Melges 32 : Taselaar pulls ahead to lead Newport Nationals
Saturday, 28 July 2012
Newport delivered stunning racing conditions, enabling multiple class Champions to forge ahead on the first day of racing
Amidst glorious sunshine and a fantastic 10-12 knots of breeze, 2009 Melges 32 World Champion Pieter Taselaar (Scarsdale, NY) on Bliksem proved that he has not lost his touch when it comes to Melges 32 racing. Taselaar, after winning Race One and Two of an eight part series, sits atop the fleet of twenty-five competitors at the 2012 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship. Reigning North American Champion and former National Champ (2010) Ryan DeVos (Macatawa, MI) aboard Volpe is second trailing by two points. Defending National champion Jason Carroll (New York, NY) and his Team Argo are third.
Taselaar kicked off the event on a very strong note, as did North American Fleet President John Taylor (Jupiter, FL) on Ninkasi. On the first downwind run of Race One, Taylor pulled ahead and extended ever so slightly. Taselaar eventually regained the lead taking the win just before crossing the finish line. Steve Rhyne's (Seabrook, TX) Mojo finished third.
Race Two revealed Taselaar at the front of the fleet again, leading from start to finish, holding off DeVos from advancing any higher than second place. Taylor came third.
The final race of the day, presented Miami Champion Alec Cutler (Pembroke, Bermuda) on Hedgehog in first place. After a disappointing twenty-second result in Race One, and an eighth in Race Two, Cutler did an amazing job keeping cool to win the last heat of the day. Alex Jackson's (Riverside, CT) Leenabarca got into the groove to finish second, while Michael Dominguez (Barrington, RI) on Bronco fought hard to collect a third place finish.
SPECIAL THANKS TO SUPPORTING SPONSOR SENTIENT JET
The International Melges 32 Class Association (IM32CA) wishes to thank Nationals Supporting Sponsor Sentient Jet for the after racing party at the Newport Shipyard. After a long, somewhat intense day of Melges 32 racing, teams enjoyed complementary beer, wine and food in celebration of the Championship. For more information, visit Sentient online at www.sentient.com.
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TOP TEN RESULTS (After 3 Races)
1.) Pieter Taselaar/Nick Thompson, Bliksem; 1-1-13 = 15
2.) Ryan DeVos/Ed Baird, Volpe; 5-2-10 = 17
3.) Jason Carroll/Cameron Appleton, Argo; 11-4-5 = 20
4.) Steve Howe/Morgan Larson, Warpath; 8-10-4 = 22
5.) Phil Lotz/Brad Read, Arethusa; 10-6-6- = 22
6.) Benjamin Schwartz/Mike Buckley, Pisces; 6-7-9 = 22
7.) John Kilroy/Jeremy Wilmot, Samba Pa Ti; 7-11-7 = 25
8.) John Taylor/Jeff Madrigali, Ninkasi; 2-3-23 = 28
9.) Alec Cutler/Tom Burnham, Hedgehog; 22-8-1 = 31
10.) Alex Jackson/Charlie McKee, Leenabarca; 17-12-2 = 31
2013 VIRGIN ISLANDS SAILING SERIES
The IM32CA and Team INTAC cordially invite Melges 32s worldwide to participate in the 2013 Virgin Islands Sailing Series (VISS). This exciting, all-new Caribbean winter/spring racing series is designed to provide a high level of sailing venue diversity and competition. The Series consists of three sanctioned events in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands — February 21-24, March 22-24, April 26-28, and one unsanctioned event on March 29-31. Special thanks to the following 2013 VISS Party sponsors: British Virgin Islands Tourism Board, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, The Moorings/TUI Marine, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), International Rolex Regatta 2013, BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival and INTAC Global Investments.
Joy Dunigan
International Melges 32 Class Press Officer
Last Updated ( Saturday, 28 July 2012 )
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