Fleet downwind. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Race start. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
by Joy Dunigan
It was an amazing first day of racing in Naples, Italy at the 2011 Audi Sailing Series. Twenty-two Melges 32s enjoyed a variety of conditions. A light, 5-6 knots of breeze got things started, and gradually built to a pleasant 10-15 knots, which enabled the fleet to squeeze in four great races.
Mascalzone Latino - lead at the end of day one. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Mascalzone Latino. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Paolo Masserdoti helming Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino and tactician Francesco Bruni currently leads, special thanks to a consistent performance score line of 4-5-5-5. In second overall is Mauro Mocchegiani aboard Rush Diletta with Matteo Ivaldi calling tactics. Reigning World Champion Luca Lalli helming B-Lin Sailing.com with faithful tactician Lorenzo Bressani is third.
Brontolo HH. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Brontolo HH. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
"It has been a very positive day" said Bruni. "Being able to keep all top five finishes is what helped us most. The Mediterranean fleet, as expected, is very competitive. I think that although we have sailed very little in this class, we've done well, but there is still much room for improvement. I honestly did not think that we would do this well. We had to call in Paolo at the last minute to replace Vincenzo, and he's never sailed a Melges 32 before."
B-Lin Sailing.com. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Lalli's B-Lin Sailing won the first race of the day, followed by Edoardo Pavesio on Fra Martina in second, and Filippo Pacinotti on Brontolo was third.
Mascalzone Latino. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Maserati. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
American John Kilroy on Samba Pa Ti, with Nathan Wilmot on tactics dominated races two and three. Mocchegiani pulled off a second place finish in race two, while Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica took second in race three. Respectively, Carlo Perrone’s Atlantica 19 and European Fleet President Carlo Alberini on Calvi Network enjoyed third place finishes in races two and three.
Audi Fratelli Giacomel. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Audi Fratelli Giacomel. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
The last of the race of the day went to Edoardo Lupi on Torpyone with Branko Brcin on tactics. Alessio Marinelli on Audi Fratelli Giacomel placed second, and Ferdinando Battistella on Cervo Y Sobrinos was third.
The fleet upwind. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
The fleet upwind. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Samba Pa Ti. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Be sure to check out the 2011 Audi Sailing Series YouTube Channel as interviews with Francesco Bruni, Matteo Ivaldi, Luca Lalli and Edoardo Lupi are all now online.
The fleet downwind. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
The fleet downwind. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Sunday’s racing is scheduled to begin at 1030.
TOP TEN RESULTS
1.) Paolo Masserdoti/Francesco Bruni, Mascalzone Latino; 4-5-5-5 = 19
2.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Matteo Ivaldi, Rush Diletta; 6-2-13-4 = 25
3.) Luca Lalli/Lorenzo Bressani, B-Lin Sailing.com; 1-8.5-6-10 = 25.5
4.) John Kilroy/Nathan Wilmot, Samba Pa Ti; 14-1-1-13 = 29
5.) Edoardo Pavesio/Andrea Felci, Fra Martina; 2-14-7-6 = 29
6.) Peter Rogers/Ruairidh Scott, Highlife; 7-6-4-18 = 35
7.) Kees Kaan/Bouwe Bekking, ROARK; 5-12.5-15-7 = 39.5
8.) Filippo Pacinotti/Daniele Cassinari, Brontolo HH; 3-19-8-12 = 42
9.) Carlo Alberini/Enrico Fonda, Calvi Network; 19-11.5-3-9 = 42.5
10.) Alessio Marinelli/Riccardo Simoneschi, Audi Fratelli Giacomel; 13-16-12-2 = 43
Samba Pa Ti. Image copyright BPSE/Guido Trombetta.
Compass with sail reflections. Image copyright BPSE/Carlo Borlenghi.
Melges 32
