Melges Worlds sees record number of entries

August 23, 2006 17:54 0 comments

Sunday 27th August will see a record breaking 126 Melges 24 teams from fourteen nations commence battle on the beautiful Hyeres Bay in the South of France for the 2006 Melges 24 World Championship sponsored by Aigle, Euro-Voiles and Hyeres Les Palmi

Sunday 27th August will see a record breaking 126 Melges 24 teams from fourteen nations commence battle on the beautiful Hyeres Bay in the South of France for the 2006 Melges 24 World Championship sponsored by Aigle,
Euro-Voiles and Hyeres Les Palmiers. The COYCH is hosting the regatta and the town of Hyeres is preparing to welcome some 600 competitors and their families for this incredible festival of sailing.

The exceptional number of entries dictates that the fleet will be split between two courses to ensure fair racing. Registration will open on Wednesday 23 August with practise racing on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 August. Championship racing begins on Sunday 27 August with the first of 6 round robin races to decide the gold and silver fleets. Once the gold and silver fleets have been split a further 6 races are scheduled to complete the championship which concludes on Friday 1 September.

Reigning World Champion James Spithill and his Luna Rossa crew are unable to defend because of their America’s Cup commitments.

The French are fielding the largest team with 38 boats and among those hoping for a home team win will be the 2004 World Championship winning Partner & Partners Team from La Rochelle. This crew is led by Philippe
Ligot and helmed by Francois Brenac.

At 35 boats the Italian team may not be quite as large but it is probably the strongest in the regatta. The top Italian crews include 2006 Melges 24 Volvo Cup winner Cesara Bressan, sailing GEBL for Sandro Montefusco;
Maurizio Abba, sailing Alina for Luca Valerio; Andrea Racchelli aboard Altea; Ezio Amadore, helming Nicola Celon’s Bete; and Riccardo Simoneschi in F.lli Giacomel.

As always there are several British teams to keep an eye on including John Pollard aboard Xcellent and Jamie Lea helming Team Barbarians for Stuart Simpson. The ever competitive Strauss brothers, Quentin and Simon, will once again be vying for a major title and Irish Olympian Mark Mansfield will helm for Simon aboard Team Gill while Stuart Rix will helm for Quentin aboard Gill.

The US contingent may be small but it is perfectly formed as it incorporates the legendary Dave Ullman, sailing for Philippe Kahn’s Team Pegasus from California, and reigning Melges 24 North American Champion Brian Porter, whose Full Throttle crew from the Mid-West includes 2002 World Champion Harry Melges.

From Germany Alba Batzill and Eddy Eich aboard No Woman No Cry are looking to add the Corinthian (all amateur) World Title to their haul which already includes the European Corinthian title. Swiss Franco Rossini’s Blu Moon won the Melges 24 Worlds in 2001 with Flavio Favini at the helm and will be hoping for a repeat performance with new helm Chris Rast of 470 and 49er fame.
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Fiona Brown