Final round and series to Uka Uka

Recchi's team takes Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series

Claudio Recchi and his talented crew aboard Lorenzo Santini’s Uka Uka, rounded off a superb season in the European Melges 32 2008 Audi Sailing Series by winning the final regatta in Lerici, Italy and claiming the overall 2008 Audi Sailing Series crown.

Recchi, a past Mumm 30 World Championship winner, was delighted with his double victory and paid tribute to the skills of all his crew including tactician Gabrielle Benussi and Melges Europe chief Federico Michetti . "All these guys are fantastic to sail with and they are the real reason we have been successful. The Melges 32 is a truly great class, superbly well organised, with marvelous competitors and great venues to race at. Next year I think will be even better, with more boats and a World Championship in Porto Cervo."

Uka Uka’s victory in Lerici was by a margin of just one point over Fusto Rubbini on Thule who applied maximum pressure on the final day by finishing fourth in the first of today’s two races - two places ahead of Uka Uka. Thule went on to win the second race comfortably and with Uka Uka mid fleet for much of the race it looked as though a regatta victory for Thule was on the cards. However Recchi and his crew dug deep and found a way to claw themselves back to an event winning fourth place by the finish. A first race win for Luigi Melegari’s Matrix was enough to secure third overall at the regatta, which placed them second in the season’s series. Stefano & Massimo Leporati aboard Kismet saw their challenge for the overall series title evaporate when they posted an uncharacteristic 10, 9 scoreline today.

With the 2008 Euro regattas now concluded, many of the European Melges 32 teams will be competing on the US winter circuit, which kicks off with the Gold Cup in Fort Lauderdale in December and also includes events at Key West and Miami early in 2009. For boats not traveling abroad there are also plans for an Italian based winter series. The schedule for next year’s European Melges 32 circuit are well advanced and the season will build towards a climax at the inaugural Melges 32 World Championship at Porto Cervo next September.

2008 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series Overal
1. Uka Uka, 89.60pts
2. Matrix, 98.00
3. Kismet, 120.00

You can find more details on: http://www.melges32.com and at http://www.melgeseurope.com