Melges 32 World Championship, Lovell al comando ma B-Lin Sailing.com quarto
Melges 32Melges 32 World 2010Vela 23 Settembre 2010 Zerogradinord 0
Melges 32 World Championship – San Francisco – Concluso il primo giorno di regate valide per il Mondiale Melges 32 2010 e dalla baia di San Francisco spunta il nome di Rougarou, lo scafo di Andy Lovell e del tattico Johnny Lovell che lo scorso anno si è aggiudicato, nelle stesse acque, le Rolex Big Boat Series. A seguire il leader a tre punti di distanza sono i kiwi di Tirade (Goldwater-Wills) e gli uomini di Leenabarca (Jackson-Greenhalgh). Questi sono i componenti del podio provvisorio, definito dopo tre regate portate a termine in regime di brezza che è andata aumentando nel corso del pomeriggio.
Ai piedi del podio staziona invece B-Lin Sailing.com di Luca Lalli e del tattico Lorenzo Bressani. Sono stati loro, dopo una partenza difficoltosa, a vincere la terza manche davanti a Bliksem, il campione del mondo in carica che ieri, davanti ad Alcatraz, hanno regatato a fasi alterne, attestandosi attorno all’undicesima posizione.
Bene anche Doug Douglas e Russell Coutts, armatore e tattico di Goombay Smash, vincitore della seconda prova, sesti dietro a Hearthbraker di Robert Hughes e del tattico Torvar Mirsky, affermato talento del match race internazionale.
Le regate riprenderanno nel tardo pomeriggio italiano.
Classifica provvisoria
1. Rougarou, Lovell-Lovell, 2-4-3, pt. 9
2. Tirade, Goldwater-Wills, 1-3-8, pt. 12
3. Leenabarca, Jackson-Greenhalgh, 10-5-4, pt. 19
4. B-lin Sailing.com, Lalli-Bressani, 16-6-1, pt. 23
5. Heartbreaker, Hughes-Mirsky, 11-8-7, pt. 26
Per consultare la classifica generale clicca qui.
MELGES 32 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, LOVELL TAKES THE LEAD
[Melges 32 International Class Press Release] The first day of racing at the 2010 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club is complete, revealing Andy Lovell on Rougarou, alongside of his brother, tactician Johnny Lovell in the overall lead. In second place, from New Zealand is Stefan Goldwater with tactician Andrew Wills on Tirade and in third, is Alex Jackson and tactician Rob Greenhalgh on Leenabarca.
Although the top three are certainly more than worthy of winning, they were the least likely of candidates everyone thought would occupy the top three positions after a full day of racing. For Lovell, this is a homecoming of sorts as last year, about this same time, he won the 2009 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship that was held in conjunction with the Rolex Big Boat Series. He’s only competed once since. This is Goldwater’s third regatta after taking delivery of his brand new Melges 32 in Harbor Springs, Mich. last July. Alex Jackson just came of age this past May becoming the East Coast Champion in Rye, N.Y. All three are the very best of opponents and now share a 10 point spread as the top three, in a field of 32.
Three races were held under plentiful sunshine and building, perfect breeze-on conditions. First around the mark was Doug Douglas’ Goombay Smash with the efforts of tactician Russell Coutts, with Goldwater on his heels. “It was a lot of fun.” said a cool, calm and collected Goldwater. “I think we got lucky.” Regardless, luck wielded its way and played in Goldwater’s favor for an incredible first race win. Goldwater finished miles ahead of second place finisher Lovell. Comeback of the day goes to John Porter on Full Throttle. At the start of the race, Porter was OCS but worked it out beat-by-beat, played the fleet and the breezy conditions to take an incredible third place position. Yukihiro Ishida on Yasha Samurai was fourth and in fifth was North American Champion Don Jesberg on Viva.
Race two introduced more breeze, the waves grew larger and the intensity of racing increased as well. Coutts called the shots putting Goombay Smash in all the right places to win. Rod Jabin, with tactician Chris Larson on Ramrod, took to the right side of the course then played the center to keep up with Douglas’ speed, only to settle for second. It was his best effort of the day. Goldwater had another great race taking third.
The last and final race of the day was all about endurance. After two races at a distance of 2.0 nm, PRO John Craig ordered a five-legger as the breeze built to a pleasant 22-23 knots. Larger seas and square chop led the fleet into an initial first start resulting in a general recall. Craig clearly knows how to handle this fleet, immediately putting the Z-Flag penalty into effect. Italy’s Luca Lalli on B-lin Sailing battled the entire race to hold off both Lovell and Jackson for a win. “The red boat is really fast (referring to Rougarou). This was very difficult. Very good racing, but very difficult. The waves made the sailing very challenging. The strong breeze made for really fun downwind sailing.” said the young Lalli. “The competition here is really tough.” Reigning World Champion Pieter Taselaar on Bliksem finally found a groove to take second and Lovell was third.
At the end of the day, tactician Lovell commented. “We kind of felt things were pretty straight forward. We looked to the committee boat end almost ever time, tacked, then went right. We had good boat speed and really good boat handling downwind. We just tried to make as few mistakes as possible.”
Racing continues on Thursday with at least two more races.
TClassifica provvisoria
1. Rougarou, Lovell-Lovell, 2-4-3, pt. 9
2. Tirade, Goldwater-Wills, 1-3-8, pt. 12
3. Leenabarca, Jackson-Greenhalgh, 10-5-4, pt. 19
4. B-lin Sailing.com, Lalli-Bressani, 16-6-1, pt. 23
5. Heartbreaker, Hughes-Mirsky, 11-8-7, pt. 26
To read the provisional standing click here.
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