It was Michele Paoletti's Strambapapà to grab the victory in the first event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2022, held in Rovinj, Croatia along the weekend on April 1-3, which finished with nine valid races sailed. The last three of them took place on Sunday in south-westerly wind up to 8,5 knots and sunshine, with the ancient city of Rovinj and the Church of St. Euphemia on the background. Season opener was a success thanks to the organization of the Croatian Melges 24 Class Association, ACI Marina Rovinj and JK Maestral in cooperation with the International Melges 24 Class Association.

The crew of the former Italian Soling class Olympian, driven among the shift of wind by Giovanna Micol, a 470 specialist who took part at the Olympic Game in Beijing and London, was able to complete its comeback, moving from the second position to the top spot of the ranking.
Interview with Giovanna Micol - Tactician onboard of Michele Paoletti's Strambapapa ITA689

The consequence of this was the sliding of Croatian Ante Botica's Mataran 24 to the second step of the podium: an event to be remembered by this Corinthian crew that was able to keep that position for the first two days of the event.
Interview with Ivo Matic - Tactician onboard of Ante Botica's Mataran 24 CRO383

To complete the podium, tied on points with Mataran 24, was Luka Šangulin's Panjic, well assisted by the experienced Croatian sailing rockstar, Tomislav Basic.

Looking at the Top Five, fourth position went to former Croatian Olympian Ivan Kljakovic Gašpic at the helm of Universitas Nova, that slipped out from the podium right at the end of the final race due to the return of Panjic while fifth place went to Paolo Brescia's Melgina, with Simon Sivitz calling the tactics, the winner of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2021.

Mandatory mention for the new entry of Italian Marcello Caldonazzo Arvedi's Gilles that, helmed by Pietro D'Alí, an Italian legend able to be in the America's Cup, in the Olympic and Whitbread, well assisted by the former 470 World Champion Andrea Trani, managing to finish the event on sixth place despite two UFDs and thanks to three bullets and the rest of the scores in top three.
Interview with Marcello Caldonazzo Arvedi, the owner of Gilles ITA793

Talking about the Corinthians, behind of Mataran 24 the podium was completed by Miles Quinton's Gill Race Team (GBR) with Geoff Carveth helming, able to be second in two races, and Akos Csolto's Seven-Five-Nine (HUN), the winner of Race Four.

The Melges 24 European Sailing Series is looking now towards Trieste, where Società Triestina Sport del Mare - ASD will organize the second act of the season, scheduled between the end of April and the beginning of May.

Top Six after 9 races sailed (30 boats):

Strambapapa ITA689 of Michele Paoletti 2-9-(14)-7-3-4-1-6-6 38 pts
Mataran CRO383 (COR) of Ante Botica 1-3-7-(23)-8-1 -4-12-10 46 pts
Panjic CRO739 of Luka Šangulin (13)-5-2-8-13-7-5-3-3 46 pts
Universitas Nova CRO567 of Ivan Kljakovic Gašpic 3-6-3-2-14-13-3-(16)-4 48 pts
Melgina ITA693 of Paolo Brescia 7-1-(31 UFD)-3-5-12-9-5-7 49 pts
Gillesi ITA793 of Marcello Caldonazzo Arvedi 6-(31 UFD)-1-6-31 UFD-3-2-1-1 51 pts

Corinthian Top Three (12 boats):

(2.) Mataran CRO383 of Ante Botica 1-3-7-(23)-8-1 -4-12-10 46 pts
(7.) Gill Race Team GBR694 of Miles Quinton 11-2-11-10-(17)-5-11-8-2 60 pts
(10.) Seven-Five-Nine Hun759 of Akos Csolto 5-4-9-1-22-22-6-2-(31UFD) 71 pts

Final results
Notice Board
Photos of the event - IM24CA / Zerogradinord

2022 Melges 24 European Sailing Series is scheduled with 6 events:
April 1-3 - Rovinj, CRO
April 29 - May 1 - Trieste, ITA
May 27-29 - Attersee, AUT
July 22-24 - Riva del Garda, ITA
September 23-25 - Imperia, ITA
October 22-29 - Genova, ITA - Melges 24 European Championship