Friedes routs Melges 20 Winter Series #2

Sixteen teams competed in the second event of the 3-stage Melges 20 Winter Series held February 9-11 in Miami, FL. Drew Freides and his Pacific Yankee team of Morgan Reeser and Charlie Smythe posted all top three scores to win with a race to spare. The final event will be on March 16-18.

Final day report by Sam Rogers:
Sunshine and big breeze ushered in the final day of competition at the 2017-18 Miami Winter Series hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club (GCSC). With idyllic, simply spectacular racing conditions in place for a third day in a row, it’s no surprise Drew Freides’ PACIFIC YANKEE took the overall win.

Confirming the final podium positions are Russia’s Vladimir Prosikhin’s NIKA in second, and following in third, flying high with the Monaquese flag, was Achille Onorato’s MASCALZONE LATINO, JR.

With two rounds of 2017-18 Miami Winter Series racing complete, the ranking is well on its way to being defined. Freides officially commands the lead by a slim margin. Prosikin and Igor Rytov’s RUSSIAN BOGATYRS round out the podium spots. Onorato and Alexis Michas’ MIDNIGHT SUN completes the top five.

After a difficult Day Two in Miami, Matteo Marenghi Vaselli aboard RAYA reconfirmed the speed of his Melges 20 by rounding the first mark of Race Seven in first place, followed by Jason Michas’ MIDNIGHT BLUE, Daniel Thielman’s KUAI and a hard-charging Alexis Michas. Marenghi Vaselli capitalized on the breezy conditions to take the win, followed by Jason Michas in second. Freides sealed the deal with a third place finish. Thielman and Paul Reilly’s RED SKY SAILING TEAM rounded out the top five.

With Freides taking his discard as Race Eight, Prosikhin had room to breathe, advance and excel for the win, followed by Wes Whitmyer’s SlingSHOT in second, Rytov finished third.

Final Results (8 races, 1 discard)
1. Pacific Yankee, Drew Freides , USA – 1 -1 -1 -2 -3 -2 -3 -[17] ; 13
2. Nika, Vladimir Prosikhin , MON – [12] -2 -3 -5 -1 -4 -9 -1 ; 25
3. Mascalzone Latino jr, Achille Onorato , ITA – 6 -3 -8 -6 -2 -8 -[11] -4 ; 37
4. Midnight Sun, Alexis Michas , USA – 4 -6 -9 -1 -6 -[11] -7 -8 ; 41
5. Slingshot, Wes Whitmyer Jr , USA – 2 -5 -12 -4 -10 -[14] -6 -2 ; 41
6. Russian Bogatyrs, Igor Rytov , RUS – 9 -7 -5 -[10] -7 -3 -8 -3 ; 42
7. KUAI, Daniel Thielman , USA – 8 -[13] -6 -3 -9 -5 -4 -11 ; 46
8. Red Sky Sailing Team, Paul Reilly , USA – 5 -4 -10 -9 -[12] -9 -5 -9 ; 51
9. Raya, Matteo Marenghi Vaselli , MON – 3 -8 -4 -[17] -17 -17 -1 -5 ; 55
10. Midnight Blue, Jason Michas , USA – 11 -[14] -11 -8 -8 -10 -2 -6 ; 56
11. Kotyara, Oleg Evdokimenko , RUS – 7 -11 -7 -11 -5 -[12] -10 -10 ; 61
12. UPUPUP, Bo Boje Pedersen , DEN – 14 -10 -2 -[17] -11 -7 -13 -7 ; 64
13. Russotrans, Yurii Morozov , RUS – 13 -12 -14 -7 -4 -1 -[17] -17 ; 68
14. Bobsled, Bob Moran , USA – 10 -9 -[15] -13 -13 -6 -12 -12 ; 75
15. Blind Squirrel, John Brown , USA – [15] -15 -13 -12 -14 -13 -14 -13 ; 94
16. The 300, Steven Boho , USA – [16] -16 -16 -14 -15 -15 -15 -14 ; 105

Miami Winter Series – Event #2 details – Event #2 results

2017-18 MIAMI WINTER SERIES HOSTED BY COCONUT GROVE SAILING CLUB
EVENT NO. 1, SERIES OPENER – December 1-3, 2017
EVENT NO. 2, MIAMI WINTER REGATTA – February 9-11, 2018
EVENT NO. 3, MELGES ROCKS REGATTA – March 16-18, 2018