Lanera and Montefusco defend their title

Platu 25 World Championship concludes in Cala De’ Medici

After nine races and an exciting final match race, the Italian boat EUZ II Monella Vagabonda, owned by Francesco Lanera and helmed by Sandro Montefusco is again, for the second consecutive year, Platu 25 World Champion.

A very exciting head to head took place on the final day of racing between Euz II Monella Vagabonda and the Spanish boat Mar de Frades helmed by Carlos Paz.

“We knew that the last race would be decisive," said Lanera. "With the second discard, just two points would separate us from Mar de Frades. We started very well in the last race and we kept them behind throughout the race. On the start line we closed the door between us and the Commitee boat, so we got a good advantage that we maintained in the next two laps. We got it - I’m happy.” 

This left Mar de Frades second having been in contention until the end. “It was an hard-fought World Championship and we struggled until the end for the title,” said Anton Paz. “Until the last race we came close to the goal. We found a very high level in the Platu 25 class. Over the last few days there have been bad weather conditions, with strong winds or no wind and waves. Unfortunately for two days we couldn’t race. But in the end, we had to surrender to the Montefusco’s superiority. For us it’s strange to come second in a World Championship. We’ll try again next year, possibly at Portosin in Spain, near our Yacht Club.”

Mar de Frades was followed by another Italian boat, from Puglia (as are the new World Champions) - Fight for fighting 3 owned by Tommaso De Bellis and helmed by former J/24 World Champion Andrea Casale. For them it was an incredible recovery and today they got an other fantastic bullet in the last race.

“In the first races we had to learn to work well together, because we don’t know well each other," said Casale. "The first race results confirm this 'settlement' phase. Then, after the sixth race, we start believing in our possibilities."

"Yes, it was a a great recovery” agreed owner Tommaso De Bellis. “We are on the podium and we are satisfied. That’s a good point
from which to go ahead and do better.”

The Austrian boat, La Burra owned by Thomas Laherstorfer with the expert Markus Sigrist as  tactician, managed very well throughout this World Championship and finished fourth overall followed by the Spanish Sori, helmed by Ramon Oreja who got a great first in the second today race and performed well all through the Worlds.

With 50 boats participanting, the 2012 Platu 25 World Championship that took place in Cala De’ Medici was a success. The warm welcome by the Yacht Club of Cala De’ Medici and the perfect organisation made this event a special occasion. Furthermore for the Platu 25 crews it was the occasion to meet and face competitors in a fleet that is getting more and more competitive.

Full results here