Italian Rascals Win Melges 32 European Championship

Porto Cervo, Italy. 1st July 2012

Fourth place in a nail biting final race which saw at least four boats in with a chance of winning the European title was enough for Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino (ITA), with Australia's Nathan Wilmot calling tactics, to clench victory. 

Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino Photo: © Guido Trombetta/BPSE

A further two Italian boats, Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica with Michele Paoletti on tactics and Torpyone, owned by Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina and with tactician Brank Brcin, took second and third place respectively among the competing boats eligible for the Europeans. The event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with B-Plan Sport&Events, is also valid as the third leg of the Audi Sailing Series for the class.

Jason Carroll's Argo Photo: © Guido Trombetta/BPSE

The final classification for the event sees America's Jason Carroll in the lead on 53 points, however as the Melges 32 class rules permit the European Challenge Cup to be awarded to a European boat only, Carroll has to be content with taking the top prize for the third leg of the Audi Sailing Series ahead of Mascalzone and Fantastica.

The 22 competing boats had an anxious wait from early morning right up until the final time limit of 14.25 before a starting signal sounded. After a general recall the fleet was off on their tenth and final windward-leeward of the series in light sirocco breezes. Argo, with Cameron Appleton calling tactics, choose the left and took the lead on the first beat ahead of Naofumi Kamei's Mamma Aiuto! (JPN) while Mascalzone and Synergy (RUS), with Tommaso Chieffi calling tactics, battled for third with the Russian boat prevailing and pushing the Italians into fourth.

Vincenzo Onorato, owner of Mascalzone Latino was pleased to be back on winning form in Porto Cervo: "I don't think we have won in what I consider to be my home waters since the Sardinia Cup of 2005, so this victory in the European here is particularly significant for us. We are also leading in the circuit after three legs so we're happy. The Americans sailed really well and deserved their win in this leg."

Jason Carroll, owner of Argo: "I want to thank everyone, the owners and crews and the organization, for making this an excellent week of racing and I can't wait to see everyone back on the water again soon."

Riccardo Bonadeo, Commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, commented on the level of the competition: "This fleet, which represents 10 nations, has produced some of the closest racing I have seen in recent times. The classification was incredibly tight and 10 different boats claimed victory in each of the individual races which just goes to show how even the field was."

Audi Melges 32 European Championship and Audi Sailing Series 2rd Leg
Position. Boat (NAT) - Owner - Tactician - R1/R2/R3/R4/R5/R6/R7/R8/R9 (discard) - Total Pts

1. Argo (USA)- Jason Carroll - Cameron Appleton - 6/8/3/2/(16)/9/13/4/7/1=53
2. Mascalzone Latino (ITA)- Vincenzo Onorato - Nathan Wilmot - 5/4/6/5/9/1/15/(17)/6/4 =55
3. Fantastica (ITA)- Lanfranco Cirillo - Michele Paoletti - 3/9/5/4/12/7/(20)/13/4/6=63
4. Mamma Aiuto! (JPN)- Naofumi Kamei - Manuel Weiler - (21)/2/21/20/4/2/3/9/1/2=64
5. Torpyone (ITA)- Edoardo Lupi e Massimo Pessina - Branko Brcin - 7/(13)/11/7/3/6/2/7/12/11=66

Jill Campbell