The second and final day of the Volvo Melges 24 Pre-World Championship Regatta at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo brought respite from yesterday’s storms. In sparkling Costa Smeralda sunshine with a breeze that built steadily from 12 to around 20 knots, racing concluded with two outstanding races.
Fifty three of the 117 teams due to compete in the main championship elected to race in the Pre-Worlds Regatta, and Italy’s Alberto Bolzan, sailing ITA727 Pilot Italia for Gianni Catalogna, put in a bravura performance to win all three races and take the regatta.
Speaking after racing, Bolzan commented: "These Pre-Worlds results are relevant to understand how this World Championship will evolve. We won all the three races; in the first day it was pretty shifty, and Pietro D'Alì (tactician) has been really good taking the proper side of the course. Today, having a stronger wind, the crew was decisive, keeping a high pace. Affinity with Pietro is tight, and his choices convey a strong sense of security to the rest of the crew".
Switzerland’s Matthias Keller, helming SUI530 Acqua for Gianluca Tribo, took second overall and also wins the Corinthian Pre-Worlds Regatta for all amateur crews.
Britain’s John Pollard, sailing GBR690 A-Team Westaway, came in third overall, while the joint US/British entry GBR592 Sevenstar Slam (www.sevenstarslamracing.com) took fourth. Aboard Sevenstar Slam are brothers Simon Strauss (New York, N.Y.) and Quentin Strauss (GBR) as well as double and reigning Melges 24 World Champion (1999, 2007) tactician Bill Hardesty (San Diego, Calif.) and another accomplished Melges 24 racer James Hill (GBR).
A New-York based Englishman, Simon Strauss has been a stalwart in the Melges 24 class for years, but has really upped the stakes for this event with his expert crew. He is looking to fight his way to a top-ten finish at Worlds for the first time.
Custom Search