Official Melges 24 Blog

All you need is an iPhone….

UKA UKA Racing’s bowman is 15 year old Matteo from Italy who was brought to key west to stand in for their regular bowman who is out injured due to a skiing accident. He is obviously doing a great job as the Italian team have led the class since day one.

We chatted to Matteo via UKA UKA Racing trimmer Federico Michetti as the pair arrived early this morning to prep the boat.

Lorenzo Santini’s UKA UKA racing continues to lead the Melges 24 class after four days and eight races. Their lead has been slightly diminished however going into the last day they still have a healthy seven point advantage over franco Rosini’s Blu Moon. This Swiss entry were boat of the day today with a third and a first and they have a margin of six points over Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly who matched UKA UKA Racing with a second and a fifth today. Alan Field continues to be the best of the American teams and consolidated this position by winning race one and finishing eighth in the final race of the day.Going into the final day they sit just six points away from a podium position overall. They will need to be mindful of the challenge from behind from Ricrdo Simoneschi and Vince Brun who lie four and seven points respectively back.

The Melges 24 overall results are far from easy to predict and with two races scheduled for tomorrow none of the top teams can afford to falter as the series comes to a tense conclusion. We will be out on the water to bring you all the action so check back for our roundup of the final results tomorrow. Until then here is the video action from today’s races:

Start of race 7:

Race 7 first windward mark:

Race 8 Start:

Second leeward marks race 8:

Start of race 5:

Race 5 leeward gate:

Finish of race 5:

Race 6 first downwind:

Race 6 second windward mark:

Charlie McKee – tactician on Ricardo Simoneschi’s Giacomel Audi:

Vince Brun – helm on Bailout:

Start of race 3:

Race 3 1st windward mark:

Second windward mark:

UKA UKA Racing send it downwind:

Ricardo Simoneschi downwind:

Start of Race 4:

Melges 24
Uka Uka
Blu Moon
Joe Fly
Alan Field
Ricardo Simoneschi
Vince Brun
John Kolious
Brian Porter
Arthur Ansov
James Whatmore

Uka Uka then Bailout (Brun) the John Kolious.

Wind is down to seven knots. It has been as high as 18. The heavy rain has eased but it is still wet.

Start video here…