STIG fights back

Light conditions prevail for day three of the Melges 32 Worlds in Trapani

A high pressure system hung over Sicily for the start of the third day of racing at the 2015 Melges 32 World Championship organised by B.Plan Sport & Events in cooperation with Melges Europe. Another weak northeast gradient lingered producing a 6-8 knot northerly wind, with the breeze dipping below class minimums on occasion. PRO Anderson Reggio exercised patience, eventually firing off two quality races.

The starting sequence for Race Five witnessed several general recalls and a postponement due to lack of wind. The first start eventually got underway with a Z-flag in effect. It was a tough start for some as several teams were OCS and ended up having to take a harsh 20% penalty.

The boat end of the line was a popular spot to be and those who got off clean (and for some late), onto port tack early, headed for the right corner were able to take advantage of the stronger breeze funneling the Trapani city front. Melges 32 veteran Filippo Pacinotti and his fashionable Brontolo HH team took an early lead. Pacinotti lead a full lap but eventually succumbed to advances made by Alessandro Rombelli's STIG. Rombelli proved the strength of his team by taking the win, Pacinotti settled for second. Dalton DeVos' Delta showed solid determination after a brutal start, picking their way around the fleet to finish and impressive third.

Race Six produced yet another challenging start featuring more general recall action and yet another Z-Flag start. With no boats OCS, the fleet was all clear and racing was as if it was on repeat - go from the boat to the right corner was the play of the day. Ryan DeVos' Volpe started late at the boat, lead to the right and approached the top in good form. But it was Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio's G-SPOT who started slightly down from the boat end and blazed upwind on port tack, rounding first just in front of DeVos.

"Our plan was to start clean near the boat and get to the right corner. We did not think the current was as big of an advantage on the right side today, but the breeze did seem to be stronger," commented crafty tactician Branko Brcin aboard G-SPOT. "We also had some nice speed upwind too which certainly helped with battling boats around the race course."

It was di Lapigio's superior boat speed that ultimately granted him the win in Race Six. DeVos finished second, followed by Japan's Yukihiro Ishida's Yasha Samurai in third.

Winning the lone race on Day Two and the final race today enabled di Lapigio to get a better grip on third place overall and reel in top leaders Rombelli and Jason Carroll on Argo just a little bit closer.

Despite posting an incredible all top-five finishes, Carroll dropped from first to second place now two points behind Rombelli. The skeleton in the closet is the eighteenth place finish that the STIG team posted in Race Six and now must maintain scoring perfection for the final four World Championship races.

The forecast for Saturday looks to be more promising. The fleet has its fingers crossed hoping for similar conditions to opening day.

2015 Melges 32 World Championship racing continues tomorrow for a fourth consecutive day in Trapani with a one o'clock start time (ET) and if the forecast holds, it will be a three race day.

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