Official Audi Melges 20 Blog

Melges Europe is currently on Lake Starnberg in Germany offering test sails to all who are interested in the Audi Melges 20! The full presentation will be held at the Bayerischer Yacht Club with the following clubs in attendance:
- Munchner Yacht Club
- Possenhofener Yacht Club
- Munchner Ruder – und Segel-verein
- Deutscher Touring Yacht Club

Demo sail line is getting longer. Motorboats will be bringing/rotating crews out on the water every 20-30 minutes.

Everyone is cordially invited!!! Please contact the Bayerischer Yacht Club, or Federico Michetti, or Luisa Bambozzi.

It won’t be long until the Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series kicks off! All those expected to participate are gently reminded that Thursday, April 16th is the deadline for turning in helmsman applications. Please fill it in completely and submit to the IAM20CA, or fax to +39 029 443 5079.

Be sure to also get your copy of the International Audi Melges 2o Class Rules

Beginning on Thursday, March 26, for three days, Audi will create a spectacular event in the heart of Milan. The mark of four rings, in fact, in the Piazza Duca d’Aosta, will be the three boats which compete in the most important international racing circuit. A large audience of fans will have the opportunity to approach the charming world of sailing and to touch these technological jems.

VIEW THE FULL ARTICLE

The Audi Melges 20 is a smash hit in Europe! Check out these very cool photos from the 2009 Big Blue Rome Boatshow! Special thanks to Melges Europe’s Luisa Bambozzi for sending out these really cool images!

The 2009 Big Blue Rome Boat Show Photo Gallery

The Audi Melges 20 At The 2009 Big Blue Rome Boatshow

The third edition of the Big Blue Rome Boat Show is underway right now in Rome, Italy and sitting front and center is the Melges 20 and Melges 24 one design sportboats, organized by the FIV (Italian Sailing Federation). Since the boatshow’s inception in 2007, hundreds of thousands of visitors have circulated the boatshow floor.

The Audi Melges 20 is a focal point of interest and is the ‘boat to see’ at in Rome. Please top by and see the Audi Melges 20 and the Melges 24 in person, as well as visit with the staff of Melges Europe. They are on hand and ready to show you the boats and answer your questions.

A very special thank you to the Benedetto Giallongo and his Audi Melges 20 Value Team, and Michele Vaccari for making their boats available to us to have at the show!

View The 2009 Big Blue Rome Boatshow Photo Gallery

Great Success Of Melges At The Budapest Boat Show

The 2009 Budapest Boat Show was the first boat show in Europe to host all three popular Melges sportboats on one stand. The new Audi Melges 20 was accompanied by the popular Melges 24 and Melges 32 exhibited by the Hungarian Melges Class Association with the support of Devoti Sailing and Melges Europe, distributors of Melges boats in Europe and X Sailing, the sole dealer of Melges boats in Hungary.

The 18th Budapest Boat Show took place at the HungExpo Exhibition Center 12-15 February. Over 18,000 visitors, 150 boats and yachts were on display. The big star of the motor boat category was the Ferretti Yachts, while Melges was recognized as the coolest and most modern sailboats in the world.

The Hungarian Melges 24 Class Association was formed in 2008 where there are currently 8 racing in Hungary. The first Melges 24 One Design Trophy will take place this year at Lake Balaton, consisting of five events over five weekends between April and September 2009. The first International Melges 24 regatta will take place in Balatonlelle 1-3 May.

The first Melges 32 will be introduced on Hungarian waters at the Blue Ribbon race in mid summer, where over 500 boats will sail around the lake to see who can complete it in the shortest period of time.

Kindly furnished by Adesso Vela’s Filippo Pacinotti –

Hi folks,

This is the best way to start the Audi Melges 20 blog. Trust me!

Ladies and gentleman please fasten your seatbelts and get ready to surf!

Melges Europe delivered the first Melges 20 just a few hours ago. The boat is ready has been finely tuned and organized by Federico Michetti in Varazze. Fourteen months later, Melges was right – it has been worth the wait!

Cut all the conversation about price, China, rumors and lobbying — let’s roll! Mr. Giorgio Tortarolo is the master of Melges boats and has been working really hard to double check every little thing to perfection. Mr. “Miscetti” is on the mast with intent of getting all the equipment and accessories just right. You can see the passion and attention in their faces and care of details. You immediately have the feeling that the people with whom you have been working with for a year on the phone are all-around professionals, at your disposal with the objective of making sure that the owner is happy and will have fun onboard the boat.

In short, everything is perfect. Celle Ligure does not seem even to be in a yard, walking over the boat barefoot, up the boat and into it. It’s always the usual questions and answers. They are all euphoric, Benedetto Giallongo is the first Audi Melges 20 owner in Italy!

Mr. Tortarollo did a wonderful job on the trailer for transporting the boat. Safe and secure, he paid special attention to the bulb area. To avoid stress on the mast, the Melges Europe staff realized that a fiberglass trailer saddle would be really useful and practical. In 25 minutes the boat was assembled, mast put in place with two people, and another 10 minutes to fit the sheets and tune the boat.

Only a few more hours before the Tune-Up meeting in Varazze takes place.

- Benedetto Giallongo, Audi Melges 20 ITA-112

P.S. A healthy bottle of champagne is standing by in Celle — we will really enjoy it!!!