UK Melges at SNIM

A report from the UK Classes on their performance at the weekend in Marseilles

Marseilles’s SNIM Regatta is widely accepted as one of the toughest and most prestigious events in the Melges 24 calendar. Rivalling even the European and World Championships it's reputation for big fleets, high winds and a gruelling race programme attracts the cream of European one design yacht racers.

This year the 65 strong fleet included entries from eight nations. A core of 26 French boats was almost eclipsed by the Italians whose 19 strong entourage took eight of the top ten places overall. This impressive performance is testimony to the strength the Melges 24 class in Italy surely makes the them the squad to watch at this year’s upcoming European and World Championships.

It took a past world champion winning team to clinch this year’s overall SNIM title. Franco Rossini’s Swiss entry, comprising a predominantly Italian crew headed by Flavio Flavini, proved to be worthy winners. In a highly competitive fleet and over a wide range of weather conditions they won two races and never dropped outside the top twenty during the 12 race series. Going into the last day a single point separated them from Massimo Bernasconi’s Banca BSI who piled on the pressure by winning the first of the two scheduled races leaving Blu Moon in seventh. Characteristically staying ice cool when it really mattered and in trademark SNIM high wind conditions Flavini’s team hit back with a comprehensive race win to secure an overall three point victory.

Among the four boat UK squad it was once again Quentin Strauss’s Team Gill who acquitted themselves best. Going into the final day with two race wins under already their belt they looked to be strong contenders to break into the top five overall when they led the fleet home in the first race. Delight turned to disappointment when they realised they had picked up their second black flag of the week. Overall they finished a credible 11th and it is clear that Irish Olympian and 1720 legend Mark Mansfield has quickly got to grips with Melges and will be a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.

Stuart Simpson’s Team Barbarians won the fourth race and clocked in three top 15 results but struggled with the big fleet starts and picked up two black flags along the way which dropped them to 24th overall.

Paul Lovejoy’s team aboard The Badger managed to avoid the black flag all weekend and hit their peak with a sixth place in race six. Some poor results towards the end of the week set them down to 28th overall. Tim Collins and his Easy Tiger squad scored four top 15 results but a couple of poor races on Saturday morning and a black flag on the last day put paid to their chances of a top twenty overall place leaving them in 35th.

The UK Melges fleet will now be focused closer to home with two tune-up regattas in May at Torquay - venue for this year’s European Championships before June’s UK National Championships which take place in Jersey.

UK Squad Results:

11th Team Gill - Quentin Strauss 15,1,25,26,23,13,1,6,BFD,5,BFD,9
12th Team Barbarians - Stuart Simpson 41,BFD,20,1,26,22,43,10,14,15,BFD,25
28th The Badger - Paul Lovejoy 20,22,63,14,31,6,21,28,34,35,50,38
35th Easy Tiger - Tim Collins 29,15,58,55,41,8,13,43,15,36,BFD,44

For the event report and full results - click here