Official Audi Melges 20 Blog

© 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.”

Organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco

The all brand new Audi Melges 20 experienced yet another amazing milestone this past weekend. Nine super hot, very cool 20-ft sportboats by Melges took to the gorgeous waters where the 2009 Credit Suisse Primo Cup Regatta on February 7-8, hosted by Yacht Club de Monaco took place. Congratulations are in order for Benedetto Gialongo and his ITA-112 Value Team consisting of Giulio Desiderato, Enrico Fonda and Alessandro Saettone are the 2009 Melges 20 Primo Cup Champions!

Benedetto was one of the very first individuals to purchase an Audi Melges 20. “When I took delivery of my new boat, Giorgio Tortarolo and Federico Michetti were on hand overseeing every detail. They are all-around professionals, at your disposal with the objective of making sure that I was happy and would have fun.” said Gialongo prior to sailing the Primo Cup. Needless to say he was very excited to race in full fleet conditions. Two other pioneers of the Audi Melges 20 in Europe also competed at the Primo Cup — Nicolo Saidelli on ITA-99 Bloody Melges 20 and Riccardo Pontremoli on ITA-111 Trikia.

In second overall and another key pioneer of this very young fleet, Filippo Pacinotti and his ITA-105 Brontolo. Aboard this determined team was crew members Matteo Ivaldi calling tactics, Marco Laurino and Camilla Bert. In third was 2008 Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series Champion Claudio Recchi on ITA-93 Team 93 that included the talents of tactician Andrea Felci and Melges Europe’s Federico Michetti.

Of the nine teams in attendance, four of Water Tribe’s five (ITA-106-110) Audi Melges 20s competed. Water Tribe is a organization that operates a sailing school and specifically dedicates its efforts to strengthening crews match racing and team building skills. They’re intension is to included the Audi Melges 20 in their upcoming programs.
Forming the Water Tribe armada was Luca Bacci at the helm of ITA-109, notable Melges 32 owner Francesco Martino on ITA-110 Pilot Italia, Federico Albano on ITA-106 Belzebu and Alessandro Molla on ITA-108 Lucifero.

Teams enjoyed an interesting mix of conditions beginning with Saturday’s rain and light air. Three races were finally completed but with continued light wind and large waves. But, Sunday produced some amazing sailing conditions and two races with sun and decent breeze. The last race was amazing as the wind built to 15 mph allowing for some great planning opportunities.

FULL RESULTS
1.) Benedetto Gialongo, ITA-112 Value Team
2.) Filippo Pacinotti, ITA-105 Brontolo
3.) Claudio Recchi, ITA-93 Team 93
4.) Luca Bacci, ITA-109
5.) Francesco Martino, ITA-110 Pilot Italia
6.) Federico Albano, ITA-106 Belzebu
7.) Riccardo Pontremoli, ITA-111 Trikia
8.) Nicolo Saidelle, ITA-99 Bloody Melges 20
9.) Alessandro Molla, ITA-108 Lucifero

Now that the racing is history at the 2009 Primo Cup, hosted by Yacht Club de Monaco all that is left are these simply gorgeous photos of the beautiful Audi Melges 20 at its first official regatta!

Congratulations to all of the competitors that traveled and raced their brand new Audi Melges 20s!!!

©2009 Carlo Borlenghi

©2009 Carlo Borlenghi

©2009 Carlo Borlenghi

VIEW MORE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS FROM CARLO BORLENGHI

The 2009 Primo Cup is where the brand new Audi Melges 20 races for the first time as an official fleet — the perfect springboard for launching this highly anticipated sportboat. Nine teams were on the starting line, each and every one with it’s own set of goals and strategies on how to win the very first Melges 20 regatta, amongst them is 2008 Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series Champion Claudio Recchi on ‘Team 93′.

CHECK OUT THESE PHOTOS PRODUCED BY LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER CARLO BORLENGHI.

The 2009 Audi Melges 20 racing season is just days away! Hype up on some cool new photos of the 8 Audi Melges 20s that went sailing this past weekend with Melges Europe’s Federico Michetti as he conducted a Tune-Up Session this in Varazze!

Check it out!

VIEW PHOTOS

A special congratulations to the pioneers!

Water Tribe – a sailing school and company that organizes regattas and events take ownership of ITA 106 – 107 – 108 – 109 – 110!

Benedetto Giallongo
ITA 112

Giuseppe Pontremoli
ITA-111

Nicolo Saidelli
ITA-99

Europe is ramping up for the very first time that the Audi Melges 20 will sail as a fleet at the 2009 Primo Cup. Filippo Pacinotti’s Adesso Vela announced today that he and his Brontolo Sailing Squad are back sailing after a long, cold Italian winter.

Filippo states that even though he has been focused on sailing his Melges 32 in 2008, they are expected to be on the line with a brand new Audi Melges 20. Onboard with Filippo (helming) is Matteo Ivaldi calling tactics and Marco Laurino as tailer.

Rumor has it that 10 Audi Melges 20s will be racing at the event. Great fun is guaranteed. The Brontolo Sailing Squad is supported by Yacht Club Milano, AB Medica and Nautiservice. Special thanks to Melges Europe for making this happen.

Stay tuned to this blog and melges20.com for reports, also they will be available at Adesso Vela!