Melges 32 Gold Cup, dominio a stelle e strisce

[singlepic=1043,250,170,,left]Melges 32 Gold Cup – Ft. Lauderdale – Si è conclusa con lo svolgimento delle ultime due prove la Melges 32 Gold Cup, una manifestazione stupenda ed equilibrate che, dopo tre giorni di grande vela, esaltata dalle straordinarie condizioni meteo tipiche di Ft. Lauderdale, ha visto imporsi New Wave, rappresentante di una flotta statunitense agguerrita al punto da piazzare tre equipaggi sui tre gradini del podio.

Confermando quanto di buono fatto vedere nel corso delle tre prove di ieri, lo scafo di Marty Kullman e del tattico Mike Carroll, due veterani della classe, ha raccolto un quinto e un primo e ha chiuso la serie di otto regate con un vantaggio di sette punti sul ritrovato Q (Swartz-Brady), risalito dalla quarta posizione dopo aver guidato la prima classifica provvisoria, e su Samba Pa Ti, a bordo del quale era impegnato Terry Hutchinson.

E’ invece terminata ai piedi del podio la partecipazione di Calvi Network. Il Melges 32 di Carlo Alberini, terzo fino a questa mattina, ha pagato cara la mancanza di regolarità. Tre risultati oltre la decima posizione, infatti, hanno gravato sulle sorti del team italiano, comunque capace di ottimi spunti prestazionali.

Subito dietro Calvi Network si è piazzato Star, precipitato dal secondo al quinto posto a causa della squalifica rimediata nella sesta manche. Undicesima posizione per l’altro equipaggio italiano, impegnato a bordo di Bitipi (Formentini-Chieffi).

Melges 32 Gold Cup, classifica provvisoria
1 – New Wave (Marty Kullman, USA) 3-13-1-2-17-3-5-1, pt. 28
2 – Q (Jim Swartz, USA) 1-6-7-1-11-9-3-8, pt. 35
3 – Samba Pa Ti (John Kilroy, USA) 9-2-3-5-10-7-6-3, pt. 35
4 – Calvi Network (Carlo Alberini, ITA) 10-3-2-6-3-13,4,14, pt. 41
5 – Star (Jeff Ecklund, USA) 14-1-10-10-1-DSQ-1-5, pt. 42
Per consultare i risultati completi clicca qui.

MELGES 32 GOLD CUP 2008 GOES TO NEW WAVE
[Melges 32 Press Release] A massive congratulations is extended to Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll on USA-131 New Wave. From early class beginnings, Marty and Mike have always been at the forefront of Melges 32 sailing. Today, they captured yet another major championship title, that of 2008 Melges 32 Gold Cup Regatta Champions! On board, making up this almost completely amateur team is Judah Rubin, Jay Kuebel, Steve Liebel, Ron Hyatt, Alex Shaffer and calling tactics was Scott Nixon. Nixon is no stranger to success as he just came off a victorious Melges 24 North American Championship with Terry Hutchinson a month or so ago in Annapolis, Md.

The day consisted of two dynamic races in which International Melges 32 Class President and reigning 2008 U.S. National Champion Jeff Ecklund on USA-32 Star really nailed the first. Overcast skies greeted the fleet down on the dock and again, it had everyone worried that gloomy conditions would prevail. Instead sunshine, warmth and most importantly breeze arrived even if it was short lived. The first start was clean with the exception of the big shift within a minute of the gun, jamming the pin end. Joe Woods on GBR-700 Red took full advantage of room at the committee boat jetting out to the right. Peter Rogers GBR-121 Highlife went alongside, but the shifty conditions found John Kilroy USA-13131 Samba Pa Ti rounding the top mark in first, followed by Ecklund who had some serious speed. Gradually, Ecklund pulled away from the fleet, ever increasing his margin for the win. The battle for second was interesting between Stephen Pugh on USA-158 Taboo, Kilroy, Jim Swartz  on USA-007 Q and Kullman/Carroll. Kilroy slipped further back to settle for sixth, while Pugh went on to take second, Swartz finished in third. One of two Italian entries Carlo Alberini on ITA-186 Calvi Network took fourth while Kullman/Carroll were fifth.

Going into the last race of the day Kullman/Carroll and Swartz were dead even in the points. For Swartz, to win his first major Melges 32 championship title would be grand, but for the Kullman/Carroll team a victory would serve as a fixed reminder of just how strong a competitor the New Wave team really is, especially considering their last significant win was the 2008 Miami Grand Prix last March. A little after noon, the five leg race was conducted on comfortable seas and breeze pumping around 10-15 mph. From the start Kullman/Carroll punched the left side rounding the first windward mark in second behind Jason Carroll on USA-128 Argo in first. Ecklund was determined still rounding third. It was tough but Kullman/Carroll worked their way to the front to edge the lead from Carroll; Kilroy and Ecklund followed closely. It was tight no doubt as Carroll and Kullman/Carroll split the difference at the first leeward gate. From there, Kullman/Carroll gained ownership of a solid lead, while Swartz suffered some six to seven spots deeper in the fleet with his hopes of a win fading fast. Carroll, although regularly challenged by Kilroy and Ecklund managed to hang on considering that at the last leeward gate Kilroy did occupy the second position, if only for a moment. Back upwind, Carroll regained his positioning and took the second place spot while Kullman/Carroll cruised across the finish line. Kilroy landed third, in fourth was John Taylor on USA-1313 Ninkasi and in fifth was Ecklund.

Melges 32 Gold Cup, results after eight races, before protest
1 – New Wave (Marty Kullman, USA) 3-13-1-2-17-3-5-1, pt. 28
2 – Q (Jim Swartz, USA) 1-6-7-1-11-9-3-8, pt. 35
3 – Samba Pa Ti (John Kilroy, USA) 9-2-3-5-10-7-6-3, pt. 35
4 – Calvi Network (Carlo Alberini, ITA) 10-3-2-6-3-13,4,14, pt. 41
5 – Star (Jeff Ecklund, USA) 14-1-10-10-1-DSQ-1-5, pt. 42
To read full results click here.

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