Three Days, Eight Races, One Champion:
2012 MELGES 32 GOLD CUP Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nov 30-Dec. 2 By Mary Catherine Finnerty and Joy Dunigan Photo Credit: ©2012 JOY | IM32CA
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Jason Carrol’s Argo, with tactician Cameron Appleton, winner of the Gold Cup, with 22 points.
48 January 2013
SOUTHWINDS
he Lauderdale Yacht Club set the stage for the fifth official running of the Melges 32 Gold Cup in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Fifteen teams, representing six countries assembled for an amazing regatta, packed with the sport of sailing’s brightest and biggest stars, accompanied by high winds and massive seas throughout the highly competitive three-day event. The first day was heightened with the presence of a steady 15-20 knots of breeze and monster seas with waves reaching nine feet, allowing for great downwind rides throughout the day. After three races, Italy’s Roberto Tomasini Grinover’s Robertissima 1, with Vasco Vascotto on tactics, held the overall championship lead after acquiring an impressive daily 2-2-1 score line. Eleven points behind and in second place, was Jason Carroll’s Argo, with tactician Cameron Appleton. Andrea Pozzi’s Bombarda, with Lorenzo Bressani as tactician, completed the top three, one slim point behind Carroll. On day one, winner of the first race Joel Ronning, on Catapult, stunned the competition by taking the lead at the first top mark, then extending for the win. Tomasini Grinover grabbed a close second, while Carroll settled for third. Race two winner, Lanfranco Cirillo, on Fantastica, came on strong for the win, with Tomasini Grinover in second, and Joe Woods’ Red in third. Race three, the last and final heat for day one, seemed to come easy to Tomasini Grinover as he stood steadfast and strong to win. Steve Howe’s Warpath finished second, and Pozzi came in third. The second day began with a beautiful 15-20 knots, moderate seas, warm temperatures and lots of sunshine. Tomasini Grinover continued his lead overall. Carroll’s Argo also kept his second-place position, yet closed the points gap substantially, putting him within striking distance of the trophy. Pozzi’s Bombarda stood firm in third. It took the overly aggressive fleet three attempts at a start to get things going with Pozzi sneaking in ahead of Alex Jackson’s Leenabarca at the top mark to lead, followed by Carroll and Tomasini Grinover. Pozzi laid down a strong performance to win race four. Jackson persevered to finish second, while Howe’s Warpath made great strides on the final downwind run to finish third. Carroll and Tomasini Grinover rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth places. The last two races of the day witnessed Tomasini Grinover and Carroll waging a fierce war. Tomasini Grinover took his worst score of the event in race five, while Carroll and his spirited Argo team triumphed with a double-bullet in the afternoon, winning race five and six of the series. In race five, Carroll, along with Dalton DeVos on Delta and Cirillo on Fantastica kept to the right for pressure, working it back to the middle for the rounding. DeVos grabbed the initial lead with Carroll hot on his heels, followed by new-boat owner Richard Goransson on Inga From Sweden in www.southwindsmagazine.com