2018 Melges 24: Inconsistent Breeze Makes Altea Consistent in Punta Ala

The Gulf of Follonica keeps satisfying the dynamic Melges 24 Fleet racing this weekend in the first act of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. Also today, fifteen participating teams from six countries concluded three regattas, despite the massive wind shift that forced the Race Committee to replace the race course after race number one of the day. 

The races of today brought remarkable changes into the provisional ranking, also because of the discard that has come into play after the conclusion of the fifth race of the series. Altea (ITA722, 1-1-2 today) by Andrea Racchelli, third after the races of yesterday, scores two great first places and a second and, discarding a sixth, climbs on top of the preliminary podium, followed in the ranking by FGF Sailing Team (HUN728, 2-5-10) with Robert Bakoczy in helm that discards a tenth as worst result of the series so far.

The Corinthian, reigning World Champion crew, onboard Marco Zammarchi's Taki 4 (ITA778, 3-4-3) having Niccolo Bertola in helm with the good results of today conquers the provisional third place on the podium, affirming itself also as a leader of the Corinthian ranking. The English entry Gill Race Team of Miles Quinton (GBR694, 7-2-4) with Geoff Carveth in helm follows the Italian crew at short distance, occupying the fourth place in overall and second in Corinthian with a gap of 5 points over the forerunners on Taki 4.

It has been a good day also for the Corinthian Hungarian entry Seven_Five_Nine (HUN759, 14-3-1) of Akos Csolto that concludes the series with a sparkling first place and climbs up, from the last position occupied yesterday, up to the seventh place in overall ranking, third among the Corinthian. 
 
The first act of the 2018 Melges 24 European Sailing Series is coming to conclusion tomorrow on Sunday: with wind conditions that are forecasted as light and probably shifty, the Race Committee will call the fleet on the water at 10.00, being in the summer time then already, with the intention of adding three more races to the six already sailed until today.  

Media coverage of the event is provided by the media partner of the International Melges 24 Class, Zerogradinord with Mauro Melandri and Silvia Gallegatti, and Melges Europe is in Punta Ala to support and serve the teams.