It is fitting that after such a fantastic Championship we have the unique situation that both the main fleet winners Lorenzo Santini’s UKA UKA Racing helmed by Lorenzo Bressani and also the Corinthian winners the Syndicate owned Storm Capital Sail Racing Team helmed by Sivert Denneche now hold the respective World and European titles.

We hope you have enjoyed the coverage of the 2009 Melges 24 European Championship in Hyeres. Our congratulations go to all the winners and in fact to everyone who competed or was involved in the organisation of the regatta. Finally thanks to all of you for watching the Blog and for your main kind words of encouragement. A special word of thanks goes to Greg Wells and Sarah Johnson at TackTick both for their generous sponsorship of the media output from this regatta and for the donation of around a thousand Euro’s worth of Tacktick RaceMaster kit to the winner of the European Corinthian Division.

The IM24CA Media Team will be back in action to bring you all the action as it happens from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship in Annapolis (October 23-31) and we look forward you all joining us then.

UKA UKA Racing finished the final race in fourth place to become the new Melges 24 European Champions.

Pilot Italia won their fourth race of the week followed by Joe Fly in second and the Corinthians on Tork Racing in third.
4th UKA UKA
5th High maintenance
6th Audi
7th No Woman No Cry
8th NED 796 Rapid Sugar
9th Blu Moon
10th Secret Men’s Business (C)
11th ITA 693 Giogi
12th Poizon Rouge
13th JPN 797 Threbond
14th Jekoteam (C)
15th Music 55 (C)

After a beat and a run of being match raced by Blu Moon, Alina finally came home in 19th place.

Provisional overall results by my rough reckoning:

1st UKA UKA Racing 34 points
2nd Alina 56 Points
3rd Blu Moon 58 points

Approaching the windward mark Blu Moon is attacking Alina and the pair have been involved in a proloned tacking match. This has allowed Pilot to pull away at the front and JF to move int second. UKA has been working the right of the beat and looks to have gained on both BM and Alina.

At the mark Pilot lead from Joe Fly then Tork (C) then UKA then No Woman.

BM and Alina came round next and sailed very low on the spreader leg in a full on match race. BM rounded the spreasder mark first with Alina just maanaging not to hit the mark as she came round behind.

Alina has gybe set and heading out to the right of the course but BM is not able to gybe and follow.

Wind has gone to the right on the run so the leaders have all opted to go to the right gate mark. Joe Fly was the furthest right boat and picked up the new breeze first to slip into the lead at the gate but only just from pilot and then Alina. Blu Moon round fourth and UKA in seventh.

Up the second beat Blu Moon have gone furthest left. UKA furthest left and Alina working the middle. When BM and UKA finally converge BM have to duck them.

At the half way point Pilot have regained the lead Alina are up to second Joe Fly third and a neck and neck battle between UKA and BM for fourth.

the right hand side has paid off for Alina and they round second behind Pilot Italia Hurricane.
Next is Joe Fly followed by Blu Moon then GER 582 No Woman No Cry.

Then:
NOR 649 party Girl (Happy Birthday Jens!)
GBR High Maintenance
UKA UKA
NOR Tork Racing Team
ITA Jekoteam
ITA Audi

Leaders all headed out on Starboard and Blu moon was the first to gybe away. A few minutes later Alina also gybed immediately folwed by UKA UKA. Boats half way down the run.

Blu Moon have broken off their cover of Alina and re engaged with UKA. Blu Moon marginally ahead and tacked to leeward and in front of UKA bouncing them off to the left again.

Race 10 underway under Z & I Flag.

A three way match race in the final minute between first UKA and Alina and joined in the last 15 seconds by Blu Moon who got iin between the two boats. Blu Moon to leeward of Alina stopped Alina dead in her tracks at the gun. Blu Moon bore away at the gun aqnd as Alina tacked slowly away Blu Moon put a covering tack on them.

UKA menawhile made a good start in a clean lane and headed out on starboard.
Video uploading now.