No wind on final day of Melges 24 Worlds

Middelfart, Denmark (July 5, 2015) – The wind on the final day of the Melges 24 World Championship failed to deliver, confirming the remaining podium positions after Chris Rast’s EFG team (SUI) had locked up the title yesterday.

Staying in the top three after two days of racing, Rast took the lead on the third day by winning all three races, never to surrender it through the remainder of the six day event. Rast’s hold on the title was so secure that his team had locked it with two races to spare, though today’s wind failed to allow those races to occur. The final margin was 53 points ahead of Andrea Rachelli’s Altea (ITA), with Bora Gulari’s Air Force One (USA) finishing in third.

“It was an amazing week here in Middelfart with such a great fleet in a relaxing place,” said Rast. “I’m obviously really happy about our title: we had some good starts and I sailed with a really solid crew. Franco Rossini’s Blu Moon brought me in to this incredible class ten years ago. I fell in love with this boat which has a design that is still competitive and modern after twenty one years. And to be here celebrating the Worlds’ victory, sounds unforgettable.”

Tõnu Tõniste and his crew on Lenny, which finished sixth overall, took the victory in Corinthian division with a 19 point margin over Kicker Schäfer’s Musto Racing (GER) ending on the second level of the podium and Øyvind Jahre’s Storm Capital Sail Racing (NOR) as the third.

“We had a really high level competition here in Middelfart in the very tricky conditions over the week. We would have liked to have one strong winds’ day here, but it did not happen. The battle for the title of the Corinthian division was really interesting until the end as the top podium places were swopped every day. We managed to win two races and I’m really happy about my crew who made it happen with me.”

2015 Melges 24 World Championship was organized by Match Racing Denmark in collaboration with the International Melges 24 Class Association and Middeflart Sailing Club.

2016 Melges 24 World Championship will be in Miami, U.S. between November and December.

Final Results (Top 10 of 95; 12 races, 1 discard)

Event details – Entry list – Overall Results – Corinthian Results – Live-Streaming – Photos

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