Melges 32 Gold Cup, la prima leadership è di Jim Swartz
Melges 32MonotipiaVela 6 Dicembre 2008 Zerogradinord 0
[singlepic=1031,250,170,,left]Melges 32 Gold Cup – Ft. Lauderdale – Condizioni meteo perfette hanno consentito lo svolgimento delle prime tre prove della Melges 32 Gold Cup, apertasi oggi a Ft. Lauderdale. Quanto visto tra le boe ha sottolineato una volta ancora il grande equilibrio interno alla classe. Al termine della giornata inaugurale, infatti, i primi quattro sono radunati in tre punti.
A guidare la classifica è Q di Jim Swartz e del tattico Gavin Brady che, grazie a un primo, un sesto e un settimo, ha preso la testa della graduatoria a pari punti con Samba Pa Ti (9-2-3) di John Kilroy, coadiuvato da Terry Hutchinson, da molti considerato il favorito numero uno. A un solo punto dalle due imbarcazioni statunitensi staziona Calvi Network (10-3-2) di Carlo Alberini.
Nonostante una prima prova poco convincente, lo scafo dell’armatore pesarese e del tattico Gabriele Benussi si è prontamente riscattato, centrando due prestazioni di rilievo che lo hanno proiettato a ridosso dei primi. Calvi Network dovrà comunque guardarsi da New Wave, lontano solo due punti. Più staccato il quinto, Star, che dopo tre manche accusa un ritardo di ben undici lunghezze.
Apertura di Gold Cup da dimenticare per Bitipì di Savino Formentini e Tommaso Chieffi. Il secondo equipaggio italiano in gara non è mai entrato nei dieci ed è solo sedicesimo.
Melges 32 Gold Cup, classifica dopo tre regate
1 – Q (Jim Swartz, USA) 1-6-7, pt. 14
2 – Samba Pa Ti (John Kilroy, USA) 9-2-3, pt. 14
3 – Calvi Network (Carlo Alberini, ITA) 10-3-2, pt. 15
4 – New Wave (Marty Kullman, USA) 3-13-1, pt. 17
5 – Star (Jeff Ecklund, USA) 15-1-10, pt. 26
Per consultare i risultati completi clicca qui.
JIM SWARTZ TAKES THE LEAD AT MELGES 32 GOLD CUP
[Melges 32 Press Release] Jim Swartz on USA-007 Q, along side of tactician Gavin Brady and crew of Ben Beer, Jamie Gale, Tim Klein, Erik Doyle and Sarah Callahan played a great game of tack and jibe at the 2008 Melges 32 Gold Cup Regatta hosted by the Lauderdale Yacht Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to take the lead with 14 points.
His scoreline places him in the top spot on countback of John Kilroy’s USA-13131 Samba Pa Ti with America’s Cup sailor Terry Hutchinson calling tactics and crew of Eric Arndt, Eric Dorman, Justin Smart, Alan Nakanishi, Morgan Trubovich and Shana Phelan, also with 14 points. In third overall is Carlo Alberini on ITA-186 Calvi Network with one of Italy’s finest tacticians — Gabriele Benussi. Three great races were delivered.
Race one got underway on time with beautiful blue skies, light air conditions out of the east at 5-10 mph, warm temperatures, manageable seas and glorious Florida sunshine. This race was key for Swartz as it was his best result of the day. With a really nice jump off the starting line, he rounded the windward mark in first. Taking charge of second place was long-time class veteran Edward Tillinghast on USA-151 Dark n’Stormy. In third was another group of extraordinary sailors Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll on USA-131 New Wave. Once out front, Swartz stayed out front and gradually extended his lead to take the win. Kip Meadows on USA-77 Roxanne had a fantastic race taking second followed by Kullman/Carroll in third.
The second race of the day produced an aggressive start resulting in some great advances for several teams and set backs for others. Stephen Pugh on USA-158 Taboo and Savino Formentini on MON-1999 Bitipi were among those called over early. Alberini, Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on USA-32 Star and Kilroy in contrast had great starts. Storming the windward mark was Alberini, beating Ecklund to the punch, followed by Tillinghast. Downwind Alberini pulled ahead by a considerable margin, Ecklund desperately trying to catch up held on to second as they passed through the leeward gate. Back upwind the breeze remained light and shifty. Ecklund put into high gear taking the lead. Alberini fumbled the set making way for Kilroy to jump into second position. For the finish, reigning National Champion Eckund with Harry Melges on tactics appeared to be much happier with their second race performance with the win. Kilroy held on to second. Alberini settled for third.
For the final race of the day a course bearing of due east and breeze increasing ever so slightly, the first start resulted in a general recall. The second start was clean with Ecklund punching off the line as did Kullman/Carroll and Kilroy. At the top mark Kullman eventually got the best of Alberini following a heated race to the mark. Kilroy rounding in third. Kullman/Caroll had enough speed that they held on to the lead to take the win. Alberini and Kilroy were left to dual for second position and take the battle to the finish with Alberini ultimately getting the upper hand. It was ditto for fourth and fifth places. Woods and LYC’s John Taylor on USA-1315 Ninkasi vied for position at the finish line with Woods taking fourth. Taylor settled for fifth.
Melges 32 Gold Cup, ranking after three races
1 – Q (Jim Swartz, USA) 1-6-7, pt. 14
2 – Samba Pa Ti (John Kilroy, USA) 9-2-3, pt. 14
3 – Calvi Network (Carlo Alberini, ITA) 10-3-2, pt. 15
4 – New Wave (Marty Kullman, USA) 3-13-1, pt. 17
5 – Star (Jeff Ecklund, USA) 15-1-10, pt. 26
To read full results click here.
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