Italians lead the charge

Melges 32s at Quantum Key West Race Week

Premiere Racing's 2013 Quantum Key West Race Week fires up on Monday. Among the fleets taking part in the USA's annual season opener are the Melges 32 which this year will feature 11 boats. While a modest fleet, it represents six nations including Italy, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia and of course, the USA.

Key West marks the continuation of the 2013 Melges 32 Midwinter Series and will provide five days of the finest yacht racing competition.

The Melges 32 fleet has attracted some of the very best owners and sailors in the world. Among the elite field of competitors is none other than Vincenzo Onorato helming Mascalzone Latino with the aide of Gabriele Benussi, fast becoming one of Italy's most decorated tacticians. Another highly acclaimed Italian team is Roberto Tomasini Grinover's Robertissima I with tactician Flavio Favini on tactics and last but not least, is Andrea Pozzi's Bombarda packing a double punch with multiple World Champions Lorenzo Bressani on tactics and Federico Michetti as crew.

Other strong teams returning to Key West include Joel Ronning on Catapult, Alex Jackson on Leenabarca featuring British Laser gold medallist Paul Goodison on tactics, Japan's Keisuke Suzuki on Swing and Terry McSweeney/Trey Sheehan on Flat Stanley.

McSweeney, along with co-owner Sheehan, are 21 year veteran competitors of Key West Race Week. "Trey and I always look forward to the (usually) warm tropical weather with great sailing conditions," he said. "Traditionally, KWRW has the highest level of international grand prix competition in the U.S. and allows us amateurs the opportunity to mix it up with the best in the world on- and off- the- water. KWRW never fails to provide great racing and incredible nightlife throughout the week."

Practice racing and pre-registration begins today with the commencement of full registration on Sunday. Racing kicks off on Monday with a harbour start at 1015 and first warning signal at 1130.

Line-up
1.) Andrea Pozzi/Lorenzo Bressani, Bombarda
2.) Joel Ronning/ Ed Adams, Catapult
3.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica
4.) T. Sheehan/T. McSweeney/Seadon Wijsen, Flat Stanley
5.) Deneen Demourkas/Kelvin Harrap, Groovederci
6.) Richard Goransson/Hamish Pepper, Inga From Sweden 3
7.) Alex Jackson/Paul Goodison, Leenabarca
8.) Vincenzo Onorato/Gabriele Benussi, Mascalzone Latino
9.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Flavio Favini, Robertissima 1
10.) Keisuke Suzuki/Chris Nicolson, Swing
11.) Valentin Zavadnikov/Leonid Lebedev/Tommaso Chieffi, Synergy GT