September 9, 2016 - Hyères, France - After five days of challenging and demanding sailing, the Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship, hosted by COYCH with the cooperation of IM24CA, came to an end.
Yesterday, EFG (SUI) by Chris Rast, already reigning Melges 24 World Champion, earned such an advantage over its followers that was mathematically proclaimed 2016 Melges 24 European Champion and didn't even take part to today's race.
The rest of the podium, though, still had to be determined, because the fight between Bombarda (ITA), Gill Race Team (GBR) and Marrakech Express (ITA) was open, and also in the Corinthian fleet the pressure for reaching the top spot of the podium was high.
The crews couldn't wait to get in the water and, even if there were light breeze conditions, after postponing the initial warning, the Race Committee let the boats sail for the twelfth and last race of the Championship.
In a race characterized by shifty and light wind conditions, mostly coming from 115°, tactical calls are what have made the difference. Today's regatta was won by the Hungarian crew helmed by Robert Bakoczy, FGF Sailing Team (HUN) that claimed their first victory in the last race of the Championship. The Italian crew of Bombarda by Andrea Pozzi, with Giulio Desiderato as tactician, crossed the line in fourth position, and confirmed itself in the second position of the overall ranking, followed, with a gap of nine points, by another Italian, Angelo Di Terlizzi's Marrakech Express helmed by Matteo Ivaldi, who was also calling tactics by himself.
The competition was extremely tight also in the Corinthian fleet, where Gill Race Team and Lenny (EST) were tackling each other until the last leg, where in the end Gill Race Team managed to defend its leadership over Lenny, becoming in this way Melges 24 European Champion of the Corinthian fleet. Storm Capital Sail Racing (NOR) finished the last race of today in fifth position, maintaining the distance from Taki 4 that was his immediate follower and getting on the Corinthian podium in third position.
The respectful and friendly environment that characterizes the Melges 24 Class was witnessed until the end of this competition when, the reigning Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion Tõnu Tõniste, owner-driver of Lenny, on the finish line immediately went to congratulate with the new European Corinthian Champion Geoff Carveth. "They raced in a wonderful way in these days and they deserved the victory in the Corinthian division of the Championship thanks to a great final leg", declared Tõniste, when back to the docks.
The final act of the event was the prize giving, that took place in the clubhouse of the COYCH at the presence of the Major of Hyeres and member of the French Parliament Jean-Pierre Giran, the President of the French sailing federation, Aranoud Pouly, the President of the French Melges 24 Association, Denis Infante. Miles Quinton, Vice Chairman Europe of IM24CA thanked COYCH as the host of the event and the Melges 24 French Class for all their work on behalf of the Melges 24 international class.
Champagne flew over the crews of EFG, Bombarda, Marrakech Express for the overall ranking; Gill Race Team, Lenny and Storm Capital Sail Racing for the Corinthian division.
After Hyères' event, which has been considered by all the participants one of the greatest in the recent history of the Melges 24 class, the crews will move to Luino (ITA) in October, for the Lino Favini Cup, looking forward to the main event of the year, the Melges 24 Worlds in Miami, that will take place from November 26th to December 3rd.
With this event, Melges 24 Class confirmed its position as one of the most active classes in the sailing world and the organizing machine is already at work for another great event. "We're getting ready for the Melges 24 World Championship that will be host in Helsinki next July. We expect to have 80 entries in a venue that will host us with the beauty of its landscapes, the hospitality of its people and weather conditions that are perfect for sailing", declared Tomi Hakola, treasurer of International Melges 24 Class Association.
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Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship 2016 is sponsored by :
Title Sponsor & Official Clothing Supplier to the world class events and teams in sailing and power boating Marinepool
Event dates:
Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th September: Measurement and registration
Sunday 4th September: Practice Race and the Opening Ceremony
Monday 5th to Friday 9th September: 2016 Melges 24 European Championship
COYCH website
For further information on the 2016 Marinepool Melges 24 European Championship, please contact:
Piret Salmistu
IM24CA Administrator & Media Coordinator
+372 507 7217
Régis Bérenguier
Regatta Coordinator
COYCH
+33 494 386 167
Mauro Melandri
Event Press Officer
IM24CA
+39 366 3421743
[email protected]
