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International Melges 24 Class Association (IM24CA)
Andrea Racchelli's Altea ITA722 is leading the pack at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz, Slovenia in the picturesque bay of Piran - © IM24CA / ZGN
Melges 24 European Championship 2021 - Day Two brings Altea to the top in Portoroz
September 08, 2021 - Portoroz, Slovenia - Melges 24 European Championship 2021, held in Portoroz thanks to the support of Marina Portoroz and organization of the Yacht Club Marina Portoroz in co-operation with the International Melges 24 Class Association, runs at full speed: after two days of racing, the ranking counts on six races and now, with the entry of the discard, the ranking took on a less unusual conformation than the one emerged at the end of the first tricky day.

Thanks to a solid performance Andrea Racchelli’s Altea (2-3-10) is now leading the fleet with 11 points margin on Estonian crew of Tõnu Tõniste on Lenny (7-10-3), first hour overall leader of the event and still at top of the ranking of the very competitive Corinthian division.

The day was full of “number ones” for Michael Goldfarb’s War Canoe (1-11-1), that interrupts two bullets with an eleventh, demonstrating some really good speed, almost the same one that he demonstrated in 2018, when he was the winner of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series in Portoroz.

The fourth position is still in the hands of Sergio Caramel’s Arkanoé by Montura (4-20-13): a convincing performance, enhanced by the presence on board of two local experts, as well as former Olympians, Karlo Hmeljak and Vid Jeranko.

On the fifth spot of the ranking we find the second force of the Corinthians: Jonas Berntsson’s SWE-715 (9-12-35), now tied on points with the guys of Miles Quinton’s Gill Race Team (5-14-11), James Peters at helm.

Third in the Corinthian’s group is Marco Zammarchi’s Taki 4 (15-30-2) with Niccolo Bertola helming, that ended the day with a brilliant second overall.

Tomorrow racing will resume at 1 pm: weather conditions are expected like today, with some north westerly breeze blowing between 8 and 12 knots.

Races will resume on Thursday at 1 pm.

Comments from sailors:

Michael Goldfarb, War Canoe USA841: "After too long away from the boat we thought we started to settle in today and of course we had some good fortune as well. We appreciate all of the work of the race organizers and the race committee setting good courses in difficult conditions."

Peter Karrie, Nefeli GER673: "Today was much better day than yesterday, however, it was also very tricky, and we didn’t understand few wind shifts. Winning Race Five made us happy coming back to the top. We are still learning how to sail here in Portoroz, but we are highly motivated, and now there should be a lucky part of the regatta for us. We will push hard for the next days.

TOP 10:
1. ALTEA ITA722 Andrea Racchelli 20p
2. LENNY EST790 (C) Tõnu Tõniste 31p
3. WAR CANOE USA841 Michael Goldfarb 34p
4. ARKANOE BY MONTURA ITA809 Sergio Caramèl 42p
5. SWE715 (C) Jonas Berntsson 47p
6. GILL RACE TEAM GBR694 Miles Quinton / James Peters 47p
7. STRAMBAPAPA ITA689 Michele Paoletti 51p
8. MELGINA ITA793 Paolo Brescia 51p
9. TAKI 4 ITA778 (C) Marco Zammarchi / Niccolo Bertola 52p
10. BLACK SEAL GBR822 Richard Thompson 52p


Photogalleries by © IM24CA / ZGN

Schedule of Event:
September 4-6 – Registration and Measurement
September 6 – Practice Race and Opening Ceremonies
September 7 - 11 – Racing at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021
September 11– Prize Giving and Closing Ceremonies

#Melges24Europeans #Melges24

The photos and daily video highlights will be brought to you by Zerogradinord

More information about the event is available at www.melges24.com/Europeans2021 and melges24.ycmp.eu/venue

More information about the Melges 24 European Championship 2021:
Cesta solinarjev 8
6320 Portoroz, Slovenia

For further information on the Melges 24 events or class specific information please contact:
2021 Melges 24 European Championship Press Coordinator
International Melges 24 Class Association 
Administrator & Media Coordinator 
Mobile/WhatsApp: +372 507 7217
Skype: piret.salmistu

#melges24 #melges24europeans
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Team War Canoe USA841 of Michael Goldfarb takes two bullets on Day Two at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz, Slovenia. © IM24CA/ZGN
Peter Karrie's Nefeli GER673 wins a race on Day Two at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz, Slovenia. © IM24CA/ZGN
Lenny EST790 of Tõnu Tõniste is the runner-up after Day Two at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz, Slovenia. © IM24CA/ZGN
Whosah DEN840 of Marc Wain Pedersen took a bullet in Corinthian division on Day Two in Portoroz at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021. © IM24CA / ZGN
Jeko Team ITA638 of Marco Cavallini grabbed a bullet in Corinthian division with a third result in Race Four in overall fleet on Day Two at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz © IM24CA / ZGN
DAILY VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS of Day Two at the Melges 24 European Championship 2021 in Portoroz © by Stefano Bacchiani / ZGN / IM24CA
Melges 24 European Championship 2021 sponsors
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The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh Yacht Design and manufactured by Melges Performance Sailboats in Zenda, Wisconsin USA. International Melges 24 Class Association was adopted as an International class of World Sailing in 1997.
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