Melges24 WM 2009

Bericht vom Freitag, 31. Oktober 2009

Der Mond ist aufgegangen: ...und zwar der "Blu Moon"... - Crew des Tages war eindeuting die für die Schweiz startende "Blu Moon" von Franco Rossini, die am Freitag beide Läufe gewinnen konnte.

Es war wiederum sehr schwachwinding - an der Grenze des Segelbaren, hinzu kommt die starke Strömung auf der Chesapeake Bay, die das Segeln dort extrem schwierig macht.

In der Gesamtwertung festigt allerding Chris Larson seine Führung, der erneut 2 Topresultate gesegelt ist.

Im Amateurranking festigt der Führende seine Position ebenfalls - "unser Christoph" (Wieland) hat am Freitag keinen ganz so tollen Tag erwischt und ist in dieser Wertung auf den 4. Platz abgerutscht - allerdings punktgleich mit dem 3., aber schon 10 Punkte hinter dem Zweiten - ein Platz "auf dem Stockerl" ist also noch drin!

Zu den vollständigen Ergebnislsiten: L I N K

Es sind nun 9 der 12 ausgeschriebenen Läufe gesegelt - mehr wie 2 Rennen werden am Samstag wohl nicht drin sein.

Im Auge behalten, denn es bleibt spannend!!

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 32 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 47 points
3. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 52 points
4. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 58 points
5. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 65 points
6. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 66 points
7. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 75 points
8. Alan Field - WTF - 80 points
9. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 92 points
10. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 94 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 21 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 25 points
3. David Dabney = Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 35 points
4. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 35 points
5. Henry Filter - Wild Child - 39 points

Offizieller Bericht der IMCA:

Two Bullets For Favini But Larson Tightens Grip On
The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship


Annapolis, MD, USA - 30 October 2009 - After yet another light and fickle day on the water, the fifty-one boat international fleet competing at the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, now appear resigned to racing in sub seven knot breezes. With day five of the regatta seeing maximum pressure of no more than six knots, the Race Committee certainly had to have their wits about them to get two races off as soon as the opportunities presented themselves.

So far this regatta, 2001 Melges 24 World Champion Flavio Favini aboard the Swiss registered 'Blu Moon', had produced an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance, but today Favini spectacularly returned to more familiar form; winning both of the day's races in some style. Whilst still handicapped by a trio of double-digit scores earlier in the week, today's sparkling performance leapfrogs the 'Blu Moon' crew from up eleventh to seventh overall tonight.

Going into day five, overnight leader Chris Larson on 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes', held a tenuous six-point lead over Norway's Eivind Melleby on 'Full Metal Jacket'. Topping the leaderboard at a major regatta such as this one produces its own special kind of mental pressure, but the experienced Larson certainly showed no signs of stage fright in the first race of the day, turning in a confident performance to take second place behind Favini and extending his winning margin at that stage to sixteen points. With second placed Melleby faltering with a sixteenth, an eighth for Gabrio Zandona on 'Joe Fly' was good enough to move the Italian team back up to second overall but only with a four point margin over Melleby.

In the second race of the day Andrew Wills on 'Cracker Racing' held on to his first mark lead until the end of the second beat when he finally succumbed to sustained pressure from both Favini and Lorenzo Bressani on 'Uka Uka Racing'. On the final run Favini comfortably saw off Bressani's advances and ghosted across the finish line to take his second victory of the day by a margin of several boat lengths. After a difficult start to the regatta reigning World Champion Bressani now sits in third overall and mathematically at least still within striking distance of retaining the title he won last year in Porto Cervo.

Zandona and Larson finished in quick succession in seventh and eighth place respectively in the final race, so the American skipper takes a fifteen-point advantage over his Italian rival into the last day of the Championship. Terry Hutchinson's solid 5,3, scores today move him up to fourth overall, with a seven point gap back to 2006 Melges 24 World Champion Nico Celon in fifth.

The overall order in the Corinthian Division looks a little more established at the end of day five, with 'Monsoon' helm Bruce Ayres's pair of Corinthian bullets giving him a four point delta over Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on 'Gannet'. A four and a three for David Dabney on 'Conejo Racing - Ocean Sailing Academy' leaves him tied on points with Germany's Christof Wieland on 'Unsponsored'. Dabney is in third place by virtue of the count back with Wieland in fourth overall, four points ahead of Henry Filter on 'Wild Child'.

The fervent collective hope amongst everyone here in Annapolis is that tomorrow's much-heralded forecast of winds in the mid-teens comes to fruition for the final day of racing. With the Race Committee keen to try to complete their series by getting three races in before the 14.30 cut-off, the prospect of the World Title being decided in the last race of the regatta is a tantalisingly real one.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contact fiona.brown@melges24.com.

GT / 31.10.09

Melges24 WM 2009

Christoph Wieland (c) Foto: Pierrick Contin

Melges24 WM 2009

Bericht von Donnerstag, 29. Oktober 2009

Alles ist relativ... Der Leichtwind von Mittwoch wurde heute nochmal getoppt, leider in die negative Richtung - somit noch mal ein Rennen bei Superleichtwind (langsam gehen mir die Bezeichnungen aus).

Aber die Profis tragen es mit Fassung und geben Ihr Bestes - man muss es halt nehmen wie es kommt.

Viele Boote wurden per Funk als OCS genannt aber nicht alle haben das mitbekommen, so dass die heutige Ergebnisliste erstmals mehrere Boote mit Buchstaben zeigen wird.

Die beiden Spitzenboote haben es heute nicht ganz im Griff und landen auf den Plätzen 12 (USA 655) und 17 (ITA 777) - Chris Larson kann den 12er streichen, Joe Fly nimmt den 17er mit, da bereits ein 18. Platz zum Streichen ansteht.

Das war es dann für Donnerstag - nach dem 7. Rennen meldet sich der Wind komplett ab und die Flotte kann zurück zum City Dock und freut sich auf einen Cocktail.

Somit formiert sich das Spitzentrio neu und zwar wie folgt:

1. USA 655, Chris Larson - 22 Punkte
2. NOR 804, Eivind Melleby - 28 Punkte
3. ITA 777, Gabrio Zandona - 32 Punkte

Die Punktabstände wachsen....ganz im Gegensatz zu den Amateuren, dort rücken sich die Top 3 immer näher auf die Pelle.

"Unser" Christoph Wieland kann es von den Top 3 heute am Besten und belegt einen 3ten Platz währende die beiden vor Ihm liegenden nur auf dem 13. bzw. 5. Platz landen, somit sieht der Zwischenstand wie folgt aus:

1. USA 747, Bruce Ayres - 19 Punkte
2. USA 679, Othmar v. Blumencron - 21 Punkte
3. GER 635, Christoph Wieland - 21 Punkte

Hier ist noch alles drin und wir alle drücken die Daumen für die GER 635!!!

Die gesamte Liste findet Ihr hier => L I N K

Nachfolgend der offizielle Bericht der IMCA:

Larson Makes Sense Of Drifting Conditions To Regain The Lead At The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship

When the fleet left for the racecourse on day four of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, collective hopes of any racing were pretty low. The promising early morning breeze out on the Chesapeake frustratingly evaporated almost immediately the fleet reached the race area. Consequentially a long wait ensued while the Race Committee tried to track down some more. The delay lasted until just before midday, when Principal Race Officer Jeff Borland decided to try to get the fleet racing around a four-leg racetrack, in breezes which averaged no more than five knots.

The lack of breeze at the start resulted in a somewhat chaotic scene as the barely moving boats struggled to build enough speed to get away from the line, as well as almost twenty boats being called over at the gun. Down at the favoured pin end, a battle of wills between Chris Larson on 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes', Terry Hutchinson on 'Quantum Racing' and Argyle Campbell on 'Rock n Roll resulted in all three boats losing out. After appearing to get away to near perfect starts Hutchinson and Campbell were called OCS and had to make an agonising return to restart. Larson meanwhile had stayed safe but had been forced to tack on to port to avoid the pin boat, resulting in a huge slow bear away behind a pack of starboard tackers. A few boat lengths up the line Norway's Eivind Melleby had made a clean start with good speed and as the OCS boats peeled off in front of him he suddenly had a clean lane in which to lead the fleet out to the left hand side of the beat.

As the fleet made their way slowly up the first leg, the left phase breeze initially helped those on the left to secure their position as the leading pack. However a twenty-degree right shift at the top of the leg caught out those who had gone furthest left; including early leader Melleby, who had to settle for rounding the windward mark just inside the top ten. It was Lorenzo Bressani helming 'Uka Uka Racing' who made the most sense of the variable conditions to round the top mark already well ahead of the pack. Second around was local Corinthian helmsman Henry Filter on 'Wild Child', just ahead of Alan Field on 'WTF' and Neily Williamson on 'Millewa Milluna'. Second placed overall Larson had made a good recovery from his difficult start to round in tenth place whilst at this stage Championship leader Gabrio Zandona on 'Joe Fly' was still struggling up the beat in a high twenties position.

As the race progressed, the breeze if anything got a touch lighter. Bressani turned his lead at the front of the fleet into a virtual horizon job, while Filter made the most of his local experience to make his second place secure at the finish. Field also refused to relinquish his third place and ghosted home ahead of Tony Beale on 'Scotch Bonnet' in fourth and Nico Celon on 'Fantastica' in fifth. Melleby meanwhile had managed to pick off a few boats and chalked up a satisfying sixth place which moved him up to second place overall tonight. With Zandona only managing to claw his way back to seventeenth, Larson's eventual twelfth was good enough for him to regain the overall lead. With two more days of scheduled racing to go Zandona now sits in third place, just four points behind Melleby, who in turn is further six points off Larson. Bressani's win takes him up to fifth overall.

Henry Filter's win in the Corinthian Division saw him close the gap on the top three helms and he lies in fourth tonight. Despite only managing a Corinthian seventh today Bruce Ayres on 'Monsoon'continues to hold the overall lead, but only on count back from Othmar von Blumencron on 'Gannet' in second. With this pair tied on nineteen points, third placed Christof Wieland on 'Unsponsored' is poised just two points behind to capitalise on any slip-ups from the top two.

Tomorrow's forecast is rumoured to call for similar weather to today, however there is some hope on the horizon for the racers, in the form of a local prediction of big breeze on Saturday's final day of racing. Certainly, given the frustrating conditions they have experienced so far, the fifty-one international teams competing at this Championship would surely welcome an opportunity for some real Melges 24 high-speed adrenaline action.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contact fiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races
1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 22 points
2. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 28 points
3. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 32 points
4. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 44 points
5. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 49 points
6. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 50 points
7. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 55 points
8. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 56 points
9. Alan Field - WTF - 57 points
10. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 60 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races
1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 19 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 19 points
3. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 21 points
4. Henry Filter - Wild Child - 26 points
5. Zetzema Weitze - Gelikt - 26 points



Mehr News in Kürze.... / GT

Melges24 WM 2009

Bericht vom Mittwoch, 28.10.2009

Wieder Leichtwind vor Annapolis: Am 3. Wettfahrttag konnten wiederum 2 Läufe gesegelt werden - allerdings beginnt der Tag mit Startverschiebung und warten auf dem Wasser.
Dann gelingt es der Wettfahrtleitung 2 Läufe bei leichtem bis sehr leichtem Wind zu segeln - wer das Video des Zieleinlaufs der 5. Wettfahrt ansieht bekommt eine Vorstellung wie wenig Wind es hatte.
Der 6. Lauf geht dann etwas zügiger über die Bühne und eine durchlaufende Wolkenfront auf der 2ten Kreuz bringt Druck von rechts - unser guter Freund Carlo Vroon nutzt den massiven Rechtsdreher und verholt sich aus den "Dreißigeren" in die Top 10.
Christoph Wieland auf "Unsponsored" segelt in diesem Rennen konstant in der Spitze, immer zwischen 5 und 10 und hält seine Top10 Platzierung bis ins Ziel.
SOMIT UNSER TAG!!
Die Unspsonsored liegt nun auf Platz 3 der Corinthian Wertung - RESPEKT.
Im Gesamtresultat gibt es nach dem Streicher ebenfalls eine Veränderung und die "Joe Fly" übernimmt die Führung - die Top 3 liegen jedoch nur 7 Punkte auseinander...es bleibt spannend.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 15 points
2. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 16 points
3. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 22 points
4. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 38 points
5. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 41 points
6. Brian Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 42 points
7. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 43 points
8. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 43 points
9. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 44 points
10. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 50 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 12 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 13 points
3. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 17 points
4. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 20 points
5. Zetzema Weitze - Gelikt - 23 points

Offizieller Bericht der IMCA (mit mehr Details)

Italy's Gabrio Zandona Edges Chris Larson Into Second Place After A Light Airs Day Three At The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship

For the competitors arriving at the City Dock this morning on day three of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the chances of racing taking place seemed unlikely, with Annapolis shrouded in low cloud and no evidence of any wind whatsoever. Despite the gloomy outlook, Principal Race Officer Jeff Borland put all trust in his local knowledge and led the fleet out on to the race area. This forthright strategy was eventually rewarded, when after a prolonged delay, a fitful breeze finally developed and racing got underway. As a further bonus the quickly clearing skies soon bathed the competitors, race management fleet and the many spectator boats in some welcome warm sunshine. With winds peaking at no more than seven knots, by no stretch of the imagination could the racing today be described as high adrenaline, but nevertheless the conditions did produce some fascinating tactical battles at the front of the fleet.

Race one saw the three Championship leaders, Chris Larson on 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes', Gabrio Zandona on 'Joe Fly' and Bill Hardesty on 'Events Clothing/Atlantis', round the first windward mark in that order. Hot on their heels was first Corinthian helm Bruce Ayres on 'Monsoon'. Rather than follow leader Larson down the left hand side of the course, 'Joe Fly' tactician Daniele Cassinari opted for an early gybe on to port. As Larson and the rest of the leading pack went almost to the left hand layline, the Italian team on 'Joe Fly' made good progress closer to the middle of the course. When the boats converged at the leeward gate it was neck and neck between the first two; Larson coming in from the left having to handbrake his way round the port gate, whilst Zandona arriving with more pressure and speed from further right was able to make a smoother exit from the right buoy. Zandona immediately captialised on this slight edge and moved smootly into the lead up the second beat. As the leg progressed the breeze became increasingly unstable; dropping as low as four knots at times. Staying in the maximum pressure, Zandona rammed home his upwind advantage and rounded the second windward mark well ahead of Larson, who was now having to deal with a sustained challenge from Ayres. These three boats had pulled out a big gap on the rest of the pack and were well into the run before the fourth boat, Lorenzo Bressani on 'Uka Uka Racing' rounded the weather mark. There were no place changes amongst the top four on the one sided and somewhat processional final leg, with Zandona claiming his second race win of the series ahead of the ever consistent Larson in second, a clearly delighted Ayres in third and a relieved looking Bressani in fourth. Norwegian Eivind Melleby on 'Full Metal Jacket' continued his impressive form in this series, clocking up another top ten result in fifth.

Another delay then ensued whilst the Race Committee and competitors waited around hopefully for the wind to re-establish itself. When a seven to eight knot breeze finally filtered on to the racecourse, it took a general recall and an I-Flag deterrent to get the fleet underway for the five-leg final race of the day. After the wind flicked into left phase just before the start, Kristen Lane on 'Brick House' won a three way battle for the pin with 2006 World Champion Nico Celon at the helm of 'Fantastica' and US National Champion Brian Porter on 'Full Throttle', to lead the fleet away. The boats further back along the line were tightly packed and struggling to accelerate, giving Celon and Lane the opportunity to quickly tack on to port and set off into a little extra pressure. A drop in breeze to around five knots and a port hand shift as the leaders approached the windward mark for the first time, gave added advantage to the boats who had got furthest left. Celon led around the top mark in close proximity with Eivind Melleby on 'Full Metal Jacket' who had made a stunning comeback from what had looked like a poor situation immediately after the start. Kristen Lane went around third, with Rome Kirby on USA 620 fourth and Robby Wilkins on 'Vamoose' in fifth. Championship leader Chris Larson pulled off yet another top ten rounding in sixth place, all the time with a close eye on his series rival Zandona who rounded just outside the top ten. Down the first run Melleby and Celon were engaged in a fierce battle for the lead with the Norwegian eventually prevailing after he sneaked over the top of the Italian in the final boat lengths to the mark.

On the light air second beat new pressure developed quickly on the right. Zetzema Wietze on Dutch entry 'Gelickt' was the first to spot it and in a matter of minutes moved from the mid-teens up into fourth place. Zandona also did well out of the right hand side and slipped into sixth behind Peter Lane. At the top mark Melleby still led from Larson and Celon but with Lane and Zandona now very much back in contention. Down the run and final beat, whilst Melleby always looked calm and composed in first place, a real slugging match had developed between the next five boats for second place. At the finish as Melleby took a comfortable win, Celon edged out Larson into third with the rapidly charging Zandona slotting into fourth.

With the single discard for the twelve race series is now in play, Gabrio Zandona and the 'Joe Fly' crew have moved up to become the new Championship leaders, by just one point from Chris Larson on 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes'. Sixth race winner Eivind Melleby on 'Full Metal Jacket' eases into the final podium position at this stage with Bill Hardesty on 'Events Clothing/Atlantis' discarding a final race thirty-eighth to take fourth. Carlo Fracassoli on 'Gullisara' continues to impress and is in fifth place overall.

Today saw no let up in the scrap for the Corinthian Division World Title, with Bruce Ayres now leading by just one point from Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on 'Gannet' in second. A good day for Germany's Christof Wieland on 'Unsponsored' elevates him to third place overall tonight.

Melges24 WM 2009

Bericht vom Dienstag, 27.10.09
The Italian style is back: Kaum hat es Wind zeigen sich die Italiener wieder in der Spitze. Uka Uka legt einen tollen Tag hin, leidet aber noch unter den schlechten Resultaten des Montags.
Sobald der Streicher zum Tragen kommt wird das Gesamtergebnis nochmals kräftig durchgewürfelt werden. Gut für die Crews mit Ausrutscher - Schade für die Crews mit bis dahin konstanten Leistungen.
Die Windverhältnisse waren wohl ganz ordentlich - zum Ende des Tage wieder nachlassend. Außerdem war es nass (von oben).


Provisional Overall Top Ten:
1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 17 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 28 points
3. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 31 points
4. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 31 points
5. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 33 points
6. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 38 points
7. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 39 points
8. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 39 points
9. Alan Field - WTF - 40 points
10. Jame Lea - Team Barbarians - 49 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five:
1. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 11 points
2. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 11 points
3. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 13 points
4. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 16 points
5. August Hernandez - High Voltage - 24 points

komplette Ergebnislisten: L I N K

Originalbericht der IMCA:

Good Day For The Italians But Larson Extends His Lead At The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship

Despite the decidedly damp and cold conditions which prevailed on day two of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the quality of racing for the international fleet was nonetheless characteristically red hot. Overnight leader Chris Larson aboard 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes' turned in a solidly consistent 6,4, scoreline for the day, w.hich sees him extend his margin at the top of the leaderboard tonight to eleven points. Surprisingly perhaps Larson believed that the Annapolis conditions today had been more predictable than normal. 'The wind didn't really move about that much today, so much so in fact that in both races we were actually able to one-tack both first beats by simply hitting the left hand layline. This afternoon though the wind did begin to get a little spotty, with more pressure in some places than others.' Whilst obviously delighted to still be leading at this stage, Larson also recognised that there was still a long way to go in this Championship. 'We are four races in to a twelve race series and so far I've been successful with doing my job on the boat, which is to get us off the line cleanly. Richard Clarke has been doing a great job on tactics and the whole crew has been solid. I think if we can maintain this approach then we will be in good shape.'

Today also saw a return to more familiar form for two of the Melges 24 fleet's most well known teams, as Italians Lorenzo Bressani on 'Uka Uka Racing' and Gabrio Zandona on 'Joe Fly' respectively, each took a gun in today's two races. Bressani followed up his win in the first race with a second place in race two, after a prolonged battle with Zandona at the front of the fleet. 'Uka Uka Racing's' 1, 2 score today earned them boat of the day; an achievement made all the more impressive given that they were racing with a substitute crew, following a severe ankle injury to their regular bow-girl Francesca Prina. For the first time this regatta, they have broken into the top ten and now sit in seventh place overall. Trimmer Federico Michetti was full of praise for stand-in Meredith Adams, who he said had coped well with sailing with a foreign speaking team. 'To be honest I was very nervous about how things would go today as we have raced and trained for so long with Francesca. Meredith fitted in really well however and picked up our way of doing things very quickly.' Asked if he thought 'Uka Uka Racing' could still win this championship, Michetti glanced down at the results sheet and commented 'For sure we could. There are lots of teams in the top ten with poor scores. We definitely have no more room for mistakes and it will be very, very difficult. However, we like a good fight and of course will be trying to the very end.' Michetti has his own special incentive to keep striving for victory; already a triple Melges 24 European Champion, victory here this week would make him the first ever person to have sailed on three Melges 24 World Championship winning crews.

A third place in race one and a win in race two has catapulted Zandona and the 'Joe Fly' crew into second place overall, ahead of Bill Hardesty on 'Events Clothing/Atlantis' in third. Hardesty confirmed that it had been another tricky day out on the racecourse but said he was pleased with his team's 2,7, performance today. 'The breeze was up in the morning and died back a little this afternoon. We feel pretty comfortable in the breezier stuff, but the light winds have been a bit of a weakness for us so far. However we think we may have found the extra gear that we have been looking for as we were able to hang on to the Italian boats a lot better in the second race.' Hardesty also believes that the unpredictability of the current out on the Chesapeake is creating an extra challenge for the racers. 'With the amount of rain we have been having here recently, looking at the tide charts is all but useless. With all the rivers draining into this area it's hard to know whether you are sailing in salt water or fresh.'.

Most of the other top ten teams had an up and down day today. Brian Porter on 'Full Throttle' finished with a 5,12, tally and sits in fourth overall. Italy's Carlo Fracassoli on 'Gullisara' dropped from third to fifth after scoring two results outside the top ten. Norwegian Eivind Melleby marred his otherwise single-digit scoreline so far with a twenty-second place in race two, but only dropped one place to lie in sixth. Italian Flavio Favini on Swiss entry 'Blu Moon' had a disappointing day by his own high standards with a 9,21 and has tumbled from second to eighth overall tonight. Also dropping down the order to ninth place after an 11,18 day was US sailor Alan Field on 'WTF'. Jamie Lea at the helm of 'Team Barbarians' seems to have been anchored in tenth place since the regatta started and a 16,8 set of results today sees him remain there going into day three.

In the Corinthian Division things could not be tighter between the top two teams so far with David Dabney on 'Conejo Racing - Ocean Sailing Academy' and Bruce Ayres on 'Monsoon' tied on eleven points apiece. Just two points adrift and poised to pounce is Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on 'Gannet'.

With two more races scheduled for tomorrow and the likelihood that similar conditions to today's will prevail, the fifty-one boat international fleet can look forward to another day of tricky sailing, as this regatta goes into it's third day. Just to throw in an added dimension to the already intriguing mix, the single discard for the twelve race series could come into play if both races are completed tomorrow.

Melges24 WM 2009

Bericht vom Montag, 26. Oktober 2009

Jetzt wird es ernst: Am ersten Regattatag wurden planmäßig 2 Regatten gesegelt. Der Wind war eher von der leichten Sorte mit max. 10 Knoten - lange Zeit auch deutlich darunter.
Zusätzlich gab es recht starke Strömung, die sich mit dem Kippen der Tide auch fortlaufend änderte - alles in allem keine einfachen Verhältnisse.
Die US-Teams zeigen sich gut vorbereitet und können die favorisierten Italiener in Schach halten - vorläufig wenigstens...
Auf jeden Fall ist es noch zu früh um irgendwelche Spekulationen abzugeben.

Das Zwischenergebnis nach 2 Rennen => L I N K

Offizieller Text der IMCA:

Local Knowledge Sees Chris Larson Top The Leader Board On Day One At The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship got underway today with two tricky races sailed in predominantly light airs out on Chesapeake Bay. As well as having to deal with a capricious breeze, which peaked this the morning at around ten knots but dropped to around six knots by the afternoon, the fifty-one-boat fleet also had to factor some complex and not insignificant current flow into their race strategies. With the local conditions playing such a major role in things, it is perhaps no surprise that it was ‘local boy’ Chris Larson at the helm of ‘West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes’ who was able to make most sense of it all. Backed up by tactician Richard Clarke, Larson turned in the most consistent results for the day, with a 5,2, scoreline that sees him top the leaderboard tonight. Despite snagging a crab pot when leading race one, Flavio Favini on the Swiss entry ‘Blu Moon’ still managed to post a third and fifth today and sit in second place, just one point off the lead. After recovering well from a poor start in the first race, Italy’s Carlo Fracassoli on ‘Gullisara’ clawed his way back to ninth place at the finish, before taking a comfortable win in the second. This pair of top ten results were good enough to put him third overall at the end of the first day.

Reigning Melges 24 North American Champion, Terry Hutchinson on Quantum Racing, had what can best be described as a very mixed day on the water; having pulled off a spectacular win in the first race of the day and finishing in thirty-seventh place in the next. Hutchinson was surprisingly philosophical about things this evening when he commented ‘The win in race one was very satisfying as we had great speed and everything felt great. Our thirty-seventh in the next race was no more or less complicated than us allowing ourselves to get completely dorked by two competitors in the middle of the start line. There are actually a lot of positives about that second race performance and we are confident that we will be able to pick ourselves up tomorrow, with our usual attention to detail and focusing in on getting off the start and nailing the first shift.’ Bill Hardesty and tactician Vince Brun aboard ‘Events Clothing/Atlantis’ also struggled for consistency today with a nineteenth in race one followed up by a solid third in race two. Asked about today’s conditions Brun shook his head ruefully and commented ‘Pretty tricky all round. It seemed to us that you had to pick a side, as there was nothing to be gained from working the middle. The spread of the fleet means that if you guess right then you are in the top few, but if you get it wrong you are nowhere.’ Nevertheless after two races the ‘Events Clothing/Atlantis’ team sit securely inside the top ten in seventh place.

The ever improving Alan Field and his USA crew aboard ‘WTF’ sailed two impressively composed races today and their 4,6 scoreline puts them in fourth place and well within striking distance of the podium teams. Top flight European Star helm Eivind Melleby steered Norwegian entry ‘Full Metal Jacket’ into fifth overall with an 8,4 tally for the day. Current Melges 24 US National Champion Brian Porter on ‘Full Throttle’ started the day with a second place before faltering slightly with an eleventh in the second race and now sit in sixth place tonight.

Reigning World and European Champion and regatta favourite Lorenzo Bressani on ‘Uka Uka Racing’ had a terrible start to his title defence, due in no small way to an ankle injury sustained to bow-girl Francesca Prina yesterday, which tragically may see her take no further part in this regatta. ‘Uka Uka Racing’ struggled to an uncharacteristic 26,10 scoreline and sit in fifteenth place at the end of the first day. Bressani was clearly speaking candidly when he told us that ‘The first race was simply a disaster. Everything was bad, my start, our tactics the whole thing just went wrong.’ Perhaps most significant however was the recovery that Bressani pulled off in the second race after another poor start. In a twelve race series it is always risky to bet against the determination of the ‘Uka Uka Racing’ and with every team here likely to put in a high score this week, only time will tell how important their tenth place this afternoon will be come the end of this regatta.

Melges24 WM 2009

IMCA Bericht von Sonntag, 25.10.2009


Fleet Assembles On Eve Of The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship

25 October 2009
Competitors from across Europe and North America are gathering this evening for the opening ceremony at the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. The fifty-one boat fleet is made up of entries from the USA, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, Norway and Ukraine and over the last several days the competitors have been working their way through the Championship registration process as well as getting in some vital on the water practice time. The time for preparation is over now however, as racing in the six-day twelve-race series is scheduled to start tomorrow.

If the results of the Pre-Worlds Regatta give any indication of form, then it was to confirm the potency of the European contingent racing here this week. The reigning World and European Champions from Italy, 'UKA UKA Racing' steered by Lorenzo Bressani, cemented their position as the pundits’ favourite, with victory ahead of Italian America’s Cup helmsman Flavio Favini on the Swiss registered 'Blu Moon'. Third place was taken by another Italian helm, 2006 World Champion Nico Celon on 'Fantastica'. Outside of these three boats, the high quality Euro squad at this event also includes the double European Championship winning 'Joe Fly' crew steered by Italian 470 Olympian Gabrio Zandona as well as Britain's two-time Melges 24 World Ranking helm Jamie Lea on 'Team Barbarians'.

Matching the potential of the visitors are a raft of high profile US helms, each capable of putting together a World Championship winning series here in Annapolis: US sailing legend Terry Hutchinson on 'Quantum Racing' comes into this event as the current Melges 24 North American Champion, a title he won here last year; Brian Porter on 'Full Throttle' is the 2009 US National Champion and has 2002 World Champion Harry Melges calling the shots; Bill Hardesty and Vince Brun have four Melges 24 World Title victories between them and have teamed up aboard 'Event’s Clothing/Atlantis' and Chris Larson the serial one-design champion and local favourite has three-time Finn Olympian Richard Clarke as tactician role aboard 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes'.

The Corinthian Division (no professionals allowed) at this regatta has attracted a fourteen-boat entry and looks likely to produce a fierce battle for the Corinthian World Title. Arguably the favourite here is USA helm Bruce Ayres aboard 'Monsoon' who in the Pre-Worlds Regatta has been mixing it at the front of the main fleet and finished one place short of the main fleet podium in fourth. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron (USA) on 'Gannet' is the reigning North American Champion and has clearly set his sights on reclaiming the Corinthian World Crown which he last won in 2007. Henry Filter from the Championship host Eastport Yacht Club, sailing aboard 'Wild Child' but his local knowledge to good use in the Pre-Worlds Regatta to finish as third Corinthian behind Ayres and von Blumencron; a result he will be no doubt be hoping to improve on in the main Championship.

The mouth watering prospect of such a star-studded list of international teams pitting their wits against not only each other but also the unique challenges of the Chesapeake Bay, suggests that the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is likely to be one of the closest and hardest fought World Championship in the history of the class.

The Championship will run from Monday 26 to Saturday 31 October with up to twelve races scheduled. For the live from the race course blog, daily reports and results plesae visit the Event Web Site. Please note that the Sailing Instructions and Entry List are available online.

Melges24 WM 2009

von Samstag, 25. Oktober 2009

Info über die ersten "Practice Races", © IMCA / melges24.com

Nico Celon Takes Two Bullets On Day One Of The Pre-Worlds In Annapolis

The opening day of the Pre-Worlds regatta at the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship brought some very mixed conditions with variable wind and a fair bit of rain to test the competitors to the full out on Chesapeake Bay. After two races it's an all Italian top three with Nicola Celon, the 2006 Melges 24 World Champion, leading this warm up series with Lorenzo Bressani sailing Uka Uka Racing second and Flavio Favini aboard Blu Moon third. America's Bill Hardesty sailing Vince Brun's Event's Clothing/Annapolis lies in fourth place just ahead of Bruce Ayres and his Corinthian crew aboard Monsoon. For all the news from the race course today please check out the IMCA Blog sponsored by Tacktick and supported by Verizon Wireless. Full results are available on the Event Web Site.

Tomorrow the Pre-Worlds concludes with two more races planned and Championship racing gets underway on Monday.

Melges24 WM 2009

Jetzt geht's los: Während in Europa die Boote langsam aber sicher ins Winterlager gehen bzw. zu den Winterserien in Italien antreten steht in der letzten Oktoberwoche das Highlight der Melges24 Saison 2009 an.

Der Eastport Yacht Club richtet in Zusammenarbeit mit der IMCA die 2009er Weltmeisterschaften in Annapolis aus. Die Meldezahlen sind mit 55 Booten für europäische Verhältnisse eher bescheiden, aber was da an den Start geht hat Klasse. Die europäischen Spitzenteams aus Italien und der Schweiz treffen auf die amerikanische Elite.

Auf Grund des späten Termins - letztes Jahr hat es zu dieser Zeit bereits den ersten Wintereinbruch in Annapolis - und der wirtschaftlichen Lage in den USA ("economy down") fehlt die Masse. Von der Größe und Regattaaktivität der US-Flotte ausgehend wären mehr wie 100 Boote allemal drin gewesen.

Zahlreiche Ex-Olympioniken, Americas- bzw. Volvo-Cup Segler aber auch Vollprofis aus der TP52 und anderen One-Design-Klassen verstärken die Crews. Terry "Hutch" Hutchinson steuert gar selbst eine Melges24 und zählt zu den Favoriten.

Aus unserer KV sind am Start:
GER 635 "Unsponsered" Christof Wieland, BYC
NED 789 "Gelikt" Carlo Vroon/Zetzema Wietze, WV Bresekens

Zum Schluss diesen ersten Updates noch etwas Klatsch & Tratsch:
Kurz vor der WM haben die Top-Crews doch tatsächlich festgestellt, dass es mittlerweile ein fixes Vorstag auf der Melges24 gibt. Dieses ist für alle Masten, die vor Dezember 2008 gebaut wurden optional - für Masten ab Dezember 2008 jedoch Pflicht. Eine beantragte Aussetzung der Regel wurde mit eindeutiger Mehrheit abgelehnt. Ein klares Bekenntnis der Klasse, die die Umstellung durchaus begrüßt - somit sind nun wohl auch die Segelmacher gezwungen in diese Richtung zu entwickeln. Man wird sehen.....

STAY TUNED FOR MORE NEWS...

Melges24 Latest News

Anfang Oktober hat eine Umfrage unter den Mitgliedern ergeben:

1. Die Melges24 wird 2010 während der Kieler Woche an den Start gehen

2. Die Melges24 KV stellt das Boot anlässlich der "boot 2010" in Düsseldorf aus

3. Die Mitglieder der Klasse sprechen sich dafür aus, dass der Mast auch zukünftig in 2 Varianten geriggt wird:
a) loses Vorstag (Fockfall = Vorstag), wie ursprünglich konstruiert
b) fixes Vorstag (mit separatem Fockfall), wie seit 2008 möglich
=> es lag ein Antrag vor, dass die Variante a) per 2011 auslaufen soll!

Gruß / GT

24. - 27. September, Slovenian Open in Porto Roz

Parallel zum Oktoberfestpreis findet erstmals die Slowenische Meisterschaft statt, hierzu ein paar Infos von Wolfgang Riha (Team "Franz Rocks")

Ein kurzer Bericht zur slowenischen Melges24 Meisterschaft von 25.-27.9., da sich doch immerhin 2 österreichische Teams trotz Terminkollision mit Starnberg nach Süden aufgemacht haben (Team Schönherr/Franz Urlesberger, Franz Rocks/Christoph Skolaut):

Es erwartete uns ein perfektes Regattarevier, Sonne, super Wind, interessante Welle, Segeln in kurzen Hosen, eine gastfreundliche Marina mit nigelnagelneuen günstigen Appartements und jeden Tag Kaffee, Freibier sowie Segleressen. Als Stegnachbarn fungierten RC 44 Stars wie Dean Barker, Paul Cayard und Russel Coutts, die bereits für die darauffolgende Woche trainierten.

Das Feld war mit 13 Startern (SLO, HUN, CRO, AUT) zwar eher bescheiden, die ideale Lage zu Österreich und Süddeutschland (nur 4h von Salzburg), die perfekte Organisation und das tolle Revier sollte aber ein Versprechen für die Zukunft sein.

Am Wasser gabs in 3 Tagen 9 spannende Wettfahrten, Freitag und Samstag zeigten sich die slowenischen Gewässer von der ganz feinen Seite, Wind um die 15 Knoten und Sonnenschein, am Sonntag mussten wir zuerst noch etwas auf Wind warten, schlußendlich konnten aber auch noch bei Leichtwind 2 faire Wettfahrten gesegelt werden.

Peter Podunavac und Crew domierten das Feld mit 7 Siegen Feld ganz klar, dahinter entwickelte sich aber ein spannender Kampf um die Plätze, in dem die ÖsiŽs die Plätze 2 und 4 erringen konnten.

Unisono waren wir schwer begeistert von der Veranstaltung, hoffentlich entwickelt sich die slowenische Klasse weiter so, dass wir öfter mal da unten segeln dürfen!

Wolfgang Riha, 05. Oktober 2010

Melges24 Termine 2010

Der Regattakalender nimmt langsam Formen an...

Fortlaufend aktualiserte Version auf melges24.de zu download

http://www.melges24.de/228938.html

Grüße
GT / 06.10.

Melges24 Newsletter VII 2009

Der Newsletter VII 2009 ist zum Download bereit:

N E W S L E T T E R VII 2009

Viel Spass beim Lesen...

GT / 06.10.09