TORBOLE FINAL

The four days long event in Torbole hasn't been just about sailing, of course. So on friday night, after the races, we had a Devoti Sailing party, with food and drinks for all. Devoti sailing was in Torbole offering technical assistance and spare parts. From now on, Roberto Beneamati will be delivering spare parts to alla the regattas and to the italian fleet through his shop in Malcesine, BestWind (www.Bestwind.com). And the Devoti's commitment to the Italian Melges24 class is growing, with Ezequiel Schargorodsky operating a country office. You can contact him at eze@devotisailing.cz.

Saturday morning the sun was not as clear as the previous day, but these did not in any way prevent the Ora breeze in coming in strong again. Three more races, the wind ranging between 15 and 25 knots. We may have cheered for Alina a little bit too much, during the upwind leg of the second race of the day, their beloved and long time winning mast has decided to dip its head intop the water. Their race was over. For a completely different reason, both dream team and AleAli decided sunday was leisure day for them, with no racing. Scoring 1-2-1 on saturday, Matteo Ivaldi had already won, while AleAli's 5-3-2 score of the day made second place assured for them as well. Altea, holding third place, will have to go in the water and defend her position on sunday. The starts have been incredibly competitive.with a black flag in the last race.

Saturday night we had pasta party, and free beer, after the Chivas cocktail, and early sleeping, since early morning sailing was scheduled on sunday. The fleet was ready at 8 a.m, but the wind was still sleeping, and we had to wait for the noon breeze once again.

With 9 races held, it has been a great event. "Sailing and wind conditions here are guaranteed", said Nicola Celon " and it has been great to see that both sides of the course had equal chances, with the fleet splitting in half after the start, and then joining back at the windward marks".

The results didn't change, at least in the first ten positions, after the sunday race, so its: 1 Dream Team, 2 AleAli, 3 Altea, 4 Devotissimo, 5 Liocorno Melsineo and 48 boats to follow. We had 19 Corinthian crews, the french Doctor Jigolo winning over EtaBeta and Runa. The winners take home a PZero Time watch, the others engraved silver plates, for the first 10 teams overall and to the winners of each race. Thanks to the sponsors Lavazza coffee and Dubarry shoes, two more prizes were awarded: to the ownerhelmsman, Andrea Reachelli on Altea, and to the team that did best at the first windward marks, Roberto Beneamati on Liocorno Melsineo.

Volvo Cup 2005 continues with the Italian championship in Sardinia. You are still on time to come enjoy the sun and the fun!
Pictures are available at www.jrtphoto.com, final standings on www.melges24.it