©2013 Stefano Gattini | BPSE
by Joy Dunigan
Congratulations to Achille Onorato, tactician Lorenzo Bressani and crew Stefano Ciampalini aboard
Mascalzone Latino Jr. as he has won the Porto Ercole edition of the 2013 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series. Onorato now leads the overall Series after two events by a slim margin also. Celebrating second overall is American Russell Lucas on Shimmer, and Rob Wilber's Cinghiale finished third.
Saturday was void of racing, but the twenty-nine Audi Melges 20 teams lived it up on Sunday squeezing in four races after an early 09.00 start. With a perfect 10-15 knots of breeze, Wilber was the first out of the gate with a big win in Race One. Claudio Dutto's Asante Sana took second, followed by a photo finish between Marco Zaoli on Shadow, Alessandro Rombelli's STIG and Guido Miani's Out of Reach placing third, fourth and fifth respectively.
©2013 Stefano Gattini | BPSE
Race Two saw Lucas up front early but lost his winning edge to Vincenzo Adessi on Raffichetta and Federico Albano's 3Menda. Adessi went on to take the win, followed by Rombelli in second and Lucas in third.
By the time Race Three rolled around, Rombelli was on an obvious upswing and in a heated duel with Albano. Rombelli eventually overtook for the official lead and win, Albano was second and Onorato improved his scoreline to take third place.
The final race of the day delivered more great turns, twists and plenty of fun downwind planing conditions. At this point, Rombelli appeared to have a solid grasp on the top position, but a disappointing thirteenth place finish forced him to settle for fourth overall. Miani was his next best rival, he too found it impossible to finish better than tenth. Once again, Onorato proved to be the team to beat with an impressive second place finish behind Mirko de Falco's Peccere, moving him into the overall lead position to win. Wilber finished strong in third.
©2013 Stefano Gattini | BPSE
As the season progresses, everyone is reminded to download the Audi Sailing Series App for free at Apple's App Store and Google Play. Download it today to receive reports in Italian, German and English, photos, videos and much, much more!
Now that Porto Ercole is complete at Circolo Nautico e della Vela dell'Argentario, the 2013 Audi Sailing Series season moves ahead to Portoferraio on 8-9 June and Torbole on 6-7 July. Fleet numbers will be on the rise as it pushes onward to Porto Rotondo on 29 August - September 1 for the first ever European Championship since the classes inception as an ISAF International Recognized Class. Many of the teams are looking forward to competing at the 2013 Audi Melges 20 World Championship taking place in Key Largo, FL at Ocean Reef Club on December 11-14.
©2013 Stefano Gattini | BPSE
TOP TEN RESULTS (After four races)
1.) Achille Onorato/Lorenzo Bressani, Mascalzone Latino, Jr.; 7-7-3-2 = 19
2.) Russell Lucas/Harry Melges III, Shimmer; 6-3-8-6 = 23
3.) Robert Wilber/Anthony Kotoun, Cinghiale; 1-16-4-3 = 24
4.) Alessandro Rombelli/Paul Goodison, STIG; 4-2-1-13/ZULU = 26
5.) Guido Miani/Gabriele Benussi, Out of Reach; 5-6-5-10 = 26
6.) Saverio Bifulco/Paolo Scutellaro, Noi di Notte; 10-9-9-5 = 33
7.) Claudio Dutto/Fabio Zeni, Asante Sana; 2-10-18-4 = 34
8.) Federico Albano/Giulio Desiderato, 3Menda; 16-4-2-18 = 40
9.) Marco Zaoli/Gabrio Zandona, Shadow; 3-13-17-7 = 40
10.) Francesco Farneti/Alberto Bolzan, ITA-157; 13-5-10-12 = 40
TOP FIVE SERIES RESULTS (After two events, ten races)
1.) Achille Onorato, Mascalzone Latino Jr. = 36 pts.
2.) Guido Miani, Out of Reach = 38 pts.
3.) Alessandro Rombelli, STIG = 55 pts.
4.) Federico Albano, 3Menda = 63 pts.
5.) Francesco Farneti, ITA-157 = 64 pts
