International Melges 32 Class Blog

Breeze is at 10-12 knots…Ninkasi led but had Star right on their transom. A boathandling error from Star resulted in a brief trawl of the chute but they recovered to round second. Bitipi came through quickly behind followed by Roxanne and New Wave. All this first bunch went to the left buoy.

Samba Pa Ti and Q and Calvi were all deep….

Plenty of action…check out Bliksem tring to start of port and not managing to cross Calvi…

Nitemare won the pin end, Leenabarca looked good at the RC boat end too…

After a very exciting start, the breeze continued to build as the fleet approaches the mark. Looking strong is Meadows, Taylor and Ecklund.

Taylor is around first, Meadows followed by Ecklund. The rest of the fleet rounds tightly.

Star wins comfortably from Calvi who held of a challenge from Taboo. Roxanne Bitipi and Red were all in a close battle but finished in that order.

Race team are looking to turn this round pretty quickly and get the next race underway. Breeze around 12 knots.

The leaders are round the windward mark…

Star leads by a big margin from Calvi Network and then Taboo..

Lots of action…breeze is up to above ten knots. Lots of teams coming in hot and putting the crews under pressure on the takedowns.

Star leads from Taboo gthen Calvi then Roxanne then Bitipi….

Star pushes out hardest to the left of the course and makes the gain to pass Taboo and take the lead. The fleet are well spread across the entire width of the course for the first time all regatta. Calvi are also out on the left and looking strong.

Breaking news – Q are at the back of the fleet and flying a protest flag.

Followed by Star and Calvi….

Ecklund pulling away with the lead, Pugh putting down a real chase trying to regain the lead.

Around the top…

Ecklund with a nice lead
Alberini
Pugh