World champion continues unblemished record

Pieter Taselaar claims Audi Melges 32 servies event in Scarlino

Reigning Melges 32 World Champion, American Pieter Taselaar on Bliksem won the second stage of the 2010 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series in Scarlino. With tactician Jeremy Wilmot, Bliksem seems to knows only one word: victory. Following this success, Taselaar has continued his 'unbeaten' record on this circuit, which began last season.

Although the Bliksem's victory is sweet, their ride has not been an easy one, especially with Luca Lalli on B.LinSailing.com with tactician Lorenzo Bressani acting as the greatest deterent to Taselaar’s success.

For the start of the seventh race, the breeze filled in nicely with 14 knots from 140° and rain. With the left heavily favoured, progress depended on boat speed more than anything else. The anticipated duel between Lalli and Taselaar went ahead as Bliksem stretched down the right side of the first downwind leg, while Lalli sailed his own race not allowing Taselaar to dictate his moves. Lalli took the lead at the first mark rounding, ahead of Taselaar. For the first downwind leg, Taselaar gained the advantage by taking the big risk of pursing the left side rounding in second. It was all-out tactics on the second beat, but this time, thanks to Lalli’s moves, it opened up an opportunity to both Taselaar and others including Francesco Martino and tactician Vasco Vascotto on Pilot Italia to do well.

For the second race, Lalli’s advantage had diminished leaving room for Taselaar and Martino to advance. Martino, with Vascotto, the newly crowned Rolex Farr 40 Champion's flair, accelerated through the last gybe a few meters behind Bliksem. Martino, looking to do well on the right, had Bliksem on his radar however. Taselaar and Lalli took first and second respectively.

Despite Taselaar’s win in Scarlino, Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica with a sixth place finish, hangs on to the overall lead of the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series 2010.

Next, the European Melges 32 fleet looks forward to Cagliari, over 13-16 May, where the very first European Melges 32 Championship will take place.

Fully results (after 8 Races and one discard)
1.) Pieter Taselaar/Jeremy Wilmot, Bliksem; 1-2-[8]-1-3-3-3-1 = 14
2.) Luca Lalli / Lorenzo Bressani, B.LinSailing.com; 3-6-2-2-2-2-[7] = 19
3.) Carlo Alberini/Gabriele Benussi, Calvi Network; [9]-4-3-6-6-1-4-5 = 29
4.) Filippo Pacinotti/Freddie Loof, Brontolo; 5-1-4-3-4-[18-BFD]-7.9 = 33
5.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Matteo Ivaldi, Rush Diletta; 2-8-[9]-5-5-5-6-4 = 35
6.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica; [13]-3-7-8-1-4-13-2 = 38
7.) Francesco Martino/Vasco Vascotto, Pilot Italia; 4-[13]-11-4-9-8-1-3 = 40
8.) Wolfgang Stolz/Steve Mohr, Opus One; [16]-10-6-10-12-6-5-10 = 59
9.) Edoardo Pavesio/Michele Giovannini, Maserati Fra Martina; 7-5-[13]-7-7-9-11-[16] = 59
10.) Edoardo Lupi/Branko Brcin, Torpyone; 11-7-1-9-10-11-[DSQ]-14 = 63
11.) Peter Rogers/Ruiradh Scott, Highlife; 6.11-[14]-14-8-7-10-8 = 64
12.) Ferdinando Battistella/Sandrpo Montefusco, Cuervo Y Sobrinos; 15-9-5-13-[16]--12-14-11 = 79
13.) Carlo Pesenti/Pietro D’Ali, i.nova.2; 10-14-12-[15]-13-10-8-12 = 79
14.) Kees Kaan, Rutger Krijeger, ROARK; 14-12-10-[16]-15-15-19-6 = 81
15.) Roberto Pardini/Salvatore Pardini, Janas; 12-[15]-15-12-11-13-12-13 = 89
16.) Martin Knetig/Martin Trcka, Black Mamba; 8-[16]-16-11-14-14-15-15 = 93
17.) Francesco Sereni/Giorgi Valerio, H2SO4; 17-17-17-17-17-16-[18 DNS]-18 DNS = 119

Top five in the overall Audi Melges 32 series

1.) Lanfranco Cirillo, Fantastica
2.) Luca Lalli, B.LinSailing.com
3.) Carlo Alberini, Calvi Network
4.) Mauro Mocchegiani, Rush Diletta
5.) Filippo Pacinotti, Brontolo