Red, the winner. Image copyright Guido Trombetta - BPSE.
by Jill Campbell
Britain's Red, owned by Joe Woods and with Olympic champion Paul Goodison on tactics, took overall victory in the third leg of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series in Porto Cervo. The event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda from 16th to 19th June, saw the 19 competing teams complete 6 windward-leeward races over two days. Racing today, the final day of the event, was cancelled due to Mistral winds of over 35 knots battering the coast of north-eastern Sardinia. Second place overall went to Italy's Brontolo, owned by Filippo Pacinotti and John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti (USA) took third place with a five point delta from the leader.
Consistent performances over each of the three legs have left Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti, with Olympic Gold Medal winner Nathan Wilmot calling tactics, at the top of the overall classification for the series with the final leg due to be held in Malcesine in July. Brontolo has climbed from seventh to second place and Audi Fratelli Giacomel, owned by Alessio Marinelli, is in third.
"This was a great event," commented Red's owner Joe Woods, "we had a good first day with a first and a third and started yesterday with another victory in the first race. Unfortunately we then had a collision with Highlife and had to withdraw for the next two races. The International Jury granted us redress, however, and thanks to our consistency in the previous races we won this leg."
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's regatta calendar continues with the Settimana delle Bocche - Farr 40 European Circuit from 29th June to 2nd July.
Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series
