Official Audi Melges 20 Blog

Rimini Co-Owners Hold On To Victory, Narrows Series Points Gap To Giallongo

July 25, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) – Despite an early 9:30 start, only one race would be possible on the final day of the inaugural Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup. With the overall victory in the balance, and tight grouping among numerous boats further down the standings, it would be an exciting one.

“Our plan was to take the right side of the first beat, but certainly not the way we did it!” said Reggini tactician Branko Brcin, referring to the 10-boat pileup at the final start that left Reggini at a standstill immediately after the start. “Fortunately, the right turned out to be the place to be,” said Brcin. Their epic recovery began with a near-perfect windward leg, and by the top mark, they passed most the fleet, rounding in 10th place.

Value Team helmsman Francesco Scarselli had a much better start, though tactician Chicco Fonda chose the left side of the first leg – a choice which would prove disastrous. “I thought there was something over there, and on the first leg, I was wrong,” he said. By the top mark, Value Team had fallen back to 17th position. “We kept it positive and had an incredible downwind run, and by the bottom, we’d caught Farneti,” said owner Benedetto Giallongo. Fonda wanted to cross behind Farneti and continue to the right side of the lake, though Scarselli instead chose to gybe close to Reggini, who took advantage of the situation and forced Value Team into a foul. “We had an unfortunate misunderstanding on our boat, and the resulting penalty turn meant that we had to once again come back from a big deficit,” said Fonda. In the end, despite a brilliant second beat Value Team didn’t have enough race course to catch and pass Farneti.

Principal Race Officer Fabio Barrasso sent the teams to shore after patiently waiting for the wind to stabilize, though it never would. Sailors filled the Fraglia Vela Malcesine restaurant, patiently waiting for an Ora wind that would arrive far later than usual, and too late for the event’s rules. “With a strong North-flowing current and a very weak and spotty wind from the North, I could not find a way to set a fair course, before the wind shut off,” said Barrasso, who hoisted the signal abandoning racing promptly at 1430 to the crowd’s cheers. The sailors then turned their attention on the winning crew, gently urging them into the chilly waters of Lake Garda in celebration. “We’re very happy for Francesco and Andrea,” said Giallongo as he watched the traditional dousing. “They worked very hard, they deserve their win, and we look forward to a rematch in Rimini.” After 23 races in the 2010 Audi Sailing Series, Giallongo leads Farneti/Musone by just 9 points going into the final event. “We’re going home, and we can’t wait to sail the last event there,” said Farneti. When asked whether the venue would provide an advantage for his team over Giallongo and Domenici, he said nothing – but he smiled.

A long delay to resolve a protest gave sailors time to haul and pack up their Audi Melges 20s and enjoy the hospitality of the FVM’s staff, and by 5 PM, the protest was decided against Luca Domenici and Team Notaro, who were disqualified from the final race for a mark rounding incident, dropping them one position to fourth place overall, and allowing Sei Tu 20 a chance to sneak into fifth place on countback, tied on points with America’s Michael Kiss. “Disappointed? No way!” said Kiss after being incorrectly awarded a trophy that he knew he’d just missed out on. “I bought a boat for Italy because I love everything about this place, even if it means I don’t take home any silverware.”

Sei Tu 20 tactician Flavio Favini seemed far more happy to have sailed with son Luca than he was with any trophy, as his high-profile racing career rarely allows such a treat. “I love sailing with my dad,” Luca said.

GRATITUDE ALL AROUND

The International Audi Melges 20 Class offers deep thanks to the Fraglia Vela Malcesine and all its volunteers and staff, Audi and all the event sponsors, and the international media for its attendance and strong interest. “We are gracious to have such good support from so many sources, but especially, our owners and crews,” said International Class Vice Chairman (Europe) Giallongo. “We also invite everyone to visit the Melges Europe Facebook Page to see the hundreds of photos posted there, and we encourage all our sailors and their friends to tag the pictures so everyone can see them.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Three more impeccable events are forthcoming for the Audi Melges 20 – 2010 U.S. Nationals Championship (August 27-29 in Macatawa, Mich.), the final Audi Sailing Series Circuit event in Rimini (September 11-12). The fleet will also participate at Oktoberfest on September 24-26 on Lake Starnberg, Germany.

Top Ten Results (After 8 Races)
1.) Francesco Farneti, Reggini Sailing Team; 3-2-1-4-8-[11]-2-4 = 24
2.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 1-1-[8]-2-1-8-8-7 = 28
3.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 10-4-2-9-7-2-5-8 = 37
4.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 5-8-4-1-16-4-4-[DSQ] = 42
5.) Marco Morina, Sei Tu 20; 2-6-[12]-10-3-1-10-9 = 48
6.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; 6-[23]-DNF-3-2-9-3-2 = 48
7.) Federico Strocchi, Cheyenne; 8-[16]-9-7-6-13-7-1 = 51
8.) Stefano di Properizio, HULK; 4-3-14-6-12-[15]-9-3 = 51
9.) Fausto Rubbini, Thule; 13-5-3-19-[23]-6-6-6 = 58
10.) Ivan Venturi/Luca Modena, Luca; 14-10-[17]-17-13-3-1-(DNC) = 75

Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block
View Photo Gallery – Andy Burdick
View Photo Gallery – Renato Tebaldi
View Photo Gallery – Fabrizio Prandini
View Photo Gallery – Carlo Borlenghi

2010 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series Results (After 4 Events)
1.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 77 pts.
2.) Francesco Farnetti, Reggini Sailing Team; 86 pts.
3.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 100 pts.
4.) Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 71 pts.
5.) Stefano di Properzio, HULK; 121 pts.

July 25, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) – Reggini Sailing Team di Francesco Farneti con lo sloveno Branko Brcin alla tattica si laurea campione dell’Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup 2010.

Il successo per Reggini Sailing Team arriva dopo una sofferta e rocambolesca ottava prova (l’unica disputata quest’oggi) iniziata nel peggiore dei modi per Francesco Farneti, dopo tre tentativi di partenza andati a vuoto, a causa dell’inevitabile nervosismo della flotta nella giornata conclusiva di questa tirata sfida mondiale.

Quattro i team che si giocano il titolo e tra questi Reggini Sailing Team, ossia il leader provvisorio, che combina un disastro in partenza inchiodato nel traffico di tutti coloro che scelgono di partire in barca giuria.

Value Team opta per una partenza totalmente libero a centro linea per portarsi a sinistra mentre tutti i propri avversari si spingono con determinazione verso il lato destro sottocosta.

Al passaggio alla boa di bolina (doppiata per primo da Cheyenne di Federico Strocchi con Gabrio Zandona che si aggiudichera la prova), Notaro Team di Luca Domenici (con Roberto Benamati) il terzo della classifica generale fino a quel momento sfila davanti ai diretti avversari per il titolo. Reggini Sailing Team risorge clamorosamente dopo una sola bolina grazie ad una velocita superiore rispetto a tutti, seguito da Turnover timonato da Marco Perazzo (affiancato da Daniele Cassinari) e con Value Team (tattico Enrico Fonda), unico a sbucare da centro lago, relegato pesantemente nelle retrovie.

Il rientro di Value Team proveniente solitario da centro lago nel lato di poppa ha dell’incredibile tanto che in prossimita del cancello si assiste ad un incrocio fino a pochi minuti prima inimmaginabile tra Reggini Sailing Team e l’equipaggio di Benedetto Giallongo. In questo istante si gioca il titolo di migliore al mondo nella flotta Audi Melges 20.

Value Team non accetta di sfilare a poppa dell’avversario optando per una strambata sulle sue vele. Reggini Sailing Team sembra subire il fatidico sorpasso che avrebbe potuto chiudere i giochi a favore dell’equipaggio di Benedetto Giallongo. Branko Bricin fiuta pero la giusta mossa tattica ossia portare la propria imbarcazione ad orzare da sottovento verso Value Team che, troppo vicino all’avversario, cade nella trappola non riuscendo a rispondere e subendo inevitabilmente il contatto: penalita per Value Team che sembra dire addio al titolo.

La partita pero non e ancora chiusa e pare riaprirsi allo stesso modo nella seconda discesa verso il traguardo; ancora una volta Reggini Sailing Team cerca la maggior pressione verso terra mentre Value Team, che puo e deve rischiare tutto, si spinge solitario ancora a centro lago. Value Team sembra ancora una volta potersi riportare sotto ma il vento in calo favorisce la difesa di Reggini Sailing Team. Sul traguardo Francesco Farneti e quinto ma soprattutto e davanti al diretto avversario (ottavo). Notaro Team chiude quarto, risultato che lo porterebbe sul terzo gradino del podio che tuttavia deve cedere a Turnover a seguito di una protesta inoltrata ai propri danni e vinta da 3Menda di Federico Albano.

Sei Tu 20 di Marco Morina con Flavio Favini al fianco completa il quintetto dei migliori al mondo della flotta Audi Melges 20.

Classifica generale finale Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup 2010 dopo 8 prove ed uno scarto:

1. REGGINI SAILING TEAM (Farneti / Brcin) 3,2,1,4,8,(11),2,4: pt. 24
2. VALUE TEAM (Giallongo / Fonda) 1,1,(8),2,1,8,8,7: pt. 28
3. TURNOVER (Perazzo / D.Cassinari) 5,8,4,1,(16),4,4,8: pt. 37
4. NOTARO TEAM (Domenici / Benamati) 5,8,4,1,15,4,4,(dsq): pt. 41
5. SEI TU 20 (Morina / Favini) 9,6,(12),10,3,1,10,9: pt. 48
6. BACIO (Kiss / Rast) 6,23,(dnf),3,2,9,3,2: pt. 48
7. CHEYENNE (Strocchi / Zandonà) 8,(16),9,7,6,13,7,1: pt. 51
8. HULK (Di Properzio / N.Wilmot) 4,3,14,6,12,(15),9,3: pt. 51
9. THULE (Rubbini / Ivaldi) 13,5,3,19,(23),6,6,6: pt. 58
10. LUCA (Venturini / Meoni) 14,10,17,17,13,3,1,(dnc): pt. 75

Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

Just One Point Separates Leaders After Cold Breeze Blasts Fleet

July 24, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) – The storms that forced a race’s abandonment yesterday and nearly ended the raging One Sails dance party last night left an unexpected gift on the mountains to the North of Lake Garda this morning – 6 cm of snow! Cold conditions in the highlands typically create the Northerly thermal breeze known as the Pelear wind each summer morning, but the surprise conditions supplied an extra strong Pelear for the entire day on Saturday, holding the racers ashore for nearly two hours and preventing the normally reliable Southerly Ora wind from appearing. “This cold wind is too much for Class Rules – we’ve seen more than 25 knots for a while now,” said PRO Fabio Barrasso during the long delay, frustrated with the potential of more lost racing. But as the sun warmed the mountains, wind speeds decreased just enough to guarantee adrenaline-filled rides, and Barrasso sent the fleet out to play in 20 knots of wind.

Benedetto Giallongo’s Value Team drew first blood, winning the first race from wire to wire and taking over the regatta lead, after Francesco Farneti’s Reggini barely finished in the top ten. Giallongo’s team would struggle for the rest of the day, though Farneti continued his troubles in Race 2, while 3rd place Notaro Team and fourth place Turnover were both on fire with the leaders in their sights. “We just could not find our speed,” said Value Team tactician Chicco Fonda. “Francesco [Scarselli, helm] flies in this big air, but boats were coming in and crossing us from the left, the right – everywhere.” Reggini finally found their legs in the final race, the windiest of the day, finishing second over the line and giving the team a slim one-point lead over Giallongo. Fonda was looking forward to the battle tomorrow. “We think we found our problem, but we can easily finish this regatta anywhere from first to fourth place,” he said. “We think we’ve found our problem, but we’ll find at 9:30 if that’s the case.”

A replacement driver and tactician aboard Luca took the final bullet with a substitute crew and a helmsman who’d never driven a Melges 20 before, and Luca tactician Daniele ‘DeDe’ Deluca was as surprised as anyone. “Ivan Venturi and I jumped on board this morning to replace our friends when work called them away, but it was his first time on a Melges 20, so our expectations were not too high,” said Deluca. When asked if tomorrow would bring more top finishes for the team, Deluca was stoic. “We had a great time and these are very good sailors, but we had a lot of luck today. We’ll just have more fun tomorrow and see what happens.”

Starboat sailor Oleg Chtchetinine drove 8 hours through the heart of the Alps to have a look at the Melges 20 as he searches for his next boat for his home lake in Switzerland. “The boat is obviously a lot of fun and very fast, but what really stands out are the event organization and the support of the Class provided by Melges,” he said. “I think if the circuit continues along its path, we will see plenty of new fleets growing all over Europe over the next few years.”

The 2010 Audi Melges Gold Cup Champion will be crowned after an expected three final races, which will begin at 0930 CET on Sunday. Local experts expect typical Pelear morning and Ora afternoon conditions.

Top Ten Results (After 7 Races)
1.) Francesco Farneti, Reggini Sailing Team; 3-2-1-4-8-[11]-2 = 20
2.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 1-1-[8]-2-1-8-8 = 21
3.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 5-8-4-1-[16]-4-4 = 26
4.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 10-4-2-9-7-2-5 = 29
5.) Marco Morina, Sei Tu 20; 2-6-[12]-10-3-1-10 = 39
6.) Michael Kiss, Bacio; 6-[23]-DNF-3-2-9-3= 46
7.) Stefano di Properizio, HULK; 4-3-14-6-12-[15]-9 = 48
8.) Federico Strocchi, Cheyenne; 8-[16]-9-7-6-13-7 = 50
9.) Fausto Rubbini, Thule; 13-5-3-19-[23]-6-6 = 52
10.) Luca Modena, Luca; 14-10-[17]-17-13-3-1 = 58

Luglio 24, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) – Succede di tutto nella tre prove della penultima giornata dell’Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup che si concluderà domani a Malcesine ma Reggini Sailing Team resta al comando dopo aver ceduto e riconquistato il primato in poche ore.

I migliori sono sempre davanti ma nessuno di loro riesce ad essere perfetto ed ognuno può in qualche modo recriminare con sé stesso per qualche punto di troppo lasciato per strada. Una situazione che si genera per la voglia di attaccare in ogni circostanza da parte dei pretendenti al titolo di migliore al mondo, che hanno scelto di giocare totalmente a viso aperto sentendo che il traguardo è sempre più vicino.

La prima delle tre prove odierne corse tutte con Pelèr a 16 /18 nodi di intensità porta con sé subito una notizia: Value Team stampa sul campo di regata un primo posto perenterio, mentre Reggini Sailing Team rovina tutto con un’entrata sbagliata mure a sinistra alla prima boa di bolina e conseguente penalità che sembra eliminarlo provvisoriamente dalla lotta; Francesco Farneti istigato dal proprio tattico Branko Brcin rientra di cattiveria nel gruppo chiudendo con un ottavo posto che, se pur deludente per l’ex leader, a fine giornata varrà oro. Notaro Team di Luca Domenici non va oltre il sedicecimo posto (risultato che scarta come peggiore della propria serie) mentre Turnover con Marco Perazzo al timone chiude settimo.

Nella seconda prova ad incappare in un errore simile a quello di Reggini Sailing Team è Notaro Team che riesce però a limitare i danni perdendo solo due avversari e chiudendo con un ottimo quarto posto. Turnover torna a graffiare con un secondo posto sinonimo di successo solo sfiorato per opera di un eccellente Sei Tu 20 di Marco Morina che, grazie alle scelte tattiche di Flavio Favini, si aggiudica la prova blindando per ora il quinto posto della graduatoria generale. Reggini Sailing Team è undicesimo e vede ancora davanti a sé Value Team che prova così a consolidare ulteriormente il primato ai danni del diretto avversario che sembra tramortito.

La terza ed ultima prova vede il successo di Luca Modena ma l’attenzione è ancora per quello che succede tra gli uomini di classifica: Reggini Sailing Team decide che non è più tempo di sprecare ed incassa di rabbia e classe un pesantissimo secondo posto. Notaro Team è quarto (di una posizione davanti a Turnover) ma la notizia è che Value Team è solo ottavo il che significa restituire la leadership a Reggini Sailing Team pur se per un piccolissimo punto.

Domani nella giornata finale il successo finale si giocherà allo sprint con quattro team che sembrano aver riservato a sé stessi ogni discussione per la vittoria ed i restanti posti del podio:

Classifica generale provvisoria Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup 2010 dopo 7 prove (con uno scarto):

1- REGGINI SAILING TEAM (Farneti/Brcin) 3,2,1,4,8,(11),2: pt. 20
2- VALUE TEAM (Giallongo/Fonda) 1,1,(8),2,1,8,8: pt. 21
3- NOTARO TEAM (Domenici/Benamati) 5,8,4,1,(16),4,4: pt. 26
4- TURNOVER (Perazzo/D.Cassinari) (10),4,2,9,7,2,5: pt. 29
5- SEI TU 20 (Morina/Favini) 9,6,(12),10,3,1,10: pt. 39
6- BACIO (Kiss/Rast) 6,23,(dnf),3,2,9,3: pt. 46
7- HULK (Di Properzio/N.Wilmot) 4,3,14,6,12,(15),9: pt. 48
8- CHEYENNE (Strocchi/Zandonà) 8,(16),9,7,6,13,7: pt. 50
9- THULE (Rubbini/Ivaldi) 13,5,3,19,(23),6,6: pt. 52
10- LUCA (Modena/Meoni) 14,10,(17),17,13,3,1: pt. 58

Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

View Photo Gallery – Carlo Borlenghi
View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block
View Photo Gallery – Andy Burdick
View Photo Gallery – Renato Tebaldi
View Photo Gallery – Fabrizio Prandini

1.) Francesco Farneti
2.) Benedetto Giallongo
3.) Luca Domenici
4.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero
5.) Marco Morina
6.) Michael Kiss
7.) Stefano di Properizio
8.) Federico Strocchi
9.) Fausto Rubbini
10.) Luca Modena
View Full Results

Sole Completed Race Tightens Battle For First Before Squall

July 23, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) – Halfway through a typically perfect day at the 2010 Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup, a line of thunderstorms raced up the valley, forcing abandonment of all racing in the middle of the second race of the day.

"We shortened the course for Race 5 when the storm got close, but it came too quickly to safely allow the race to continue," said PRO Fabio Barrasso. "We knew there would be trouble today when we saw the forecast, and while it would have been great to have two full races, safety is always our first concern."

The single race saw second-place Benedetto Giallongo’s Value Team cut Reggini’s lead over them in half, to just two points, while Luca Domenici’s Notaro Team came away with a win, also closing the gap to Reggini. Regatta leading tactician Branko Brcin was stoic about their lead. "It’s not far back to second place, and there’s a lot of racing left to go," he said. "Value Team has the whole package; good sails, good crew, and good helmsman, so we will have to sail very well to beat them and the rest of the teams here in Malcesine."

An early finish to the day allowed the racers plenty of time to prepare an all-out dinner and dance party hosted by the Club and title sponsor Audi at the Fraglia Vela Malcesine. Audi representative Stefano Bareggi said, "We do our best to create a great atmosphere for the racers and their families, and we know they appreciate it, because so many new racers are becoming new Audi Melges 20 Owners!"

Racing will begin Saturday at 1130 CET, one hour earlier than scheduled, to ensure that the maximum number of races are completed for the 2010 Audi Melges Gold Cup.

Full video replays of all of Thursday’s racing can be viewed at the Melges Europe Facebook Page, along with extensive photo galleries from onsite photographer Meredith Block and video clips and interviews from today’s racing. Provisional results after four races:

Top Ten Results (After 4 Races)
1.) Francesco Farneti, Reggini Sailing Team; 3-2-1-4 = 10
2.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 1-1-8-2 = 12
3.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 5-8-4-1 = 18
4.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 10-4-2-9 = 25
5.) Stefano di Properizio, HULK; 4-3-14-6 = 27
6.) Marco Morina, Sei Tu 20; 2-6-12-10 = 37
7.) Claudio Recchi, Team 93; 11-7-11-8 = 37
8.) Lauro Bonora, Camay; 7-12-7-12 = 38
9.) Fausto Rubbini, Thule; 13-5-3-19 = 40
10.) Federico Strocchi, Cheyenne; 8-16-9-7 = 40

Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block
View Photo Gallery – Andy Burdick
View Photo Gallery – Renato Tebaldi
View Photo Gallery – Fabrizio Prandini
View Photo Gallery – Carlo Borlenghi

2010 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series Results (After 3 Events)
1.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 51 pts.
2.) Carlo Alberini, Calvi Network; 53 pts.
3.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 62 pts.
4.) Francesco Farnetti, Reggini Sailing Team; 63 pts.
5.) Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 71 pts.

Full race reports, interviews and photo galleries will be posted online each day after racing. Stay tuned to the Official Audi Melges 20 Web Site, the Official Audi Melges 20 Blog, Melges.com and Melgeseurope.com for all the latest details. You can also friend the Audi Melges 20 on Facebook, follow on Twitter and/or subscribe to the Official Audi Melges 20 You Tube Channel.

Malcesine, 23 luglio 2010 – Una sola prova disputata quest’oggi all’Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup a causa di una perturbazione che ha condizionato il resto della giornata portando all’annullamento della prova n.5. Reggini Sailing Team di Francesco Farneti continua a mantenere nelle proprie mani la leadership provvisoria.

La quarta prova del programma, corsa ancora con vento da sud, si presenta immediatamente come una sfida a due tra Value Team di Benedetto Giallongo e Notaro Team di Luca Domenici i più veloci ad accelerare dopo lo start: Enrico Fonda alla tattica per Value Team contro Roberto Benamati che gioca in casa.

Notaro Team, uno dei big di questa serrata Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup, sembra scrollarsi immediatamente di dosso i dubbi della prima giornata e con un bordeggio perfetto, chiudendo più volte la porta in faccia al team di Giallongo, si presenta per primo alla boa di bolina. Nella fuga verso il cancello di poppa Value Team aggancia una raffica che lo porta al sorpasso ai danni di Notaro Team che, tuttavia, non accusa il colpo rispondendo alla grande nella seconda risalita. Al secondo passaggio alla boa di bolina si ripresenta per primo Notaro Team con l’avversario ad una spanna. L’equipaggio di Giallongo ritenta nuovamente il sorpasso ma Luca Domenici chiude ogni varco e taglia per primo la linea d’arrivo.

Il problema per entrambi i team, che puntano senza mezzi termini alla vittoria finale, si chiama però Reggini Sailing Team, il leader che con Branko Brcin alla tattica incassa oggi il proprio peggiore risultato della serie ossia un quarto posto che fa capire a tutti lo standard ed i numeri su cui si deve regatare se si vuole pensare al titolo.

La classifica generale per i primi tre si accorcia, con Value Team che rosicchia due punti al leader ora distante solo due lunghezze. Luca Domenici è terzo ad otto punti dalla vetta mentre Turnover di Renato Vallivero (timonato da Marco Perazzo) vede il podio a sette lunghezze.

Classifica generale provvisoria Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup 2010 dopo 4 prove:

1. REGGINI SAILING TEAM (Farneti / Brcin) 3,2,1,4: pt. 10
2. VALUE TEAM (Giallongo / Fonda) 1,1,8,2: pt. 12
3. NOTARO TEAM (Domenici / Benamati) 5,8,4,1: pt. 18
4. TURNOVER (Perazzo / D.Cassinari) 10,4,2,9: pt. 25
5. HULK (Di Properzio / N.Wilmot) 4,3,14,6: pt. 27
6. SEI TU 20 (Morina / Favini) 9,6,12,10: pt. 37
7. TEAM 93 (Recchi / Bolzan) 11,7,11,8: pt. 37
8. CAMAY (Bonora / Fracassoli) 7,12,7,12: pt. 37
9. CHEYENNE (Strocchi / Zandonà) 8,16,9,7: pt. 40
10. THULE (Rubbini / Ivaldi) 8,16,9,7: pt. 40

Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block
View Photo Gallery – Andy Burdick
View Photo Gallery – Renato Tebaldi
View Photo Gallery – Fabrizio Prandini
View Photo Gallery – Carlo Borlenghi

July 22, 2010 (Malcesine, Italy) - The opening day of the inaugural Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup was the kind of day that makes visiting sailors relocate to Lake Garda.

A sunny, clear, and calm day greeted 37 teams from six countries during the skipper’s briefing this morning at the Fraglia Vela Malcesine. By the time Principal Race Officer Fabio Barrasso completed his comments and the sailors gorged themselves on a lavish lunch buffet, Garda’s reliable summer Ora wind filled the lake with a moderate 10-12 knot breeze.

“This is simply sailor paradise,” said Bacio team manager Toby Kiss from ashore, as husband Michael headed to the starting line. It took two more general recalls and the Z penalty flag to finally get the fleet started in earnest at the civilized hour of 1 PM. Barrasso explained that “we had two conflicting winds causing havoc with our course direction, but there’s only one way to start a race – the right way.”

The first two races saw Benedetto Giallongo’s Value Team serving notice to the fleet that they were the team to beat, with two first-place finishes in as many starts. “We had a great day, with [helmsman] Francesco [Scarselli] handling the boat great as we worked the eastern shore of the lake,” said tactician Enrico ‘Chicco’ Fonda. But Fonda’s choices would go bad on the third race, when a big right shift combined with winds over 18 knots pushed early leaders back to the middle of the pack. “We had great boatspeed all day, especially downwind, but this fleet will always punish getting on the wrong side of a shift,” Fonda said.

The biggest beneficiary of Fonda’s mistake was Francesco Farneti, with Slovenian sportboat tactical specialist Branko Brcin placing Reggini Team in consistently powerful position for a 3,2,1 scoreline and the overall lead after one day of racing. “We’ve been checking Farneti all year, and we knew that Reggini would be very strong here,” said Fonda, who leads Farneti in the Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series by just 12 points with the finale taking place on Farneti’s home waters in Rimini. “There’s no extra pressure because we’re going next to Rimini – we’ve been focused all year on Malcesine, and we’ll worry about the future after we’ve finished racing in this beautiful venue,” Fonda added.

The strong Garda winds left two teams with damaged bowsprits after the second race, though you wouldn’t know it by the smile on Midwestern U.S. sailor Michael Kiss’s face as he docked his boat. “Look around you – how can anyone be unhappy here?” Both teams are expected back on the water tomorrow, when racing will begin at 1230.

One special guest racer couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after reaching the dock, either. Photographer Meredith Block joined Luisa Bambozzi’s all-girl Troublemakers team on Thursday to add another set of hands for the expected afternoon breeze, and to get a rare perspective for her images. “I feel like I haven’t sailed in years, and what a fun way to get back on the course again!” said a fatigued Block after a hot and exciting day of action. “Racing is definitely a lot harder when you’re shooting pictures,” she joked.

Please check out the Melges Europe Facebook Page for links to all the exciting video, pictures, results, and reports from Malcesine.

Top Ten Results (After 3 Races)
1.) Francesco Farneti, Reggini Sailing Team; 3-2-1 = 6
2.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 1-1-8 = 10
3.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 10-4-2 = 16
4.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 5-8-4 = 17
5.) Stefano di Properizio, HULK; 4-3-14 = 21
6.) Fausto Rubbini, Thule; 13-5-3 = 21
7.) Lauro Bonora, Camay; 7-12-7 = 26
8.) Marco Morina, Sei Tu 20; 2-6-12 = 27
9.) Claudio Recchi, Team 93; 11-7-11 = 29
10.) Federico Strocchi, Cheyenne; 8-16-9 = 33
Full Results
Official Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Event Website
Full Entry List

View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block
View Photo Gallery – Andy Burdick
View Photo Gallery – Renato Tebaldi

2010 Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series Results (After 3 Events)
1.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 51 pts.
2.) Carlo Alberini, Calvi Network; 53 pts.
3.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 62 pts.
4.) Francesco Farnetti, Reggini Sailing Team; 63 pts.
5.) Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 71 pts.

Full race reports, interviews and photo galleries will be posted online each day after racing. Stay tuned to the Official Audi Melges 20 Web Site, the Official Audi Melges 20 Blog, Melges.com and Melgeseurope.com for all the latest details. You can also friend the Audi Melges 20 on Facebook, follow on Twitter and/or subscribe to the Official Audi Melges 20 You Tube Channel.

Malcesine, July 22, 2010 – Three of the ten races that will decide the very first Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup Champion have completed with Francesco Farneti’s Reggini Sailing Team in the lead over runner-up Benedetto Giallongo on Value Team.

In heavy seas, 37 teams (representing six nations) made the start for what is inevitably the largest attendance level on record in only its second Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series season.

All eyes were on the series leaders, and to no surprise, Farneti, with tactician Branko Brcin managed to make all the right moves, even against the toughest of competitors such as defending Audi Sailing Series Champion Giallongo. Immediately, Giallongo took double honors winning races one and two. Marco Morina’s Sei Tu 20 with Flavio Favini on tactics had a nice first race placing second behind Giallongo, however suffered the consequences of a Z-Flag penalty knocking him back to finish ninth. Farneti finished third.

With the breeze dropping off for the final heat of the day, Farneti sealed the deal on the lead with a bullet. Turnover helmsman Marco Perazzo, driving for Renato Vallivero and tactician Daniele Cassinari came in second, Fausto Rubbini on Thule was third. Giallongo slipped off the pace to finish eighth, putting him out of first place by four points.

The 2010 Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup is still young, but still very much anyone’s victory.

Top Ten Results (After 3 Races)
1.) Francesco Farneti, Reggini Sailing Team; 3-2-1 = 6
2.) Benedetto Giallongo, Value Team; 1-1-8 = 10
3.) Marco Perazzo/Renato Vallivero, Turnover; 10-4-2 = 16
4.) Luca Domenici, Notaro Team; 5-8-4 = 17
5.) Stefano di Properizio, HULK; 4-3-14 = 21
6.) Fausto Rubbini, Thule; 13-5-3 = 21
7.) Lauro Bonora, Camay; 7-12-7 = 26
8.) Marco Morina, Sei Tu 20; 2-6-12 = 27
9.) Claudio Recchi, Team 93; 11-7-11 = 29
10.) Federico Strocchi, Cheyenne; 8-16-9 = 33
Full Results

Francesco Farnetti on Reggini Sailing Team leads the charge in Malcesine! Benedetto Giallongo on Value Team is in second overall. Marco Perazzo at the helm for Renato Vallivero on Turnover is third!

View Full Provisional Results (After 3 Races)