STIG extends away

After two deep results for Jason Carroll at the Melges 32 Worlds in Trapani

Any sailor thinking they were going to have a shorter day after an on-shore postponement on the fourth day at the 2015 Melges 32 Worlds in Trapani were sorely mistaken. The plan was to delay the start, wait for the breeze to build and bang off three quality races, but instead a weak northerly wind tricked and teased the 22 boat fleet, eventually completing two races under a setting sun that shook up the standings for a second day in a row.

Once assembled at the race area around 2:30 pm, PRO Anderson Reggio set a course for 300 degrees, presenting the sailors with a direction not previously seen ultimately setting forth new challenges. After a general recall and another Z-flag start, the fleet quickly spread out with those still thinking the right was the place to be, while a pack started at the pin and raced to the left corner in the search of fresh wind.

With the fleet looking even halfway up the beat, it was Alec Cutler's Hedgehog who headed to the left side, and took advantage of more pressure at the top left and rounded in first. After gybing early however, Cutler would fall victim to those who extended to the right corner downwind and were able to lead into the gates. Holding on to take the win in impressive fashion was Andrea Ferrari on Spirit of Nerina, followed by Andrea Lacorte on Vitamina and Roberto Tomasini Grinover on Robertissima.

After another lengthy delay for the breeze to settle in between races, Race Eight began with another general recall and Z-flag. With the breeze attempting to clock to the comfortable 030 direction putting the right corner back into play, the boat once again was a popular place to be. With a clean start, Yukihiro Ishida's Yasha Samurai got off clean at the boat and led to the right corner, followed by overnight leader Alessandro Rombelli's STIG and the fashionable Filippo Pacinotti on Bronotolo HH. Gybe setting at the top mark, it looked like Ishida might have a chink in their armour with a ripped panel on their spinnaker, but they fended off Rombelli all the way around the track to take a well-deserved and much gratifying win.

Two races remain and Rombelli appears to have a solid grip on the Championship lead after Jason Carroll on Argo stumbled posting two disappointing scores. While only a few teams have a mathematical chance to clinch the title, the ball seems to be in Rombelli's court. If they are able to post a top-three finish in the Race Nine, it would move the World Championship trophy and title a little closer to their grasp.
Sunday's forecast is slightly more positive, however there is plenty of opportunity for anyone to post a deep score and take a tumble down the standings.

Top 10 results after eight races and one discard
1.) Alessandro Rombelli/Francesco Bruni, STIG; 2-2-4-3-1-[18]-4-2 = 18
2.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 4-3-1-2-4-4-[21]-15 = 33
3.) Ryan DeVos/Mark Mendelblatt, Volpe; 3-4-8-14-9-2-[19]-5 = 45
4.) Roberto Tomasini Grinover/Vasco Vascotto, Robertissima; 1-[21]-2-13-12-9-3-6 = 46
5.) Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio/Branko Brcin, G-SPOT; 12-10-5-1-7-1-15-[18] = 51
6.) Andrea Ferrari/Roberto Spata, Spirit of Nerina; 7-7-[16]-11-11-10-1-4 = 51
7.) Yukihiro Ishida/Hamish Pepper, Yasha Samurai; 11-6-3-16-[20]-3-17-1 = 57
8.) Keisuke Suzuki/Nicolai Sehested, Swing; 14-8-6-5-6-7-12-[20] = 58
9.) Dalton DeVos/Jonathan McKee, Delta; 13-5-19-4-3-[20]-9-7 = 60
10.) Filippo Pacinotti/Gabrio Zandona, Brontolo HH; 9-[20]-13-12-2-12-14-3 = 65