Riva Del Garda, Italy – After two days, six races and one discard, Roberto Tomasini Grinover and his Robertissima team have effectively moved into first place overall at the 2014 Melges 32 European Championship, three points ahead of now runner-up Valentin Zavadnikov’s Synergy GT.
Below are great Melges 32 Photos by Max Ranchi http://www.maxranchi.com
Richard Goransson’s Helly Hansen Inga From Sweden made great progress with a 9-1-3 finish to move up to third overall, just ahead of the fleet newcomer Claudia Rossi on Wilma. Japan’s Naofumi Kamei on Mamma Aiuto! rounds out the top five.
Going into the second day of racing, current event leader Tomasini Grinover sat in second overall, just behind Zavadnikov in first. Clearly, Tomasini Grinover had a plan for Day Two in Riva aimed at taking over the lead. It was a well-executed performance on a day of beautiful breeze and steady conditions, enabling him to cash in a 2-2-1 result card – placing him the lead position.
Kamei came out swinging on the first race of the day to win, ahead of Tomasini Grinover in second and Zavadnikov in third.
Race two of the day was by far the most dramatic, with plenty of speed off of the starting line and Tomasini Grinover in full-on supersonic overdrive, leading the fleet around the course until the last run to the finish. Throughout the race Goransson and Zavadnikov kept Tomasini Grinover close, looking for just the right moment to advance. On the final run, Goransson with tactician Morgan Larson, picked up speed when it counted most to cross the finish line first. Tomasini Grinover took second with Zavadnikov in third.
In the last race of the day, Tomasini Grinover put the pedal down once more, this time securing the win. Alessandro Rombelli’s Azimut by STIG rocketed to a nice second place finish, followed by Goransson in third.
Three more races are schedule for Saturday, the third day of the Championship with an on-time start.
MEDIA AND RACING COVERAGE
As with other Melges 32 events in Europe and around the world, racing updates will be posted online at the OFFICIAL AUDI MELGES 32 FACEBOOK PAGE. Tune in for the latest racing information, results, video interviews, and photos. Race reports, press releases and photos will be available online each day post racing atMELGES32.COM.
TOP TEN RESULTS (After Three Races)
1.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 3-[4]-3-2-2-1 = 11
2.) Valentin Zavadnikov/Michele Ivaldi, Synergy GT; 4-1-2-3-3-[13] = 13
3.) Richard Goransson/Morgan Larson, Helly Hansen Inga From Sweden; 5-[15]-1-9-1-3 = 19
4.) Claudia Rossi/Nicola Celon, Wilma; 2-5-7-10-[15]-5 = 29
5.) Naofumi Kamei/Manu Weiller, Mamma Aiuto!; [12/SCP2]-10-6-1-7-7 = 31
6.) Alessandro Rombelli/Freddy Loof, Azimut by STIG; 10-8-4-[14]-10-2 = 34
7.) Aurturo Di Lorenzo/Matteo Ivaldi, Malafemmena; [16]-7-8-6-4-9 = 34
8.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Branko Brcin, Fratelli Giacomel Audi e-Tron; 1-9-[16]-5-12-10 = 37
9.) Edoardo Lupi/Lorenzo Bressani, Torpyone; [14]-3-5-4-13-14 = 39
10.) Roberto Mazzuccato/Gabriele Benussi, Margherita; 8-[13]-11-8-6-6 = 39