Early lead for Ayres at Melges 24 Worlds

Helsinki, Finland (July 31, 2017) – A cloudy afternoon, characterized by light and shifty breeze, accompanied the first day of racing at the 2017 Melges 24 World Championship. Fifty-nine boats from fifteen nations will compete until August 4 in the 20th edition of the championship.

Despite the light wind conditions, the Race Committee presided by PRO Madis Ausman managed to complete two races. The first victory of the series went to the Italian entry Altea by Andrea Racchelli, second in the 2015 Worlds and winner of the 2016 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. But the lead would not last for the Italian boat as they stumbled to 22nd in the second race.

The bullet from the race number two was scored by Monsoon, helmed by Bruce Ayres with Mike Buckley calling the tactics, and it would be the overall consistency of the American entry (6-1) that sits them atop the leaderboard. While Monsoon may hold an 8 point lead over Gian Luca Perego’s Maidollis (5-10), the Italian entry is stacked with Enrico Fonda calling tactics and Carlo Fracassoli helming, two keys to the 2012 Worlds winning team.

Third place in the overall ranking goes to Ukrainian Vasyl Gureyev’s Barmaley (9-9 overall/3-3 Corinthian) that, thanks to the consistent placements of today, takes the provisional lead also in the Corinthian division. The top-three of the category reserved to non-professional sailors is completed by the reigning World Champions aboard Marco Zammarchi’sTaki 4 with Niccolò Bertola in helm (11-13/4-5) and Dutch Team Kesbeke/Sika/Gill with Ronald Veraar helming (7-17/1-9).

Weather forecasts tomorrow expect sunnier and windier windy conditions than today.

Racing for the 20th edition is scheduled on July 31 to August 4

Event details – Overall results – Corinthian results – Facebook

Source: IM24CA