Taselaar Takes Scarlino Lead

 Scarlino (Grosseto), May 1, 2010 - Pieter Taselaar, reigning World Champion is in front of 17-strong Melges 32 fleet after six races completed in Scarlino. He has officially pierced the heart of the fleet, which seems, at this point seems customary to see him grabbing the best scores placing him atop the leader board at the 2010 Audi Sailing Series.

Taselaar and his Bliksem team appear to not only be the team to beat, but even in the most complex racing situations, advance around the course, climb through the positions and place well. B.LinSailing.com’s Luca Lalli and tactician Lorenzo Bressani are second overall, however they refuse to give an inch to Taselaar.

Saturday’s racing was characterized by a maximum of 18 knots of breeze at 180 degrees. Taselaar found success in the first race of the day with the help of tactician Jeremy Wilmot, further deeming they are the ones in charge. The windward beat was a lot like a great game of chess, where tacticians scrambled for options as the breeze shifted from the left side of the course and increased pressure by pointing to the right. Finishing close behind Taselaar was Lalli (whose high level of consistency is his best weapon). Overnight leader Filippo Pacinotti on Brontolo with Freddy Loof on tactics dueled to the finish taking third, just ahead of Francesco Martino’s Pilot Italia flanked by Vasco Vascotto.

Race two presented Lanfranco Cirillo on Fantastica as the winner. Eager to get back to the level of performance his team delivered in Lerici, Cirillo handed down great boat speed and the power required to win. Lalli challenged Cirillo yet settled for second and held off Taselaar who took third.

The wind increased for the final race of the day and the seas got larger. The fleet was feeling the pressure with two start attempts resulting in general recalls. The third start came about with black flag penalties in play, and unfortunately Pacinotti felt the full effect. Up until this moment, he was one of the teams that was doing quite well in the points standing. This toppled him from first to third after six races and a discard. Success was grand for 2009 Series Champion Carlo Alberini on Calvi Network winning without worry, special thanks to tactician Gabriele Benussi. Lalli placed second and Taselaar finishing closely in third.

Only racing will tell on Sunday, the final race day in Scarlino, as to whether or not Taselaar will be able to hold on to the lead and continue his record of most consecutive wins in the Audi Sailing Series. Will his winning streak continue or will it stifle his ambitions to be the most victorious Melges 32 in the fleet?

ON THE DOCK PARTY WITH H2SO4 After a long, hard day of racing in Scarlino, brand new Melges 32 owner Francesco Serena on H2SO4 made sure the teams relaxed the right way once back at the docks with an incredible dock party. Teams sipped beer and beverages and discussed the day’s excitement on the water. A very, very special thanks to Francesco and his H2SO4 Melges 32 team for the perfect afternoon! View The H2SO4 Dock Party

TOP TEN RESULTS (After 6 Races and Discard)

1.) Pieter Taselaar/Jeremy Wilmot, Bliksem; 1-2-[8]-1-3-3 = 10
2.) Luca Lalli / Lorenzo Bressani, B.LinSailing.com; 3-[6]-2-2-2-2 = 11
3.) Filippo Pacinotti/Freddy Loof, Brontolo; 5-1-4-3-4-[BFD] - 17
4.) Carlo Alberini/Gabriele Benussi, Calvi Network; [9]-4-3-6-6-1 = 20
5.) Lanfranco Cirillo/Michele Paoletti, Fantastica; [13]-3-7-8-1-4 = 23
6.) Mauro Mocchegiani/Matteo Ivaldi, Rush Diletta; 2-8-[9]-5-5-5 = 25
7.) Edoardo Pavesio/Michele Giovannini, Maserati Fra Martina; 7-5-[13]-7-7-9 = 35
8.) Francesco Martino/Vasco Vascotto, Pilot Italia; 4-[13]-11-4-9-8 = 36
9.) Edoardo Lupi/Branko Brcin, Torpyone; [11]-7-1-9-10-10 = 38
10.) Wolfgang Stolz/Steve Mohr, Opus One; [16]-10-6-10-12-6 = 44

Full Crew List

Full Series Ranking Results (After 1 Event)

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