Foto copyright Pierrick Contin
Fuente info Scuttlebutt Europe
Two Bullets For Uka Uka Racing
Hyeres, France: Weather conditions for championship sportsboat racing don't come much better than those experienced by the eighty-six Melges 24 crews racing on day one of their 2009 European Championship in Hyeres, France. With temperatures in the high thirties and winds touching eighteen knots at times, the high quality Euro fleet were able to complete the first two races of their twelve race series. Race one saw the fleet get away at the first time of asking but in race two things were more problematic. After an initial General Recall the Race Committee posted flags I and Z for their second attempt to start the race. This appeared not to dampen the fleet's enthusiasm however and a subsequent second General Recall provoked the reluctant use of the Black Flag. For most this was a big enough deterrent and race two finally got under way.
Lorenzo Santini's UKA UKA Racing from Italy demonstrated why they are the current Melges 24 World Champions by taking comprehensive victories in each of today's races.
It was a good day for Italy overall, with several of UKA UKA's fellow countrymen also posting consistent scores to make the top five places overall a complete ITA whitewash.
In the separately scored Corinthian Division, current Corinthian Melges 24 World Champions, Storm Capital Sail Racing Team, came out marginally on top in today's two races. Their 2,4 score gives them just a one point advantage at the top of the Corinthian standings ahead of second placed Mikael Johansson at the helm of John Christian Eriksson's Aqua Racing, who clocked up a five and a two. In third place and only marginally less consistent with a bullet and a seventh is Sergio Cosano's Fish Dog helmed by Maurio Ziliani.
Tomorrow the competitors will have an earlier start to their day, as racing is scheduled to commence promptly at 10AM. Two more races are planned with the spectacular weather conditions looking set to continue. -- Justin Chisholm
Top ten after two races:
1. Uka Uka Racing, Lorenzo Santini, ITA, 2 points
2. Alina, Maurizio Abba, ITA, 7
3. Fantastica, Nicolas Celon, ITA, 8
4. Alllin, Renato Vallivero, ITA, 12
5. Saettaa, Carlo Fracassoli, ITA, 12
6. Poison Rouge, Jean Marc Monnard, SUI, 15
7. Blu Moon, Franco Rossini, SUI, 17
8. Giacomel Audi Powered by Q8, Riccardo Simoneschi, ITA, 27
9. Blow, Peder Nergaard, NOR, 28
10. Altea, Andrea Racchelli, ITA, 31
www.m24european2009.com
