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Forum Index : Discussion: Event Reports: Melges 24 North American Championship 2008

The Publisher ***** Oct 30, 2008, 7:03 AM Post #1 of 6 (1443 views) Shortcut Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 Log-In to Post Melges 24 2008 North American Championship October 29-November 1, 2008 28 OCTOBER 2008 • On the eve of the International Melges 24 2008 North American Championship being hosted by the Eastport YC in Annapolis, Maryland this week, virtually all of the forty-nine competing teams are through finished registration and have successfully launched their boats. Today’s practice race had to be abandoned when the forecast thirty knot plus winds arrived with a vengeance. Despite the ferocious conditions, some brave teams did venture afloat for brief but spectacular training sessions. Some fared better than others. Giovanni Maspero’s Italian Team on ITA-550 Joe Fly, who grabbed an hour of practice this morning, afterwards recounted hair raising stories of downwind nosedives. Less fortunate were Bruce Ayres and his Newport Harbour, CA team aboard USA-747 Monsoon who sustained significant keel damage when they ran aground whilst travelling downwind at over fifteen knots. The competitive nature of this championship is highlighted in the Corinthian division where identifying a likely winner at this stage is extremely tricky. Alex Shafer and his USA-744 Sweaty Betty crew will be hoping to reprise the form that saw them achieve an overall podium position at the 2008 Sperry Top-sider St. Pete NOOD regatta earlier this year. Another strong competitor for the Corinthian trophy will be local Eastport YC member Othmar von Blumencron on USA 679 Gannet. Othmar and his crew put in a legendary performance to win the Corinthian title at the 2007 Full Power Santa Cruz World Championships despite losing their rig on the final ‘big day’. Also looking to capitalise on his specialist knowledge of the local conditions and deliver a good result will be fellow EYC member Bill Carleton on USA 568 Tiburon. Amongst the several other teams capable of taking a Corinthian scalp this week is John Hamilton’s New York YC entry USA 658 Mustang who could easily upset the form book. Event website: http://www.annapolismelges24.com/ U.S. Class website: http://www.usmelges24.com/

The Publisher ***** Oct 30, 2008, 7:04 AM Post #2 of 6 (1437 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 [In reply to] Log-In to Post For Immediate Release International Melges 24 Class Association 29 October 2008 DAVE ULLMAN LEADS AFTER THREE THRILLING RACES IN ANNAPOLIS After a spectacular day of racing in Annapolis at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship, it is 2007 World Champion Dave Ullman on Pegasus 505 who tops the leader board by three points from another previous world champ, Flavio Favini on SUI 521 Blu Moon. The final podium position at this stage is taken by local hero Terry Hutchinson on USA 751 Quantum Racing. In the Corinthian division it is Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on USA 679 Gannet who leads from David Dabney on USA 626 Wireless and Alex Shafer on USA 744 Sweaty Betty. Conditions out on the racecourse this morning were undeniably chilly, but the sun was shining and most importantly the wind was a near perfect eighteen to twenty knots. The race committee went into sequence bang on time and after an initial general recall the fleet got away on the regatta’s opening race. With the breeze in the right phase for much of the first beat, it was the boats who had started at the committee boat end who got the early jump. Dave Ullman made the best of this to round the first mark comfortably ahead of the pack. Behind, Morgan Reeser sneaked in ahead of Terry Hutchinson, with Othmar von Blumencron hot on their heels. There were lots of early gybes from the leading pack to get out into the stronger breezes on the right of the course. Ullman extended his lead downwind whilst behind him there was a fierce five way battle going on. Second through the leeward gate was Reeser with von Blumencron third. At the final windward mark, Ullman looked to have the race in the bag, but Favini had scorched up the previous beat and was now continuing his charge down the run. With Ullman now under severe pressure, he had to switch to defend mode in the final yards into the finish. He held his nerve however and took the gun just a couple of boat lengths ahead of Favini. The next five boats came thick and fast, with Vincent Porter on USA 576 storming through to take third ahead of Hutchinson in fourth and Bruce Ayres on USA 747 Monsoon in fifth. In race two Terry Hutchinson led around mark one, ahead of lady helm Kristen Lane on Brickhouse 623 in second and Ullman in third. Lane took the fight to Hutchinson downwind and by the leeward mark she had managed to take the lead. With the bit now firmly between her teeth, Lane extended up the next beat and was around twenty seconds ahead at the second windward mark. Hutchinson held off a challenge from Ullman to get around second, with Reeser also in contention back in fourth. The story now was all about whether Lane could hold off the fierce attack from Hutchinson, who was trying everything he knew to get overlapped to leeward. Showing remarkable composure, Lane timed her gybe in front of the rapidly closing Hutchinson to perfection and was able to hold her challenger out to the layline. Following this up with another impressive high speed gybe, she blasted through the finish line to take a well deserved race win. Ullman consolidated on his first race win with a third place. With the temperature dropping further, the crews were happy to get race three underway quickly and accordingly played their part with a clean start. Gabrio Zandona won the start at the committee boat end and looked to be a comfortable leader halfway up the first beat. However it was Favini who was able to tack underneath him at the top mark to round first. With both boats hoisting simultaneously, Zandona’s crew faltered momentarily by partially trawling the chute. Seeing an opportunity to capitalise, Favini tried a quick gybe away, but was forced to gybe back almost immediately by a mass of beating boats. This enabled Zandona to get going properly and quickly retake the lead. For the rest of the race these two teams were in a league of their own as they traded places at the front of the fleet. Zandona appeared fastest downwind with Favini demonstrating rocket ship speed upwind. The five legs posted for this final race of the day, enabled Favini to use his superior speed on the final beat to eke out a five length lead at the finish. The ever consistent Ullman clocked up another third to give him the overall championship lead ahead of Favini and Hutchinson respectively. As the crews came ashore, they were greeted with warming clam chowder and some of Pusser’s Rum Painkiller tonic soon began to thaw themselves out after a tiring day on the water. A delighted Favini told us "It was a long day and it was cold. We were hoping to only have two races, but we had three, which made for a long day. The second race was tough, however the third race was a great battle with Joe Fly and we very much enjoyed it. We are pleased to be leading but there is a long way to go". Corinthian leader Othmar von Blumencron was amazed to dicover he was leading. "Wow! We're in the lead? You mean Bruce Ayres is not? That's great. Today's conditions made for some really great racing, it was cold, but it was good tight racing. No one boat dominated so we feel like we have a great chance to do well here." Racing at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship continues tomorrow with three more races scheduled, more on Friday and Saturday to complete the twelve race series, hopefully warmer conditions are in the cards. TOP TEN RESULTS (After three races) 1.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505 - 1, 3, 3 = 7 2.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon - 2, 7, 1 = 10 3.) Terry Hutchinson, Quantum Racing - 4, 2, 4 = 10 4.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly - 9, 6, 2 = 17 5.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 5, 9, 8 = 22 6.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 6, 10, 6 = 22 7.) Chris Larson, West Marine Rigging/NE Ropes - 8, 8, 7 = 23 8.) Morgan Reeser/Neil Sullivan - 10, 4, 17 = 31 9.) Kristen Lane - Brickhouse 623 - 12, 1, 19 = 32 10.) Vincent Porter, USA-576 - 3, 17, 12 = 32 FULL RESULTS: http://www.annapolismelges24.com/...North_Americans.html The 2008 North American Championship is sponsored by Pusser’s Rum, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gill, Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, Velocitek, Annapolis Wireless Internet (AWI), Harken, Sail 22, Quantum Sails, Westin Annapolis, Atlantic Yacht Rigging and Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. The Melges 24 Class and the Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and thank them for their generous support of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship. ### Visit the Official Event Website of the 2008 North American Championship and 2009 Worlds. Also, visit the Eastport Yacht Club online. The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). For more information or press photos, please contact: Justin Chisholm 2008 North American Championship Press Officer +44 7769 938722 Skype: justinchis Joy Dunigan U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) 2008 North American Championship Press Chair Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary +1 (912) 398-5776 Skype: joysavannah Laura Muma LM PR, Inc. Annapolis Melges 24 Sponsor & Marketing Director +1 (773) 960-3960 Skype: laura.muma

The Publisher ***** Oct 30, 2008, 5:48 PM Post #3 of 6 (1399 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 [In reply to] Log-In to Post For Immediate Release International Melges 24 Class Association 30 October 2008 FOUR MORE AMAZING RACES COMPLETED LEAVING HUTCHINSON IN THE LEAD The Race Committee stepped up the pace today at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship, running four excellent races (race four to seven in the 12 race series) in winds ranging from 10 – 15 knots. Terry Hutchinson on USA 751 Quantum Racing made his intentions clear for this regatta by moving into a seven point overall lead. Gabrio Zandona on ITA 777 Joe Fly had a mixed day on the water but won the first and last races to sit in second place tonight. Chris Larson on USA 655 West Marine Rigging / New England Ropes put in a steady performance to claim the final podium place, eight points behind Zandona. Zandona came out punching in race four, winning the start and rounding the first mark well in the lead. His charge faltered a little down wind when he got out of phase with the shifts and dropped to third at the gate behind Bruce Ayres USA 747 Monsoon and Othmar von Blumencron USA 679 Gannet. Zandona hit the afterburners on the next beat however and scorched back into a lead he was able to hold to the end of the race. David Dabney USA-626 Wireless also made the best of the conditions to move from sixth to second. Ayres initially looked to have suffered badly on this leg but recovered to round third. Down the final run, nobody’s place was secure with the premium on keeping heads out of the boat and staying in the veins of pressure. With Zandona securely across the line with a win under his belt, the chasing pack were involved in a gybing frenzy which resulted in Flavio Favini SUI 521 Blu Moon catapulting himself from fourth to second. Simon Strauss on also pulled up to take third ahead of a disappointed Ayres, whilst Dabney had to be content with fifth. Race five was all about Chris Larson who led around every mark to take a convincing win. Behind him a tight knot of boats including Shane Vowels GER 624 I'm with Stupid, Hutchinson, von Blumencron and Ayres, were involved in a prolonged fight for second place. This was only eventually resolved close to the finish, with Hutchinson taking second and von Blumencron third. Yesterday’s overnight leader Dave Ullman kept his title hopes alive with a fourth. Race six was also dominated by a single boat. Simon Strauss USA 757 Simplicity found some of his true form for the first time this regatta, winning the start and taking control of the race from the off. In shifty conditions he played an excellent tactical game, gaining leverage on the fleet with every tack and gybe. Stuart McNay on USA 620 had his work cut out holding off a sustained challenge from Favini throughout the whole race but eventually prevailed to take second. On the final run Favini had to break off his attack to close off an advancing Jamie Lea GBR 569 Team Barbarians who crossed the line on Favini’s transom to take fourth. Corinthian David Dabney clocked up a solid fifth. With light airs forecast for tomorrow, the race team wisely opted to put one in the bag by running a five leg fourth race. Perhaps it was fatigue or enthusiasm, but no less than twenty boats were called OCS at the start of race seven. Significantly, several boats failed to return to exonerate themselves, including Morgan Reeser USA 750 M-fatic, Ullman and Favini. Zandona had no such worries and having rounded ten lengths clear at the windward mark he went on to give the fleet an absolute sailing master class. Hutchinson had a difficult job on his hands getting past Kristen Lane, but finally wrested second from her at the start of the final beat. With Zandona and Hutchinson finished, a couple of big shifts at the end of this leg upset the running order, allowing Peter Lane USA 539 Brickhouse 539 to move up into third and Argyle Campbell USA 630 Rock n' Roll to take fourth ahead of Ayres. The new championship leader, Terry Hutchinson, is understandably happy to be leading but was critical of his own performance. "Everyone on this boat is sailing really, really well. That being said, I feel like the weakest link as I'm struggling a little with my time and distance. We set a goal that if we could come out with a fifth and above we would be happy. We had a tough first race, but had a great come back to ninth." He also had this to say about the conditions in store for tomorrow "Tomorrow will be a hard day, really hard. Third day of an event like this with a cold front, we can expect light and shift conditions. Very interesting conditions are definitely on the way." Corinthian division leader Othmar von Blumencron is also pleased to have extended his lead on second placed David Dabney. "We are an amateur team and so don’t get much time to practice. That usually results in us getting better as the regattas go on but this time we have made a good start so our challenge is maintaining our performance." Racing at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship continues tomorrow and runs through to Saturday with five more races scheduled. To follow the racing live as it happens visit the IMCA’s from the race course blog at http://blog.melges24.com. TOP TEN RESULTS (Preliminary, After seven races) 1.) Terry Hutchinson, Quantum Racing - 4, 2, 4, [9], 2, 6, 1 = 20 2.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly - 9, 6, 2, 1, [12], 8, 1 = 27 3.) Chris Larson, West Marine Rigging/NE Ropes - [8], 8, 7, 6, 1, 7, 6 = 35 4.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505 - 1, 3, 3, 12, 4, 17, [50/DCS] = 40 5.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 5, 9, 8, 4, 10, [15], 5 = 41 6.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon - 2, 7, 1,2, 29, 3, [50/DNF] = 10 7.) Othmar Blumencron, Gannett - 13, 12, 9, 7, 3, [14], 10 = 54 8.) Stu McNay, USA-620 - 11, 5, 10, 14, [16], 2, 14 = 56 9.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 6, 10, 6, 10, 5, 24, [25] = 61 10.) Jamie Lea, Team Barbarians - 7, 11, 14, 11, [18], 4, 17 = 64 FULL RESULTS: http://www.annapolismelges24.com/...North_Americans.html Be sure to check out the Pusser's Rum 2008 North American Championship WIPEOUT OF THE DAY. Check it out! Today was also Velocitek Challenge Day for the event. Stay tuned to this official website of the Melges 24 as well as the event site. More news forthcoming. Winner will be awarded on Saturday during the closing ceremonies. The 2008 North American Championship is sponsored by Pusser’s Rum, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gill, Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, Velocitek, Annapolis Wireless Internet (AWI), Harken, Sail 22, Quantum Sails, Westin Annapolis, Atlantic Yacht Rigging and Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. The Melges 24 Class and the Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and thank them for their generous support of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship. ### Visit the Official Event Website of the 2008 North American Championship and 2009 Worlds. Also, visit the Eastport Yacht Club online. The International Melges 24 Class is proud to bring everyone the Official Blog for the 2008 North American Championship. Tune in each day as live reports, results and other great racing tidbits will be brought to you on demand. Also, videos are brought to you daily via the IM24CA YouTube Account. Lots of photos, info and media are available to enjoy! The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). For more information or press photos, please contact: Justin Chisholm 2008 North American Championship Press Officer +44 7769 938722 Skype: justinchis Joy Dunigan U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) 2008 North American Championship Press Chair Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary +1 (912) 398-5776 Skype: joysavannah Laura Muma LM PR, Inc. Annapolis Melges 24 Sponsor & Marketing Director +1 (773) 960-3960 Skype: laura.muma

The Publisher ***** Oct 31, 2008, 6:44 PM Post #4 of 6 (1234 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 [In reply to] Log-In to Post FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INTERNATIONAL MELGES 24 CLASS ASSOCIATION 31 OCTOBER 2008 HUTCHINSON TAKES A SUBSTANTIAL LEAD AT 2008 MELGES 24 NORTH AMERICANS Terry Hutchinson showed his true class today, on the third day of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championships in Annapolis, Md. Faced with two light airs races whist leading a major championship, others may have crumbled under the pressure. Hutchinson USA 751 Quantum Racing, however shrugged off any such concerns and put in two impressive performances and added only five points to his overall score line. A fourth place in race one and a win in race two, now means that he takes a seventeen point margin into the final day. Second placed Gabrio Zandona, ITA 777 Joe Fly, recorded a third in the first race but struggled in the fluky conditions of the second race where he could only manage a twelfth. He now holds a ten point lead over Chris Larson USA 655 West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes, who despite a disappointing day, hangs on to third place overall. The race committee tried to get the race away at around 11.25 this morning but a general recall put paid to that effort. Soon after, the wind faded so much that the RC were forced to wait for several hours before a new six knot breeze arrived and racing could finally get under way. Race eight was a short, sharp, forty seven minute affair, with the race committee having to shorten the second beat to try to minimise the effect of a cargo ship anchored on the edge of the racecourse. In this race, Brian Porter USA 749 Full Throttle finally showed the sort of form he is renowned for. Leading at every mark, he held his nerve on a tricky final run to take a well deserved race win. Morgan Reeser USA 750 M-Fatic, who had won the pin in convincing style at the start, sailed an intelligent race to finish second, ahead off Gabrio Zandona who had clawed himself back from what appeared to be a potentially disastrous start. Whilst fourth placed Falvio Favini SUI 521 Blu Moon could still entertain hopes of an overall podium finish, day one leader Dave Ullman USA 505 Pegasus 505 clocked up a painful twenty first, which looks to have put paid to his title hopes. Eastport Yacht Club PRO Jeff Borland and his team got race two got away after only the shortest of delays. With the breeze up to around eleven knots, the crews were full hiking up wind but there was not quite enough to think about heating downwind. As the leaders approached the windward mark for the first time, the spectators had a difficult time identifying a leader, as first one side and then the next became favoured. However local pundits were not surprised when Annapolis sailor Terry Hutchinson emerged from the melee to round first. Behind him was a close configuration of boats with Porter marginally ahead of Reeser, Zandona and Ullman. The first run saw the leaders put in a frenzy of gybes as they tried their hardest to out manoeuvre each other. All this effort amounted to little however, as there were no changes in the top five places at the leeward gate. In fact the same scenario ensued on the next two legs and at the finish a relieved Hutchinson took the gun followed by Porter, Reeser, Zandona and Ullman. With the regatta on schedule and the breeze starting to destabilise, the RC sensibly sent the fleet ashore for the day. On the eve of the final day of the championship, Terry Hutchinson has consolidated his position at the top of the leader board and now looks like a good bet for the title. That said, with three races possible tomorrow he is far from home and dry. Despite Hutchinson’s margin, double European Champions Joe Fly will still feel there is a chance to pull off their first North American Championship victory and it would be unwise to discount them as a major threat. In the Corinthian division, for all amateur crews, Othmar von Blumencron USA 679 Gannet holds a sixteen point lead over David Dabney USA 626 Wireless in second and Alex Schafer USA 744 Sweaty Betty who lies third. Racing at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship concludes tomorrow with the potential for three races being sailed. Similar conditions to today are forecast but the word is that warmer temperatures are a real possibility. To follow the racing live as it happens visit the IMCA’s from the race course blog at http://blog.melges24.com. TOP TEN RESULTS (Preliminary, After seven races) 1.) Terry Hutchinson, Quantum Racing - 4, 2, 4, [9], 2, 6, 1,4, 1 = 25 2.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly - 9, 6, 2, 1, [12], 8, 1, 3, 12 = 42 3.) Chris Larson, West Marine Rigging/NE Ropes - 8, 8, 7, 6, 1, 7, 6, 9 [24] = 52 4.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon - 2, 7, 1,2, 29, 3, [50/DNF], 7, 4 = 55 5.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 5, 9, 8, 4, 10, [15], 5, 6, 15 = 62 6.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 6, 10, 6, 10, 5, 24, [25], 1, 2 = 64 7.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505 - 1, 3, 3, 12, 4, 17, [50/DCS], 21, 5 = 66 8.) Morgan Reeser/Neil Sullivan, M-fatic - 10, 4, 17, 8, 15, 12, [50/OCS], 2, 3 = 71 9.) Jamie Lea, Team Barbarians - 7, 11, 14, 11, [18], 4, 17, 5, 9 = 78 10.) Othmar Blumencron, Gannet - 13, 12, 9, 7, 3, [14], 10, 12, [16] = 80 FULL RESULTS: http://www.annapolismelges24.com/...North_Americans.html The 2008 North American Championship is sponsored by Pusser’s Rum, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gill, Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, Velocitek, Annapolis Wireless Internet (AWI), Harken, Sail 22, Quantum Sails, Westin Annapolis, Atlantic Yacht Rigging and Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. The Melges 24 Class and the Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and thank them for their generous support of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship. Visit the Official Event Website of the 2008 North American Championship and 2009 Worlds. Also, visit the Eastport Yacht Club online. The International Melges 24 Class is proud to bring everyone the Official Blog for the 2008 North American Championship. Tune in each day as live reports, results and other great racing tidbits will be brought to you on demand. Also, videos are brought to you daily via the IM24CA YouTube Account. Lots of photos, info and media are available to enjoy! The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). For more information or press photos, please contact: Justin Chisholm 2008 North American Championship Press Officer +44 7769 938722 Skype: justinchis Joy Dunigan U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) 2008 North American Championship Press Chair Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary +1 (912) 398-5776 Skype: joysavannah Laura Muma LM PR, Inc. Annapolis Melges 24 Sponsor & Marketing Director +1 (773) 960-3960 Skype: laura.muma

The Publisher ***** Nov 1, 2008, 6:54 AM Post #5 of 6 (1178 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 [In reply to] Log-In to Post Photo gallery with images from Paul Todd and Stefano Gattinin: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1101/

The Publisher ***** Nov 2, 2008, 12:59 PM Post #6 of 6 (1078 views) Shortcut Re: [The Publisher] Melges 24 North American Championship 2008 [In reply to] Log-In to Post For Immediate Release International Melges 24 Class Association 01 NOVEMBER 2008 TERRY HUTCHINSON CLINCHES YET ANOTHER MAJOR YACHTING TITLE — 2008 MELGES 24 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION At the end of four days of racing and with a total of eleven races sailed in the widest possible range of conditions, Terry Hutchinson and his crew aboard USA 751 Quantum Racing, are the new at the 2008 Melges 24 North American Champions. After crossing the finish line in fourth place in the second of two extremely nervy races in Annapolis today, a delighted Hutchinson immediately praised the performance of his crew which comprised tactician Scott Nixon, Brian Janney, George Peet and Amy Ironmonger. "Seriously, you cannot underestimate the significance of the team effort that has gone on here this regatta. I have been the weak link on the boat and these guys have pulled us through." The other two podium places were a European affair with Gabrio Zandona ITA 777 Joe Fly, owned by Giovanni Maspero, holding on to second and fellow Italian Flavio Favini, helming SUI 521 Blu Moon for Franco Rossini, moving up into third place overall. After a difficult middle section to the regatta, 2007 World Champion Dave Ullman USA 505 Pegasus 505, rallied today and by winning the final race secured fourth overall ahead of Annapolis resident Chris Larson USA 655 West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes. The Corinthian division for the all amateur crews competing at the championship was dominated by Othmar von Blumencron USA 679 Gannet. A delighted von Blumencron who finished in tenth overall and adds the Corinthian North American Championship to his 2007 Corinthian World Championship victory, commented that racing in familiar waters had helped his team’s performance. "The conditions this week have been typical of what we are used to in Annapolis and I have had some local sailors on board which helped a lot at times.” Second Corinthian here in Annapolis was David Dabney on USA-626 Wireless who finished in twelfth place overall ahead of Alex Shafer who came home in twentieth place overall. Principal Race Officer Jeff Borland looked to have a real challenge on his hands this morning when for a long time the wind on the racecourse refused to break the five knot barrier. Borland and his race team held their nerve however and were eventually rewarded with just enough wind to run two championship races. Borland said afterwards, "We have experienced the full range of conditions that are typical in Annapolis in the Fall. Between the high winds and chilly temperatures of the first day to the warm, light and shifty conditions we saw today, the crews have been fully tested this week." Race one saw Morgan Reeser at the helm for Neil Sullivan on USA-750 M-fatic make the best of a left favoured first beat to round the first mark ahead of the pack and go on to win convincingly. Flavio Favini rounded in second and despite prolonged pressure from both Alan Field USA 587 WTF and Gabrio Zandona he managed to hang on to the finish. Field came home third and Zandona fourth. Hutchinson was engaged in a full on battle for fifth place with Ullman for the whole race, which was resolved in favour of Ullman, only on the final run. At this stage in the championship Hutchinson still held a fifteen point lead, but had to survive one final race to confirm his victory. At the start of race eleven Hutchinson started down at the pin but mistimed his approach and was over early. Quickly gybing around the end of the line, he came away on port tack and hit the right hand side of the beat hard. Meanwhile his main competitor Zandona was leading the fleet up the first beat and looked to be leading the race. Happily for Hutchinson, a major right shift at the top of the leg, slammed the door on the left hand side boats and enabled a relieved Hutchinson to round in third place with a despondent Zandona limping around in twelfth place. At the front of the fleet Ullman sailed a confident race to take the win ahead of Field in second and John Kolius USA 776 KO Sailing, in third. With Zandona back in tenth, Hutchinson’s fourth place was good enough to confirm his 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship title, by a margin of twenty one points. The other two overall podium places were filled by Gabrio Zandona at the helm of Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly in second and Flavio Favini steering Franco Rossini’s Blu Moon in third. The IMCA is grateful for the hard work and support of the East Port Yacht Club and its members for running a great championship. In particular thanks must go to all the volunteers who gave up so much of their time to make this event possible. Thanks must also go to the event’s outstanding sponsors whose support has made the regatta possible including Pusser’s Rum, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gill, Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, Velocitek, Annapolis Wireless Internet (AWI), Harken, Sail 22, Quantum Sails, Westin Annapolis, Atlantic Yacht Rigging and Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. Bringing the event to a complete close, the NAC is also the last event on the 2008 USMCA Northeast District Championship for the year. Congratulations to USMCA Southeast District Governor Steve Kopf from Charleston, S.C. as he is the 2008 Northeast District Champion. Steve sailed all four qualifying events as did second placed Jim Golden from Annapolis, Md. In third, was lady helm Kristen Lane from San Francisco, Calif. The International Melges 24 Class Association was very proud to bring you all the action, full-on and live from the race course. A special thanks to everyone who tuned in to watch and experience the 2008 NAC. Relive the action and excitement by visiting the official Melges 24 blog at http://blog.melges24.com. TOP TEN RESULTS (Final) 1.) Terry Hutchinson, Quantum Racing - 4, 2, 4, [9], 2, 6, 1,4, 1, 6, 4 = 35 2.) Gabrio Zandona/Giovanni Maspero, Joe Fly - 9, 6, 2, 1, [12], 8, 1, 3, 12, 4, 10 = 56 3.) Flavio Favini/Franco Rossini, Blu Moon - 2, 7, 1,2, 29, 3, [50/DNF], 7, 4, 2, 9 = 66 4.) Dave Ullman, Pegasus 505 - 1, 3, 3, 12, 4, 17, [50/DCS], 21, 5, 5, 1= 72 5.) Chris Larson, West Marine Rigging/NE Ropes - 8, 8, 7, 6, 1, 7, 6, 9 [24], 7, 16 = 75 6.) Morgan Reeser/Neil Sullivan, M-fatic - 10, 4, 17, 8, 15, 12, [50/OCS], 2, 3, 1, 8 = 80 7.) Bruce Ayres, Monsoon - 5, 9, 8, 4, 10, [15], 5, 6, 15, 8, 14 = 84 8.) Brian Porter, Full Throttle - 6, 10, 6, 10, 5, 24, [25], 1, 2, 9, 18 = 91 9.) Alan Field, WTF - 18, [21], 5, 15, 9, 21, 9, 10, 11, 3, 2 = 103.00 10.) Othmar Blumencron, Gannet - 13, 12, 9, 7, 3, [14], 10, 12, 16, [21], 13 = 109 FULL RESULTS: http://www.annapolismelges24.com/...North_Americans.html The 2008 North American Championship is sponsored by Pusser’s Rum, Pusser's Caribbean Grille, Coral Reef Sailing Apparel, Gill, Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, Velocitek, Annapolis Wireless Internet (AWI), Harken, Sail 22, Quantum Sails, Westin Annapolis, Atlantic Yacht Rigging and Stuart Simpson's Team Barbarians. The Melges 24 Class and the Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and thank them for their generous support of the 2008 Melges 24 North American Championship. ### Visit the Official Event Website of the 2008 North American Championship and 2009 Worlds. Also, visit the Eastport Yacht Club online. The International Melges 24 Class is proud to bring everyone the Official Blog for the 2008 North American Championship. Tune in each day as live reports, results and other great racing tidbits will be brought to you on demand. Also, videos are brought to you daily via the IM24CA YouTube Account. Lots of photos, info and media are available to enjoy! The Melges 24 is designed by Reichel Pugh and considered the most unique one design sportboat in the world as well as one of the fastest-growing classes of high performance yachts. For more information, visit the official class websites of the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA) and U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA). For more information or press photos, please contact: Justin Chisholm 2008 North American Championship Press Officer +44 7769 938722 Skype: justinchis Joy Dunigan U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) 2008 North American Championship Press Chair Class Communications Director | Executive Secretary +1 (912) 398-5776 Skype: joysavannah Laura Muma LM PR, Inc. Annapolis Melges 24 Sponsor & Marketing Director +1 (773) 960-3960 Skype: laura.muma

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