Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Strambapapà Holds the Lead as Croatian Teams Jump into the Provisional Podium at Melges Reunion in Riva

04.07.2026

Discard reshuffles the standings after six races while War Canoe celebrates America’s Independence Day with a race victory.

04 July 2026, Riva del Garda, Italy - Day Two of the Melges Reunion hosted by the Fraglia Vela Riva in cooperation with the Italian Melges 24 Class and the International Melges 24 Class Association, delivered another classic afternoon of Lake Garda racing as the famous Ora breeze once again built after midday, allowing three more races to be completed in the 2026 Italian Melges 24 National Championship - the second event of the Italian Trofeo Gaudi and the seventh event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.

Although the breeze arrived slightly later than on Friday, delaying the first start by twenty minutes, Principal Race Officer Gabriella Gabrielli and her race management team quickly made up the time. A steady 14–15-knot southerly provided another spectacular day of racing, with long planing runs downwind and tactical upwind battles framed by the dramatic cliffs surrounding the northern end of Lake Garda.

TOP GUN ITA840 by Benjamin Stilfried on the course framed by the cliffs surrounding the northern end of Lake Garda

IM24CA/Zerogradinord

Three different teams claimed race victories. Croatia’s Panjić, helmed by Luka Šangulin, won Race 4, while Michael Goldfarb’s War Canoe captured Race 5 in fitting fashion on the 250th anniversary of the United States, the birthplace of the iconic Melges 24. The final race of the day belonged to Paolo Brescia’s Melgina, whose victory strengthened the Italian team’s lead in the Corinthian division.

WAR CANOE USA841 by Michael Goldfarb captured Race 5 in fitting fashion on the 250th anniversary of the United States, the birthplace of the iconic Melges 24

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MELGINA ITA854 by Paolo Brescia - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

IM24CA/Zerogradinord

With the first discard now applied after six races, the overall standings underwent a dramatic reshuffle. Despite not winning a race on Saturday, Michele Paoletti’s Strambapapà remained firmly in control thanks to another remarkably consistent day (3-2-4), ending the afternoon with a comfortable 13-point net score.

STRAMBAPAPA ITA689 by Michele Paoletti - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

IM24CA/Zerogradinord

The biggest movers came from Croatia. Razjaren, helmed by Karlo Kuret for owner Łukasz Podniesiński, posted another consistently strong day (4-4-3) and, after discarding Friday’s 21st-place finish, climbed from ninth to second overall on 16 points. Fellow Croatian team Panjić also capitalised on the discard, scoring 1-3-8 to leap from seventh into third overall after dropping yesterday’s 13th-place finish.

RAZJAREN CRO867 helmed by Karlo Kuret - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

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PANJIC CRO803 by Luka Šangulin - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

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Just outside the podium, War Canoe celebrated Independence Day with scores of 5-1-13, finishing the day tied on 23 points with Panjić in fourth overall. Melgina rebounded from an early retirement to close the day with RET-9-1, remaining fifth overall while extending its lead in the Corinthian division. Former World and European Champions Altea by Andrea Racchelli scored 13-8-5 to slip from second overnight to sixth, but remain well within striking distance heading into Sunday’s final three races.

ALTEA ITA722 by Andrea Racchelli - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

IM24CA/Zerogradinord

The Corinthian division remains equally competitive. Paolo Brescia’s Melgina retained the lead despite an early retirement in Race 4, bouncing back with a 9-1 finish in the final two races to end the day fifth overall on 26 points. Hungary’s Chinook, helmed by Ákos Csoltó, holds second among the amateurs after posting 9-11-6, while Germany’s White Room, led by Michael Tarabochia and Luis Tarabochia, remains third following a consistent 15-6-10 day. With just 11 points separating the top three Corinthian teams and three races remaining, Sunday’s finale promises an exciting battle for the amateur title.

CHINOOK HUN850 by Akos Csolto - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

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WHITE ROOM GER677 by Michael Tarabochia - Melges 24 Italian National Championship 2026 - Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 - Fraglia Vela Riva, Riva del Garda, Italy

IM24CA/Zerogradinord

Sunday’s decisive final day will begin with the first warning signal scheduled for 1300 hours, with two races planned. By the afternoon, the fleet will know not only the 2026 Italian Melges 24 National Champion, but also the winner of the Melges Reunion, the seventh event of the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. With the discard now in play and several teams still firmly in contention, both the Overall and Corinthian titles remain open.

Top 10 after Day 2 (6 races)