Fuente info Scuttlebutt europe
Melges 24 European Championship
Hyeres, France: Lorenzo Santini's Italian crew aboard UKA UKA Racing showed their true mettle on day three of the 2009 Melges 24 European Championship in Hyeres; posting a near perfect 2,1 score to leapfrog into a commanding ten point lead at the top of the leaderboard.
Overnight leaders Maurizio Abba's Alina had a nightmare start to their day when they were Z-flagged on the first attempt at starting the first race and then found themselves totally boxed in on the subsequent start. They bounced back well in race seven of the Championship, coming home in fifth place and maintaining their fervent hopes of challenging for the title by the end of the regatta.
Nico Celon at the helm of Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica remains in third overall this evening courtesy of the discard system, which allows him to exclude his disappointing eleventh place in race six.
In the Corinthian Division the overnight leaders Storm Capital Racing dealt themselves a double blow to their title hopes by picking up a Black Flag in race six and a twenty percent Z-Flag penalty in race seven. This disastrous day sees them fall to second place in the Corinthian standings. Corinthian boat of the day was Estonian Tonu Toniste's Lenny, who clocked up a pair of Corinthian bullets to move up the table to seventh overall.
With three races left to sail in the 2009 Melges 24 European Championship and given that conditions in Hyeres are predicted to lighten tomorrow and Friday, there are no certainties for any of the teams currently topping the results. -- Justin Chisholm
Top ten after seven races:
1. Uka Uka Racing, Lorenzo Santini, ITA, 92 points
2. Alina, Maurizio Abba, ITA, 19
3. Fantastica, Nicolas Celon, ITA, 22
4. Blu Moon, Franco Rossini, SUI, 40
5. Big Ship, Maxime Paul, FRA, 48
6. Joe Fly, GIovanni Maspero, ITA, 57
7. Alllin, Renato Vallivero, ITA, 67
8. Euro Voiles, Denis Infante, FRA, 78
9. Poison Rouge, Jean Marc Monnard, SUI, 83
10. Altea, Andrea Racchelli, ITA, 89
www.m24european2009.com
