2019 Worlds: Bombarda Takes it All and the Melges 24 Fleet Flies Toward the Worlds

September 22, 2019 - Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy - "Since the very first day of training here in Villasimius, the feeling with the race course and the boat has been positive. This positive wake has continued even in the following days of racing, which have allowed us to climb on the highest step of the podium in an event that, above all on the psychological level and on the motivation of the crew, has a fundamental role in view of the great seasonal goal, the World Championship of October" - these are the words by Andrea Pozzi, owner of Bombarda ITA860, returning to the dock in Villasimius.

The crew of Andrea Pozzi dominated the three-days-racing of the Melges 24 Pre-Worlds in Villasimius leaving behind the Italian crew of Marco Zammarchi's Taki 4 ITA778 with Niccolo Bertola in helm, overall silver and winner of the Corinthian division, in continuous comeback after the first day of racing, and the Hungarian FGF Sailing Team HUN728 helmed by Robert Bakoczy, which in Day Two had repeatedly tried to slow down the advance of Bombarda.

The Corinthian podium sees Estonian Lenny EST790 of Tõnu Tõniste closing the event in second position, with the German entry of Michael Tarabochia White Room GER677 with Luis Tarabochia in helm stepping on the third place of the podium.

Daily winners in Day Three were, in the order, Bombarda, Taki 4 and Andrea Racchelli's Altea ITA722 (who finished fourth overall).

With extremely variable conditions over the weekend, Villasimius once again showed the beauty of its race course: the crews found themselves facing wind up to twenty knots with a steep wave, but also a light breeze with a long swell, putting themselves to the test in the best possible way with the race course, which, on October 8th, will put challenge with a five-days of racing valid as Melges 24 World Championship 2019.

Top 10 of the Pre-Worlds
1. Bombarda, ITA860, Andrea Pozzi - 1 -1 -1 -7 -4 -1 -[9] -2 ; 17
2. Taki 4, ITA778, (C) Marco Zammarchi - 3 -5 -[24] -1 -5 -3 -1 -5 ; 23
3. FGF Sailing Team, HUN728, Robert Bakoczy - 8 -4 -4 -2 -1 -2 -10 -[24] ; 31
4. Altea, ITA722, Andrea Racchelli - 5 -2 -10 -5 -3 -[24] -12 -1 ; 38
5. Zingara, CAN853, Richard Reid - 4 -12 -2 -3 -7 -[16] -8 -4 ; 40
6. Mikey, USA835, Kevin Welch - 2 -8 -3 -[17] -10 -8 -7 -9 ; 47
7. Nefeli, GER859, Peter Karrié - 9 -[17] -14 -8 -6 -7 -5 -3 ; 52
8. Lenny, EST790, (C) Tõnu Tõniste - 13 -3 -[24] -6 -9 -5 -14 -8 ; 58
9. Melgina, ITA693, Paolo Brescia - 7 -6 -8 -12 -15 -9 -6 -[24] ; 63
10. Epervier, ITA383, Ernesto Brianza - [24] -16 -6 -9 -2 -15 -3 -14 ; 65
Full results
Pre-Worlds site in Yachtscoring

There are already 62 boats registered, representing as many as 15 nations from 3 continents, but it is estimated the number could still grow by some units: a beautiful result for a one design that exceeds twenty five years of age but which continues to maintain an unparalleled charm.

Photogallery Day 1 by ©Zerogradinord
Photogallery Day 2 by ©Zerogradinord