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Two Brit teams will join the final event in the Melges 32's Audi Sailing Series

The final event of the five regatta 2008 Audi Sailing Series at the Circolo Vela Erix in Lerici has attracted the largest entry so far and up to 15 boats are expected to come to the startline. Stuart Simpson’s UK entry Team Barbarians with North Sails Ireland boss Nigel Young calling tactics will be making their first appearance on the European circuit. Also travelling from the UK is Joe Woods’s Red team who are fresh from their last Melges 32 outing at the San Francisco Big Boat Series.
 
The Lerici event will decide the overall winner of the 2008 Audi Sailing Series and consequently the racing is  expected to be fast and furious. Going into this regatta Claudio Recchi at the helm of Lorenzo Santini’s Uka  Uka Racing leads the field with 76.6 points. In second is Stefano & Massimo Leporati’s Kismet on 82 points and in third on 84 points is Luigi Melegari’s Matrix. The scene is set for a fantastic three way battle for the overall series title and the rivalry between the helmsmen is matched by the fight for supremacy amongst  the three tacticians. Gabriele Benussi on Uka Uka, Francesco Bruni on Kismet and Matteo Ivaldi on Matrix will all be supremely focused on finishing 2008 as European Melges 32 champions.
 
Crew registration and weighing takes place at the Circolo Vela Erix on Thursday 2 October and racing starts on Friday running through to Sunday. Eight races are scheduled.