Championship 2021, organised by the YC Marina Portoroz and International Melges 24 Class Association with the support of Marina Portoroz in Slovenia today, and was already full of emotions and upheavals in the standings after three races sailed.

In conditions of light and very shifty breeze, the 40-boats fleet representing 14 nations has completed three races and none of the crews has so far emerged as indisputable leader of the ranking, having all of them, also those at the top of the leaderboard, scored at least one result out of the top-ten.

In an edition of the Melges 24 European Championship that is forecasted to be one of the most balanced of the latest years, the leader after day one is the already Corinthian World Champion Lenny by Tõnu Tõniste from Estonia, followed by the Swedish entry SWE-715 by Jonas Berntsson and by Swiss Cinghi-Aile by Michael Good. 

A fully-Corinthian top-three, which once again demonstrates the strength of the division reserved to non-professionals in the Melges 24 Class.

The first non-Corinthian crew is Italian Arkanoè by Montura of Sergio Caramel, fourth overall, followed by Luka Šangulin’ Panjić from Croatia, fifth.

Winners of the three daily races were, in the order, Altea by Andrea Racchelli, the aforementioned SWE-715 and Arkanoè by Montura and in Corinthian division Italian Taki 4 by Niccolo Bertola winning first and third race and SWE-715 by Jonas Berntsson the second, being also the overall winner.

Comments from sailors

Sergio Caramel of Arkanoe by Montura ITA809: “We are happy about today even if not 100%: we raced quite well, coming out of difficult situations, but we made a small mistake in the second race which cost us a few points. We are in the top five, but it is also true that today was a really strange day for the favorites and many of them will return to the game with the entry of the throw out.”

Tõnu Tõniste of Lenny EST790: “It was a tricky day on the water and especially second race shuffled the cards in the fleet. All boats starting from the right side were not lucky with that choice ending up in the lack of wind, however, we were doing well in that race. Teams were very eager to start racing and first attempt to start the race was a general recall. We feel strong and are happy about our consistent racing today!”

Races will resume on Wednesday at 1 pm.

TOP 10 after 3 races sailed:

1. LENNY EST790 (C) Tõnu Tõniste 22p
2. SWE715 (C) Jonas Berntsson 26p
3. CINGHI-AILE (C) SUI382 Michael Good 26p
4. ARKANOE BY MONTURA ITA809 Sergio Caramel 27p
5. PANJIC CRO739 Luka Šangulin 36p
6. ALTEA ITA722 Andrea Racchelli 37p
7. PURE AUT716 (C) Michael Schineis 37p
8. WHITE ROOM GER677(C) Michael Tarabochia 37p
9. GILL RACE TEAM GBR694 Miles Quinton 38p
10. TAKI 4 ITA778 (C) Niccolo Bertola 40p

Results
Notice Board  
Event website

Photogalleries by © IM24CA / ZGN

Schedule of Event:
September 4-6 – Registration and Measurement
September 6 – Practice Race and Opening Ceremonies
September 7 - 11 – Racing at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021
September 11– Prize Giving and Closing Ceremonies

#Melges24Europeans #Melges24

The photos and daily video highlights will be brought to you by Zerogradinord

More information about the event is available at www.melges24.com/Europeans2021 and melges24.ycmp.eu/venue

More information about the Melges 24 European Championship 2021:
Branko Parunov
Cesta solinarjev 8
6320 Portoroz, Slovenia
Tel +386 51 301053

For further information on the Melges 24 events or class specific information please contact:
Piret Salmistu 
2021 Melges 24 European Championship Press Coordinator
International Melges 24 Class Association 
Administrator & Media Coordinator 
Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Skype: piret.salmistu