Italy wins the 2018 now just 24 world championships
June 14, 2018
Credit All photos: Jill Fitz Hirschbold www.jhirschbold.com
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club with the support of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association rose to the occasion. Despite light winds and ever-changing conditions last Tuesday through Thursday, they managed to deliver a 10-race series that concluded with three great races on Saturday June 9.
The venue was held at the new Victoria International Marina with a fleet of 41 teams from five nations.
On Saturday, the winds finally delivered the 12 knot winds in the first race, building up to 15 knots in the second and filling in up to 20 knots of breeze for the third and final race of the day.
Coming from behind, to close off the series, the Italian team of Andrea Racchelli’sAltea and his crew Filippo Togni, GaudenzioBomni, Matteo Ramian, Michele Gregoratto took first place and the 2018 Melges World Championship title. Silver in the overall was Alan Field’s WTF from the United States, with the Bronze going to Bruce Ayres’ Monsoon from the United States.
The Italian team with three first-place finishes in the series sailed consistently and ultimately won by a margin of six points.
The local team from the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Full Circle, skippered by Robert Britton and his crew Graham Harney, Jose Grandizo, Liam Welgan-Gunn and Reid Cannon raced to a first place finish on Friday, then on Saturday in third place they move up throught the fleet of 24 competitors to take first place in the Corinthian Division.
The Silver medal went to American Matt McGregor’s team. They lead the division until the last day, then slipping to second place on the last day.
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club team, Hold My Beer led by Mike Bond with Gord Shannon, Mike Bassett and Sophie Stukas, moved up on the last day to take a Bronze.
The trophy for the best team with a female skipper was awarded to Laura Grondin on Dark Energy. The prize for the youth team went to American Ryan Connor’s and his crew on Blue Dream.
The 2019 addition of the Melges 24 World Championship will be held from October 10-18 in Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.
2018 Race results:
Top five after 10 races (Overall)
1. Altea ITA 722, Andrea Racchelli, Filippo Togni, GaudenzioBomni, Matteo Ranian, Michele Gregoratto, Altea, – 5 – 1 – 5 – 1 – 1 – 5 – (8) – 4 – 2 – 6 ; 30 pts
2. WTF USA 829, Alan Field, Erik Shampain, Willem Van Waay, Steve Hunt, Lucas Calabrese, California Yacht Club, – 1 – 6 – 4 – 5 – 3 – 7 – 6 – 1 – 3 – (8) ; 36 pts
3. Monsoon USA 851, Bruce Ayres, Chelsea Simms, George Peet, Jeff Reynolds , Mike Buckley, NHYC, – 3 – 5 – 2 – (15) – 2 – 2 – 2 – 7 – 11 – 2 ; 36 pts
4. Full Throttle USA 849, Brian Porter, RJ Porter, Matt Woodworth, Andy Burdick, Lake Geneva Yacht Club, – 2 – 3 – 9 – (12) – 5 – 6 – 5 – 2 – 5 – 4 ; 41 pts
5. Mikey CAN 838, Richard Clarke, Ansel Koen, Rachel Spinelli, Ben Whiting, Hunter Lowden, Anacortes Yacht Club, – 4 – 9 – 1 – 8 – (10) – 3 – 3 – 6 – 4 – 5 ; 43 pts
Top five after 10 races (Corinthian)
1. Full Circle CAN 415, Robert Britten, Graham Harney , Jose Grandizo , Liam Welgan-Gunn, Reid Cannon, Royal Victoria Yacht Club, – 11 – 10 – (BFD-42) – 14 – 20 – 19 – 1 – 5 – 21 – 11 ; 112 pts
2. Good Enough USA 806, Matt MacGregor, Daryl Fitch, Genevieve Livingston, Kati Belden, Keith Hammer, PMYC, – 8 – 4 – 21 – 2 – 8 – 15 – (31) – 28 – 9 – 26 ; 121 pts
3. ADHD CAN 591, Mike Bond, Gord Shannon, Mike Bassett, Sophie Stukas, Rvyc, – 10 – 14 – 14 – (38) – 13 – 16 – 24 – 13 – 12 – 14 ; 130 pts
4. ADHD CAN 184, Mumford / MarchantAdam Thomson, Alex Smyth, Brad Marchant, Ben Mumford, WVYC, – 7 – 7 – 7 – (34) – 12 – 11 – 25 – 19 – 17 – 29 ; 134 pts
5. Lekker CAN 371, Smith / Galbraith Malcolm Smith, Gord Galbraith , Tim Stamper, Tom Insley, Royal Victoria Yacht Club, – 20 – (33) – 11 – 19 – 11 – 14 – 9 – 25 – 14 – 18 ; 141
