[singlepic=1892,250,170,,left] Acura Miami Grand Prix – Miami – Tre prove, disputate con determinazione in condizioni meteo ottimali – vento tra i diciassette e i venti nodi – sono servite a Nerone di Massimo Mezzaroma (timoniere Antonio Sodo Migliori, tattico Vasco Vascotto) per prendere la vetta della classifica del 2009 Acura Miami Grand Prix. Il Farr 40 timonato da Antonio Sodo Migliori ha infatti chiuso la giornata in testa, con 2 primi e un secondo posto.
Piazzamenti che danno a Nerone 6 punti di margine su Barking Mad (Jim Richardson-Terry Hutchinson) e 7 su Joe Fly di Giovanni Maspero e Francesco Bruni. Più staccati i campioni del mondo di Mascalzone Latino (3-7-8), protagonisti di un avvio incerto ma ancora in corsa per il successo.
Approfittando dell’invidiabile stato di forma del team e delle ottime scelte tattiche di Vasco Vascotto, Nerone, ha dominato le prime due regate di giornata, concludendo con un vantaggio di 17″ nella prima prova e ben 1′ nella seconda. La seconda posizione nella terza ed ultima regata di giornata, dietro al solo Barking Mad, è la performance che ribadisce ancora una volta quanto il team di Mezzaroma si trovi a suo agio nelle acque di Miami.
Occorre però smorzare gli entusiasmi: la strada da fare per giungere alla conclusione di questa settimana è ancora molto lunga. Domani si svolgeranno altre tre regate, per un totale di dieci prove da disputare sino a domenica. Mantenere la concentrazione è quindi la parola d’ordine.
“Siamo partiti sempre bene e con questo vento navighiamo sempre tra i primi – commenta al rientro in banchina Vasco Vascotto , tattico di Nerone – siamo primi in classifica generale, ma questo non deve farci vivere sugli allori, ci sono regate difficili ed equipaggi di altissimo livello in questo circuito, la classifica è molto corta.”
Acura Miami Grand Prix Results, provisional after 3 races
Farr 40 (12 entries)
1 – Nerone (1-1-2) 4 pt.
2 – Barking Mad (6-3-1) 10 pt.
3 – Joe Fly (2-5-4) 11 pt.
Melges 32 (19 entries)
1 – Bliksem (1-1-1) 3 pt.
2 – Q, Jim Swartz (4-2-3avg) 9 pt.
3 – Samba Pa Ti (2-6-3) 11 pt.
IRC 1 (4 entries)
1 – Ran (1-1-1) 3 pt.
2 – Rio (2-2-3) 7 pt.
3 – Synergy (3-3-2) 8 pt.
IRC 2 (7 entries)
1 – Gold Digger (3-2-1) 6 pt.
2 – Ciao (1-3-2) 6 pt.
3 – Soozal (2-1-4) 7 pt.
A STELLAR START FOR THE ACURA MIAMI GRAND PRIX
[Acura Miami Grand Prix Press Release] The 2009 Acura Miami Grand Prix kicked off in perfect style. An international fleet of 42 boats from 7 countries and 14 states completed three races in outstanding conditions in the waters off South Beach.
Pieter Taselaar’s Melges 32 Bliksem and Niklas Zennstrom’s TP52 Ran each jumped out ahead in their respective classes, winning all three races. The Italian Farr 40 Nerone also has a solid 6 point lead after winning the first 2 races followed by a second.
“It was a really good day for us, with two firsts and a second, how can you do any better than that?” said skipper Massimo Mezzaroma. “We are very happy with the results. The crew worked really well downwind together.”
Sitting second behind Nerone is Barking Mad, skippered by former World Champion and last year’s Acura Grand Prix winner Jim Richardson of Newport, RI. Barking Mad is followed closely by Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly.
In the 19-boat Melges 32 class, Bliksem made a statement taking three bullets on this first day of racing.
“Our starts today were better than they normally are. At the gun we were sailing at full speed and we had more options.” said owner Pieter Taselaar.
In second place with 9 points is Jim Swartz’s Q (Edgartown, MA), followed closely by John Kilroy’s Samba Pa Ti (San Francisco, CA). Mike Carroll’s New Wave had an uncharacteristic off day and saw her 24 point lead for the Acura Grand Prix Championship Trophy shrink to a mere 7 points over Joe Woods’ Red who finished fourth for the day. The Grand Prix Trophy goes to the winner, based on lowest cumulative points, for the Melges 32 Gold Cup, Key West and Miami.
In a strong UK showing, IRC 1, comprised of 4 TP52’s, is led by Niklas Zennstrom’s Ran from Hamble, GBR with Charles Dunstone’s Rio of Cowes, GBR in second. The Russian entry Synergy, owned by Sergey Pichugin, is close behind, just one point out of second.
There is tight racing in IRC 2 as well. Jim Bishop’s J-44 Gold Digger out of Jamestown, RI and Philippe Paturel’s Archambault 40 Ciao of Halifax, Nova Scotia are tied for first with 6 points. Daniel Woolery’s King 40 Soozal lies in third, one point back.
Principal Race Officer Dave Brennan, coming off a successful stint as PRO for the Etchells Jaguar Series, and his highly-respected team of race officials, gave the competitors what they came for…a fantastic day of racing in ideal southern Florida conditions.
“What a great start to the week,” commented Event Director Peter Craig, “With the breeze at 15-20 knots, temperatures touching on 70 degrees and three exciting races, it was a great way to get the racing started off South Beach.”
Action in the four-day event continues on Friday with organizers planning to conduct two races. The 10-race series, being held on a course set just off the north end of Key Biscayne, concludes on Sunday.
Acura Miami Grand Prix Results, provisional after 3 races
Farr 40 (12 entries)
1 – Nerone (1-1-2) 4 pt.
2 – Barking Mad (6-3-1) 10 pt.
3 – Joe Fly (2-5-4) 11 pt.
Melges 32 (19 entries)
1 – Bliksem (1-1-1) 3 pt.
2 – Q, Jim Swartz (4-2-3avg) 9 pt.
3 – Samba Pa Ti (2-6-3) 11 pt.
IRC 1 (4 entries)
1 – Ran (1-1-1) 3 pt.
2 – Rio (2-2-3) 7 pt.
3 – Synergy (3-3-2) 8 pt.
IRC 2 (7 entries)
1 – Gold Digger (3-2-1) 6 pt.
2 – Ciao (1-3-2) 6 pt.
3 – Soozal (2-1-4) 7 pt.
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