I Melges 32 pronti per l’Acura Key West

[singlepic=1426,250,170,,left]Acura Key West – Key West – Si aprirà tra pochi giorni la stagione 2009 della classe Melges 32. Teatro dei primi duelli saranno le acque di Key West, dove, tra il 19 e il 25 gennaio, si disputerà l’Acura Key West.

Venti gli scafi iscritti, provenienti da sei nazioni. Già nel 2008 la flotta dei Melges 32 si era segnalata come una delle più nutrite, e con il numero toccato quest’anno il monotipo prodotto dalla Melges Performance Sailboat muove un altro passo deciso verso l’affermazione.

Tra gli iscritti ci sono tutti i dominatori della stagione scorsa: dal campione uscente Star di Jeff Ecklund (tattico Harry Melges) al vincitore della Gold Cup New Wave, lo scafo armato dal binomio Carroll-Kullman (tattico Scott Nixon). Tra i debuttanti, Geoff Pierini su Shakedown (tattico Charlie Ogletree), Alex Jackson su Leenabarca (tattico il campione del mondo Melges 24 Dave Ullman).

A rappresentare i colori italiani saranno Bitipi della coppia Formentini-Chieffi, Calvi di Alberini-Bodini entrambi già protagonisti della Gold Cup 2008.

INTERNATIONAL MELGES 32 CLASS RAMPS UP FOR ACURA KEY WEST 2009
[Melges 32 Press Release] The International Melges 32 Class is ready and raring to go in 2009 as it prepares for competition this upcoming week in beautiful Key West, Fla. for Premiere Racing’s famous Acura Key West, presented by Nautica. Twenty Melges 32s from six nations have signed up and confirmed spots on the starting line.

It is true. The Melges 32 is an over-achiever. In 2008, it was the third largest fleet in Key West. In 2009, it takes another step forward in its impressive four year history as the second largest in attendance.

Among the entrants are the usual suspects — International Melges 32 Class President, defending Key West Champion and reigning U.S. National Champion Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on USA-32 Star with Harry Melges calling tactics; 2008 Gold Cup Champions Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll (Clearwater, Fla.) on USA-131 New Wave with Quantum‘s Scott Nixon as tactician; Bob Hesse (Buffalo, N.Y.) on USA-153 Lake Effect with tactician Max Skelley; and John Taylor (Big Sky, MT) on USA-1315 Ninkasi with Anthony Kotoun calling tactics. All are Key West regulars and back for more fun winter-time racing.

Upholding the true soul of the Melges 32 Class is Jason Carroll (Larchmont, N.Y.) on USA-128 Argo and his team of John Baxter, Molly Baxter, Chad Corning, Brian Fox, Daniel Litchfield, Patrick Mauro and Ben Bardwell. They are the only complete and total Corinthian outfit in the Key West Melges 32 fleet this year.

The International contingency is equally outstanding with 2008 Melges 32 East Coast Champion Joe Woods (Torbay, UK) on GBR-700 Red with tactician Morgan Reeser; Peter Rogers (Lymington, UK) on GBR-121 Highlife with Robert Larke calling tactics; and lady helm Kate Mullin driving for John Sherlock (Port Credit, Canada) on CAN-134 Arkle employs the superior talents of tactician Richard Clarke. Italy is proudly represented by Carlo Alberini (Pesaro, Italy) on ITA-186 Calvi Network with tactician Lorenzo Bodoni.

Relatively new to the class is Geoff Pierini (Perth Amboy, N.J.) on USA-178 Shakedown with tactician Charlie Ogletree; and Alex Jackson (Newport, R.I.) on USA-666 Leenabarca with 2007 Melges 24 World Champion Dave Ullman calling the shots. Both teams competed for the first time at the Gold Cup Regatta in December 2008.

Completely new to the fleet is John Dane (Pass Christian, Miss.) on USA-196 War Canoe with fellow Olympian Johnny Lovell serving as tactician; and from La Rochelle, France is 2006 Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion Jean-Francois Cruette with Cedric Pouligny as tactician.

Star-studded and filled with potential, the International Melges 32 fleet looks forward an amazing Acura Key West 2009.

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