(MALCESINE, ITALY) – It was just twelve months ago that the first Audi Melges 20 sportboat fleet raced in Europe, yet tomorrow, an incredible 37 boats from a record six nations will square off for the first day of the inaugural Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup in Malcesine, Italy. “We’re so excited to see such a big fleet racing at the Gold Cup so early in the Class’s existence,” said Melges Performance Sailboats President Andy Burdick on his first trip to Lago di Garda. “Even more exciting for me is seeing how friendly everyone is, and the sense of camaraderie shared by everyone in the fleet, from the first-time Melges racer to fifteen-year veterans of sportboat racing.” Burdick, a multiple World and National Champion, won’t be racing in Malcesine, though the fleet certainly doesn’t lack talent; America’s Cup sailors like Matteo Ivaldi, Flavio Favini, and Andrea Felci will battle on the water along with Olympians like Chris Rast, Gabrio Zandona, and Nathan Wilmot.

One first-time Melges 20 racer is British-born Singapore resident Andy Bird, who traveled with his crew nearly 7,000 miles to join the action in Malcesine on his chartered Audi Melges 20. “We’re used to racing similar boats both in England and Singapore, but I’ve been itching to get into a Melges 20 for a while now, and it’s pretty hard to ignore the chance to race such a fun boat in one of the best sailing venues on Earth,” said Bird.

The Englishman isn’t exaggerating – Malcesine provides perhaps the most stunning backdrop in all of sailing – with 2,000-metre peaks towering over the race course, their sheer faces funneling the afternoon Ora breeze right past the historic castle city. “We are truly lucky to have a place like this for the biggest regatta in Audi Melges 20 history,” said Melges Europe President Federico Michetti, who will sail with Stefano di Properizio aboard Hulk along with Australian Olympic Gold Medalist Nathan Wilmot. “I’m just the liasion between the guy yelling in Italian behind me and the guy yelling in Italian in front of me,” Wilmot joked.

Points Crucial For Penultimate Stage Of Series
While bragging rights for the victor of the first Gold Cup are important, the big picture sees Benedetto Giallongo’s Value Team with a strong lead in the Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series, with the final stage in Rimini in 8 weeks. With Series second-place holder Calvi Network missing Malcesine due to other commitments, Giallongo will rely on strong tactics from Enrico “Chicco” Fonda to hold off Luca Domenici’s Notaro Team if he is to become a two-time champion of the Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series. “We have been working hard to get our boatspeed back since we broke our original mast earlier this year,” said Giallongo. “I’m confident that our team can continue to sail consistently well, but the best we can do is cross our fingers, work hard, and hope our decisions keep us at the front of the 2010 Audi series.”

Live Video, World-Class Photos, and Social Networks
Melges Europe welcomes On-The-Water Anarchy to Malcesine for the first time this week for their live streaming video coverage of the 2010 Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup. The US-based sailing broadcasters will film from the grounds of the Fraglia Vela Malcesine while multiple professional photographers contribute high quality photos during each day of racing and the shore team posts up-to-the-minute racing information. “The Audi Melges 20 Class continues to attract more and more attention, and for good reason,” said Burdick. “It’s a blast!”

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

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

View Photo Gallery – Meredith Block

Get All The Details…

Don’t forget about the 2009 Audi Melges 20 Demo Day happening on May 30. The general public is cordially invited to attend this ‘See It, Touch It, Feel It, Experience It For Yourself’ opportunity! Contact Melges Agent Seadon Wijsen at +1 (415) 713-5213 or, Joe WIlliams at +1 (206) 890-8869.

Everyone is cordially invited to come and check it out! This is the next generation of one design sportboats!

For further information contact Melges Agent Seadon Wijsen at +1 (415) 713-5213, or Joe Williams at +1 (206) 890-8869.

Tom and Karen Richardson take delivery of their beautiful brand new Audi Melges 20!

New Audi Melges 20’s are keeping Zenda warm these days as new boats are leaving our facility. Tom Richardson and his wife Karen drove up to Melges to pick up their new Audi Melges 20. Tom and Karen are from Tennessee, but plan to race and sail the boat all over, including Melbourne, Florida. The other boat all wrapped up is Eric Wynsma’s. Eric is from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is part of the Macatawa Bay Fleet — site of the 2009 Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship. Eric would be in the photo however he went to check out the epic iceboating conditions on Lake Geneva.

New boats out the door! One-Design Racing is up next!

Thank you Tom, Karen and Eric!

Hot Audi Melges 20 Zenda Deliveries

Check out these cool shots supplied by Melges CEO — Harry Melges:

LIVE from Chicago’s Navy Pier!

Visit Booth No. 230

Other boats on display include the brand new Melges MC Scow — fresh and hot off the assembly line in Zenda, the Melges 24 and Melges 32.

Don’t miss out on 10% off all North Sails orders while at the show. Offers are good until February 1!

Always open, 24-7, 365 days a year is Melges.com — shop online today!