| `TORBOLE, ITALY-(12-5-2004) The 7th edition of the International Melges Week, 2nd regatta of the 2004 Volvo Cup, took place last weekend in Torbole on Lake Garda. 40 teams from 7 countries competed in the challenging weather conditions, unusual in May, completing 9 runs (one discard) with southern winds blowing between 12 and 30 knots. No races were held Thursday, with heavy rain and no wind, then 4 runs on friday, with a storm on the race course in the 4th run and one of the Melges losing its mast. Things got better on Saturday, with the sun shining and a steady `Ora` breeze, 3 races completed, and the last two races yesterday (Sunday).
Blu Moon's helmsman Flavio Favini, tactitian on America's Cup `Mascalzone Latino` and 2001 Melges 24 World Champion, rules the class, winning 4 of the 9 races. Racing with Favini were the owner of the boat Franco Rossini, tactician Tiziano Nava, Serena Cima and Andrea Ballico. Blu Moon has already won the first Volvo Cup regatta in Alassio, the Primo Cup in Monte Carlo, and took 2nd place at the Marseille SNIM. Excellent.
Second place for `Devotissimo`, the home team with skipper Silvio Santoni, owner Franco Rao, Manuel Giubellin and Alberto Taddei. Third place for Luca Valerio, European vice-champion in this category and two times world champion on Mumm 30 in the past seasons, racing on Alina with the owner Abbà, Nicolas Dal Ferro, Mereghetti e Daniele Cassinari.
Fourth place for another local team, Luca Stefanini, fifth place for Cohen (Monaco), sixth place goes to Andrea Rachelli, 7th place for the Sydney olympics sailor Nicola Celon, 8th place to Alba Batzil's German team, former world champion on FD, 9th place for Andrea Felci, 10th place to Egidio Babbi, former World Champion on class A catamarans and reigning Melges 24 Corinthian World Champion, who started out with excellent results and lost some ground in the last races.
A special praise and a warm welcome to the Melges24 class for Dodo Gorla, two times in the olympics and winner of a world championship in the Star class exactly 20 years ago. Racing on Melges24 for the first time, he finished 12th with his `Bpr-Barni`, winning the last race. Sailing with him his crew from the Asso99 and a young female sailor, Gaia Scotti, two times italian champion on 420.
Excellent logistics and race organization, coordinated by the experienced Circolo Vela Torbole. 9 teams were from Germany, 5 from Suisse, 2 from Sweden and Austria, 1 from Monaco and Great Britain. It was not an easy task, with another 50 boats in Ufo 22 and Beneteau 25 classes, competing on the same race course with the Melges24.
Last but not least, a special thanks goes to the sponsors: Volvo, Conte of Florence, Finanza & Futuro, North Sails, Chivas Regal, Sky Sport, Pago, Cavit, Giò Style, Samsung, Douglas.
Next race in Italy will be in Rimini in June 4 - 6 for the 3rd Volvo Cup Regatta.
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