One Ocean Melges 40 Grand Prix, it’s Inga’s day in Porto Cervo

Porto Cervo, July 7, 2018. It was a perfect day of racing on the course laid out by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, host of the One Ocean Melges 40 Grand Prix, the second event in the 2018 Melges 40 summer season.

After racing was called off yesterday because of strong Mistral wind, Porto Cervo bounced back with a day of perfect conditions with flat waters and steady breeze between 15 and 20 knots. Racing was very close in a compact fleet of top teams where every second made a difference.

Today, the second to last day of racing at this event, was the day for the Swedish team aboard Richard Goransson’s Inga (with Cameron Appleton tactician) current circuit leader and the team to beat in 2018. Inga was turbocharged, attacking every step of the way and closing the day of racing with two second places and a first over three races. For now Inga has edged out Yukihiro Ishida’s Japanese team (with Manuel Weiller tactician) for the lead even though the latter team won first place in the day’s first race.

Alessandro Rombelli’s Stig, with Francesco Bruni tactician, placed 3,1 and 2 today and is currently in third place, just three points behind Inga. This team is still in the running to defend the title they won here in Porto Cervo last year at the first Melges 40 Grand Prix ever. Andrea Lacorte’s Vitamina Cetilar is currently in fourth place, just four points behind the third placed team.

Richard Goransson, owner/helmsman of Inga: “It was an exceptional day of racing here in Porto Cervo and the competition is really heating up. Too bad we can’t feel safe in our first place, we are going to have to sail well and hard because all of the teams here are very strong and any one of them could be in our place this time tomorrow. We are the top-placed team a day before the end of the event, but we know that our adversaries will be sailing hard. We are the ones who have the most to lose: that’s why we really have to give it our all. We are only ahead by a hair, so tomorrow we have to attack. We can’t afford to sail defensively.”

Sailing is scheduled to begin tomorrow morning at 11:30 in light breeze.

Quantum Sails is the event's Technical Partner.