Protests shuffle standings at Melges 32 Worlds

Published on December 4th, 2014

Miami, FL (December 4, 2014) – After a long delay with squalls rolling down the course, the second day of the Melges 32 Worlds completed two more races. After day one leader Naofumi Kamei (JPN) got disqualified in race four, the new leader is Pierre Casiraghi (ITA) and the Robertissima 1 team. Casiraghi will be carrying average point from race two after a successful redress request from being unjustly called over early. Ten races are scheduled, with a drop race after six races have been completed. Racing continues to Sunday, December 7.

Additional report from class media…
With two more races completed at the 2014 Melges 32 Worlds Championship, the hunt for the title was cropped even smaller with several teams suffering tough finishes, while a handful of others were able to solidify themselves as legit players. On top of the incredibly tight racing, the story of the day was the unsettled wind and weather as several large rain squalls descended on the course, providing delay and presenting huge shifts and changes in velocity once racing was underway. Similar to Day One, Day Two was a full on street fight and with 40% of the regatta complete, there is still a long uphill climb for those looking to acquire a solid finish.

After a brief AP, Race Three in a Championship Series of ten total started clean with the left side looking favored, only to see the boats that were able to get onto port early make huge gains and hook into big pressure on the right side. Leading the charge from the right was class stalwart Edoardo Lupi and co-owner Massimo Pessina aboard Torpyone, followed closely by a determined Richard Goransson on Inga from Sweden and Alessandro Rombelli’s STIG. Lupi/Pessina would hang on for the wire to wire win, an impressive feat in this stacked, competitive fleet.

Just like the consistent trade winds off Miami Beach, one staple thus far in the regatta has been overall leader Robertissima with helmsman Pierre Casiraghi and tactician Vasco Vascotto starting at the pin and hitting the left corner with authority. The pin has paid handsomely in two of the four races now complete, and after receiving redress for being called OCS improperly in Race Two, Casiraghi is seeing his pin-end prowess pay off.

In Race Four, Casiraghi battled for the pin with William Douglass’ Goombay Smash each managing to get off cleanly. A few minutes after the start, a right shift descended on the course and it looked like both boats would be buried. However, just when they were about to run out of room on the left corner, a nice lefty pumped down the course, and the pin end start paid like a slot machine. Riding the wave, Casiraghi on the port tack layline was class cinderalla, Chris Wientjes on Stormvogel who pulled off an impressive tack at the mark to round in second which lead to some huge smiles at the post race tent. Casiraghi would hang on for the win, and young Dalton DeVos on Delta charged hard around the track to grab second, followed by Dieter Schoen on Momo.

The drama in Race Four was overall leader Nafumo Kamei on Mamma Aiuto! approaching on port at the first windward mark, tacking too close to Goransson forcing him above close hauled. After not spinning, Kamei took his chances in the protest room and was handed a DSQ, showing the first ding in his armor thus far in the event.

Steadier, stronger wind is forecast for Day Three, and with a chance of lighter wind headed into the weekend, there is potential for a three races on Friday. Once the throwout comes into play, there will for sure be a shuffle in the fleet.

Day Two Results (4 races)
1. Robertissima 1, Pierre Casiraghi , MON – 1 -3.7 -9 -1 ; 14.7
2. Inga From Sweden III, Richard Goransson , SWE – 3 -10 -2 -5 ; 20
3. ARGO, Jason Carroll , USA – 7 -1 -12 -6 ; 26
4. Delta, Dalton DeVos , USA – 2 -7 -16 -2 ; 27
5. Mamma Aiuto, Naofumi Kamei , JPN – 4 -2 -5 -18/DSQ ; 29
6. Volpe, Ryan DeVos , USA – 6 -8 -6 -9 ; 29
7. Torpyone, Edoardo Lupi , ITA – 8 -14 -1 -7 ; 30
8. STIG, Alessandro Rombelli , ITA – 5 -6 -3 -16 ; 30
9. Goombay Smash, William Douglass , USA – 18/DNF -5 -4 -4 ; 31
10. Hedgehog, Alec Cutler , BER – 10 -4 -7 -12 ; 33
11. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas , USA – 12 -3 -8 -15 ; 38
12. MOMO, Dieter Schoen , GER – 15 -11 -17 -3 ; 46
13. Swing, Keisuke Suzuki , JPN – 13 -13 -10 -10 ; 46
14. ENVY Scooters, Barry Cuneo , AUS – 14 -12 -11 -13 ; 50
15. Samba Pa Ti, John Kilroy , USA – 11 -18/DSQ -15 -8 ; 52
16. Stormvogel, Chris Wientjes , USA – 9 -16 -13 -14 ; 52
17. Fra Martina, Edoardo Pavesio , ITA – 16 -15 -14 -11 ; 56