Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021 - Peter Karrie’s Nefeli jumps to the top in Riva

July 24, 2021 - Riva del Garda, Italy - Second day of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021 second event, considered also Act 4 of the Italian Melges24Tour, presented normal Garda weather conditions with Ora wind shuffling the cards in top rankings. Eighteen teams from nine countries got three good races today at the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva together with Italian Melges 24 Class Association. German Peter Karrie’s team on Nefeli takes over the lead in overall ranking while Estonian Tõnu Tõniste’s Lenny is on top of the Corinthian division now, being third in overall.  

The conditions were much more like normal Garda Ora but not so strong as normal after some doubts that the wind would hold due to the predicted rain which did not happen in the North of the lake. In these conditions winning the race committee boat end is favoured, so those that managed these starts well, were in a good position. Ora was slow to come in but when it came in had reasonable pressure.

Peter Karrie's Nefeli GER 673 posted 3-1-4 and discarded nine points from yesterday's score jumping to the lead after seven races sailed by now. Paolo Brescia’s Melgina ITA693 had rather consistent score of 5-2-5 and after discarding of six points holds the second position in the overall ranking. Tõnu Tõniste’ team on Lenny EST790 had a strong start today taking a bullet from the first race and added second and third result to the total score, which after discarding ten points from yesterday completes the provisional overall podium and is on top of the Corinthian division. 

Arkanoe by Montura ITA809 of Sergio Caramel scored 4-8-3 and only one point separates them from the third position. With 6-5-6 today, Taki 4 ITA778 of Marco Zammarchi with Niccolo Bertola helming is keeping its fifth position being second best Corinthian team before the final racing day. Corinthian provisional podium is completed by Michael Tarabochia’s White Room GER677 with Luis Tarabochia at the helm, had much better series today posting second and fourth results and, as a cherry on the cake, grabbed the bullet from today’s last race. 

Nefeli’s owner and helmsman Peter Karrie said, that taking the lead after seven races makes the team really proud and happy. “We are really exhausted by the long day, but we will have a good recovery tonight so that we are well prepared for the two remaining races tomorrow and we hope to keep that position. The fleet is super competitive and this makes us even more proud than normal, since almost all the best teams are here. The Race Committee did a great job while waiting for the first start and we had super conditions at the end – really typical lake Garda conditions.” 

Corinthian division leader, Lenny’s helmsman Tõnu Tõniste confirmed also, that comparing with yesterday, today were typical Garda wind conditions with Ora building up in the afternoon. “In this situation you can take the right side and when you manage to start close to the RC boat end, you manage better. We did it well in the first race and that was crowned with a bullet on the finish line. In the second race we managed to start from the third line, but with some smart gybes we started to gain better positions and managed to recover from not so good start with a third result. Our pace was much steadier today and we hope to keep it also in the final races tomorrow.”

The racing will continue on Sunday, with a first warning signal scheduled for 11 am. 

Top 6 teams after 7 races, 1 discard:

1. NEFELI GER673 of Peter Karrie (9)-1-3-2-3-1-4 14 pts
2. MELGINA ITA693 of Paolo Brescia 1-2-(6)-4-5-2-5 19 pts
3. LENNY EST790 (C) of Tõnu Tõniste (10)-3-4-8-1-3-2 21 pts
4. ARKANOE BY MONTURA ITA809 of Sergio Caramèl 2-6-2-5-4-(8)-3 22 pts
5. TAKI 4 ITA778 (C) of Marco Zammarchi with Niccolò Bertola helming 3-4-1-(13)-6-5-6 25 pts
6. WHITE ROOM GER677 (C) of Michael Tarabochia with Luis Tarabochia helming 6-7-7-(10)-2-4-1 27pts 

Results after 7 races
Official Notice Board and results
Event website