Chris Rast perfect at Melges 24 Worlds

Middelfart, Denmark (July 2, 2015) – The third day of the Melges 24 World Championship saw Swiss Chris Rast’s EFG team win all three races to ratchet up the rank from third to first overall. The 95-boat fleet enjoyed champagne conditions, and now after nine races and one discard, the situation among the fleet is starting to unravel.

Behind Rast is now former leader Andrea Rachelli’s Altea ITA735 (25p-3-4), that had a great come back in seventh, closed in third position after starting with OCS. On the third level of the podium retains Bora Gulari’s Air Force One USA820 (21p-2-7), that in race seven suffered the same problem of Altea.

“We sailed great today getting some good margin on the opponents, but it’s far from over, especially here, where the race course is really challenging and the fleet is huge as never before,” said 3-time Olympian Rast. “Moreover, as we know, tomorrow is another day and we need to be again at our best to manage the situation.”

The top three boats are now in a good advantage over their pursuers, led by 2014 Melges 24 World ranking winner Audi tron ITA840 (27-14-9) helmed by Riccardo Simoneschi. To complete the top five we have the best of the Corinthian Division, German entry Musto Racing GER803 (24-11-17) skippered by Kicker Schäfer.

Weather forecasts tomorrow predict some light winds of 6-8 knots coming from the South.

Eighteen nations are represented: Austria (3), Czech Republic (1), Denmark (17), Estonia (2), Finland (2), Great Britain (3), Germany (18), Hungary (2), Italy (5), Lichtenstein (1), Netherlands (5), Norway (18), Slovenia (1), Switzerland (4), Slovak Republic (1), Sweden (9), Ukraine (2) and United States of America (1).

A maximum of 14 races will be sailed June 30-July 5 and with up to three races per day.

Five (5) races are required to be completed to constitute the championship. When fewer than six (6) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When from six (6) to twelve (12) races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her scores excluding her worst score. When thirteen (13) or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her two worst scores.

The professional and Corinthian crews will race against each other in a single fleet for the overall Melges 24 World Championship title, with the Corinthian results being extracted to determine the winner of the Corinthian World Championship title. Fifty-six out of ninety-five teams will fight for the Corinthian (non-professionals allowed) World Champion’ Trophy which comes all the way long from Australia here.

The World Championships will be covered with live TV, taped interview shows, online tracking and on social channels.

Danish broadcasting company SportsXstream will use their custom-build TV-catamaran to cover the racing with additional cameras placed on the race course. This will be mixed live with tracking devices on the boats to make it possible to follow the racing – even for the people who need to be at work.

Day Three Results (Top 10 of 95; 9 races, 1 discard)

Event details – Entry list – Results – Facebook – Live-Streaming

Event dates:
Saturday 27 to Monday 29 of June: Measurement and registration
Monday 29 of June: Practice race and the Opening Ceremony at the Hindsgavl Castle
Tuesday 30 of June to Sunday 5th of July: 2015 Melges 24 World Championship
Sunday 5 of July: Closing Ceremony