Official Audi Melges 20 Blog

First and foremost — it’s warm, despite the fact that most Miami natives refer to this as chilly. Most of the competitors, who are arriving by the minute for the Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Event No. 2 consider this quite nice. As the weekend progresses, it’s supposed to get warmer and warmer AND the fleet expects some pretty decent breeze. Check out the NOAA Forecast.

Excitement is stirring as Melges hit the docks early this morning, preparing and splashing boats in anticipation of a great practice afternoon.

Registration is slated for later this afternoon, then a skipper’s meeting, then THE BAR.

Everyone please take note of the new class rules that have been published. These rules are effective immediately and you should familiarize yourself with the changes that have occurred. There have been numerous changes throughout the document and while we encourage everyone to take the time to review the rules in their entirety, here is a list of the major changes.

• Mainsheet purchase has been amended to a minimum of 3:1 purchase. (C.9.6)

• Tapered sheets are now allowed for jib and main. (C.9.6)

• Optional design purchase systems to allow easier shroud car movement are allowed. (C.6.1)

• Helm rule wording has been updated. (Appendix 8.)

• Sail button royalty for all sails and installed by sailmakers. (G.2.4 & Appendix 3)

• Sail limitation marks wording updated. (I.2)

© JOY | IM20CA

Value Team will now become the second boat of the young and successful Piazzetta Italia Sailing Team. After the first year full of success with the Audi Melges 20, the Roman team will now compete in the 2010 Volvo Cup.

This new boat, introduced by Captain Giallongo, is not a one design keel, but a D-One. The D-One is a revolutionary product, created by Luca Devoti, which will participate in the Volvo Cup this year.

Captain Giallongo has told us with great enthusiasm, “This is not a step backwards, even if the boat is smaller than the Audi Melges 20, but a step forward in innovative sailing, expanding our horizons. We are a small team with a large scope, with our experience in the Laser 4000 and support of our club in Bracciano, Planet Sail.” Giallongo adds that he will not be at the helm of the boat, because he has already committed as a helmsman for the Audi Melges 20, but Stefano De Cata, his good friend and director of Sportivo del Team, will be the ideal candidate to quietly suprise the Volvo Cup.

“Our program may appear disjointed,” De Cata says, “but we have chosen the D-One because it follows our philosophy, just as the Audi Melges 20 does, to have a fun boat, that gives a new understanding of sailing. No one here is professional. We all take time away from our personal lives to race. It has been exactly one year that we have been working on this project. Just as we were beginning with the Audi Melges 20, we saw the first design and were immediately in love. The fact that the boat was designed by Morrison and Devoti was a guarantee to us.” De Cata continues, “Captain Giallongo sent me to test the boat last September in Castiglione della Pescaia and I immediately fell in love. For us the acquisition of the D-One is an intermediate step and is necessary for the evolution of the team. In the future, there will be many surprises and you’ll see our boats in various classes and maybe in the near future we will add a ‘big sister’ to our stable.”

As published by Bacardi Miami Sailing Week

LAST WEEK FOR REDUCED REGISTRATION FEE IS COMING UP!
Racers we are entering the last week before the reduced registration fee ends on February 7th! Take advantage now…. and continue to save by taking advantage of the special rates that BACARDI Miami Sailing Week has set up with hotels and car rentals…just click here and book today.

ANNOUNCING COLOR OF WIND ART EXHIBIT
BACARDI Miami Sailing Week is proud to host a new solo exhibition of Cory Silken’s yachting photography, Color of Wind. The exhibit will feature thirty-four of Silken’s most recent images. Renowned for his unmistakable, dynamic sepia-tone panoramas, Silken’s new images in Color of Wind presented by BACARDI are saturated with the brilliant colors of some of the most breathtaking ports of call; including Grenada, Newport, Palma de Mallorca, Porto Cervo, and St. Barth’s. Stretched five feet wide on “gallerie wrap” canvas, the scope of this exhibition invites the viewer to experience a taste of the high life, including exceptional locations and spectacular sails.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
To make things easy for you to plan your week of races and activities here at the BMSW, simply click here for a complete Event Schedule. This edition’s highlighted events are the Welcome Cocktail Events hosted by BACARDI, the opening of the Cory Silken’s exhibit, Color of Wind, the Mid-Week party and Awards Ceremony along with the weeklong regattas… mark your calendar so you will be sure not miss any of the activities!

SLAM GEAR AVAILABLE
BACARDI Miami Sailing Week and SLAM have teamed up to provide you with high tech and fashionable sail gear. Check out our store for hats and shirts, and if you want to outfit your team with personalized technical wear in time for the BACARDI Miami Sailing there is still time… just click on SLAM logo or call (305) 885-9580 … sailing professionals are standing by to help you!

SUPPORTERS OF BACARDI MIAMI SAILING WEEK
This week we want to recognize the Coconut Grove Sailing Club for their help in the upcoming BACARDI Miami Sailing Week regatta.

Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC) is the host for the Audi Melges 20 Class and the Melges 24 Class for BMSW with CGSC’s highly regarded Race Committee coordinated by Ron Rostorfer and directed by PRO Bruce Golison. Since it was established in 1946 CGSC served as a public access sailing facility for the community of Miami, FL and the Club has been a force in sailboat racing on the Bay ever since.

Sailing programs today offer diverse activities: Summer Sailing programs for Youth Sailing, Beginner level, Green Fleet and Red/White/Blue racing for youngest of sailors. CGSC also offers Learn to Sail for Adults, Keelboat training for Advanced Skippers and CGSC is the Host Club for the University of Miami’s Sailing Team. The Club is also involved in the Olympic Class Regatta, the Orange Bowl Regatta, among many international events, and many of the Club sailors compete internationally with great success!