Three way tie for the top

As the Audi Melges 32 European Championship kick off in Porto Cervo

The first day of the Audi Melges 32 European Championship, an event organised by Plan-B Sport & Events in collaboration with Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Melges Europe, started a couple of hours late due to the almost total absence of wind, but finished with a full schedule of three windward-leeward races. In the end, three teams lead the top of provisional ranking: Andrea Pozzi's Bombarda leads thanks to a bullet in the second race; second is Wolfgang Stolz's Opus One and third is Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino. All three are at 15 points.

"Today was a tricky day out there. The wind was up and down, and a little shifty, but that adds a bit of fun to the fleet," commented double 470 Olympic Gold Medallist Nathan Wilmot, tactician aboard Mascalzone Latino. "In the Melges 32 fleet, it is so close at the top that everyone has a chance of winning. It was good close racing and good fun. Hopefully we'll get a little more wind during the week, although the forecast isn't giving that. This is only our third regatta as a team so the important thing for us is to get used to sailing together."

Race one started shortly after 1300 in approximately 9 knots of breeze from 095° which would gradually shift right throughout the course of the day to 120 for the last race.

Red, helmed by Britain's Joe Woods, immediately claimed the lead, followed by Stolz and Lanfranco Cirillo's Fantastica.

It took PRO Fabio Barrasso a matter of just a few minutes to start the second race of the day. Fairly new to the fleet, Pozzi remained behind Stolz until the second windward mark. He was quick to overtake taking the win with Stolz moving back into second place, the Japanese team, Mamma Aiuto! finished third.

The breeze increased to 11 knots for the third race. Pozzi turned the top mark in first, heeled by Mauro Mocchegiani's Rush Diletta in second. After two legs Mocchegiani took the lead. The final ranking of the last race of the day was: Mocchegiani, Pozzi and Jason Carroll’s Argo finishing third.

The Audi Melges 32 European Championship will continue tomorrow. The forecast is for 8 to 10 knots of southeasterly breeze. Racing is scheduled to start at 11.30 a.m.

Full results here