Annapolis, MD, USA - The Sheehy Lexus 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club, attracted fifty-one entries from across Europe and the US, with teams from the USA, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, France, Britain, the Netherlands, Norway and Ukraine congregating in Annapolis to challenge for one of yacht racing's most sought after world titles.

The two-day Pre-Worlds Regatta served to confirm the potency of the visiting contingent, with all three podium places occupied by visiting teams. The reigning World and European Champions from Italy, UKA UKA Racing steered by Lorenzo Bressani, cemented their position as the pundits' favourite, with victory ahead of Italian America's Cup helmsman and 2001 Melges 24 World Champion, Flavio Favini on the Swiss registered Blu Moon in second and 2006 World Champion Nico Celon from Italy on Fantastica in third. The potential of the visiting teams at this regatta was equally matched by a raft of high profile US helms, each capable of producing a winning performance: US sailing legend Terry Hutchinson on Quantum Racing came into this event as the current Melges 24 North American Champion, a title he won last year in Annapolis; Brian Porter on Full Throttle, the 2009 US National Champion had 2002 World Champion Harry Melges calling the shots; Bill Hardesty sailing with tactician Vince Brun aboard Event's Clothing/Atlantis, had a remarkable four Melges 24 World Title victories between them and serial one-design Champion Chris Larson sailing West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes would bring an invaluable wealth of local knowledge to this event.

The fourteen-boat entry in Corinthian Division (no professionals allowed) at this year's Melges 24 World Championship always looked likely to produce a fierce battle for the top spot and when racing commenced the Corinthian competition more than lived up to expectations, with the overall lead closely fought and changing on a daily basis. The top Corinthian helms in Annapolis also made regular appearances at the front of the main fleet, with front runners Bruce Ayres aboard Monsoon finishing fourth in the Pre-Worlds, reigning North American Corinthian Champion Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on Gannet, Henry Filter aboard Wild Child from the host Eastport Yacht Club, David Dabney on Conejo Racing - Ocean Sailing Academy' and Germany's Christof Wieland on Unsponsored, all securing top ten race positions during the week. In fact it was the Corinthian Division that produced the more nail biting series climax, with Ayres and von Blumencron going into the final race tied on equal points. With these two unsurprisingly locked together in mortal combat for the whole of the race eleven decider, the final Corinthian result was only actually confirmed when a delighted Ayres surfed across the line, just a few boat lengths ahead of von Blumencron.

In the main eleven-race Championship series, it was Annapolis resident Chris Larson who eventually overcame the strength of the European squad, to claim the 2009 Melges 24 World Title with a race to spare. Whilst Larson sailed a consummately confident and ruthlessly consistent series, he was pushed almost all the way throughout the week by both the double European Championship winning Joe Fly steered by Italian 470 Olympian Gabrio Zandona as well as Norway's Eivind Melleby at the helm of Full Medal Jacket. Whilst not including a race win, Larson's impressive series scoreline meant that he took a seventeen-point lead into the final day. Despite appearing to already have at least one hand on the trophy, with the potential for three races to be sailed, he was still very much vulnerable to attack and would need to call on all his professional sailing experience to avoid a spectacular tumble from grace. In the end it was really all over before it began. Showing no outward signs of nervousness, in the first race of the day Larson calmly picked his way out of the mêlée at the heavily favoured pin end, before going on to record his fourth second place of the week. Meanwhile, Zandona, Bressani and Hutchinson all put themselves effectively out of contention by each attracting twenty percent Z-flag penalties and when the Race Officer announced that there would be no third race, a delighted Larson found himself in an unassailable position. With no reason to compete in the second and final race of the day, he and his delighted crew: Mike Wolfs, Curtis Florence and tactician Richard Clarke, could head ashore to begin to celebrate their 2009 Melges 24 World Championship victory.

Larson's departure left Zandona and Melleby to battle it out for second place and in 12-14 knots, just about the windiest conditions of the entire series, Melleby put his rival under real pressure with a confident second place performance in the last race. In contrast, Zandona had left himself a lot to do to hang on to his second overall with a first windward mark rounding in the low teens and had to use all of his legendary Italian guile to eventually pull back to sixth on the final run. Now tied on points with the Norwegian, Zandona was relieved to receive confirmation that the count back mathematics had worked in his favour and edged him into second overall. Meanwhile, an ecstatic Melleby was content to celebrate becoming the first ever Norwegian to claim a Melges 24 World Championship podium position. Two race wins apiece during this Championship for each Nico Celon and Flavio Favini, secured them fourth and fifth overall respectively, but must have surely left both helms ruing their damaging double-digit scores earlier in the week, which had ruled them out of a challenge for the overall victory.

Justin Chisholm
IMCA Event Press Officer

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contactfiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten Overall

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 46 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 71 points
3. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 71 points
4. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 73 points
5. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 83 points
6. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 85 points
7. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 100 points.
8. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 102 points
9. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 109 points
10. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 119 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five Overall

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 28 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 28 points
3. August Hernandez - High Voltage - 45 points
4. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 47 points
5. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 48 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup.T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing, Peroni master-brewed, andLeinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US,North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions,Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Charleston Race Week is always a big event for the U.S. Melges 24 Class. Steve Kopf, USMCA Southeast District Governor is planning the 2010 schedule and encourages everyone to participate in a survey as we look ahead to racing next year. Please take a few minutes and provide your feedback.

Charleston Race Week takes place in Charleston, S.C. on April 8-11, 2010. The USMCA wants this year to be an even more successful event than last.

Take The Survey

Official Event Website For Charleston Race Week

Annapolis, MD, USA - The fifty-one international teams, who had travelled from across North America and Europe to compete in the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championships, finally got the welcome opportunity to race in double-digit breezes on the final day of the regatta. Despite the Championship racecourse being shrouded in appropriately Halloween style mist for most of the day, the Race Committee successfully banged off two four-leg races in winds which peaked at around fourteen knots.

Chris Larson at the helm of West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes, who had led the regatta on-and-off for much of the week, took a seventeen point lead into the final day and looked odds-on to take the title. However with the potential for three races to be sailed today, Larson was always potentially vulnerable to attack from second placed Gabrio Zandona at the helm of the Italian entry Joe Fly.

If Larson was in fact feeling the pressure of leading the championship into the final day, there was no visible evidence at the start of the first race. With several of the top teams including Zandona, Lorenzo Bressani on Uka Uka Racing and Terry Hutchinson on Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team being called OCS soon after the start, Larson was able to pick his way skilfully through the melee at the pin and followed eventual race winner Nico Celon on Fantastica off the line. Rounding the top mark with only Carlo Fracassoli on Gullisara in front of him, Larson sailed a calm and composed race and went on to record his fourth second place of the week. Zandona, Bressani and Hutchinson all received twenty percent Z-flag penalties and following an announcement from the Race Officer that there would be no third race, Larson now found himself in an unassailable position. With no reason to compete in the second race of the day, he and his delighted crew: Mike Wolfs, Curtis Florence and tactician Richard Clarke, headed ashore to start to begin to celebrate their Melges 24 World Championship victory.

The focus was now on the four-way scrap for the remaining podium places between Zandona on sixty-five points, Norway's Eivind Melleby on Full Medal Jacket on sixty-nine points, Celon on seventy-two points and Bressani on seventy-four points. Arguably the windiest of the Championship, the final race was a real humdinger with the top ten boats packed closely together at all the mark roundings. Jamie Lea on the British entry Team Barbarians squeezed in for a near perfect start at the pin and led the early part of the beat. However it was Celon who led around the top mark, with Bill Hardesty on Events Clothing/Atlantis in second and Lea in third. Hutchinson and Melleby rounded in fourth and fifth and as the leaders, all in close formation, ripped down wind for the first time, it was impossible to predict who would reach the gate first. In fact Celon managed to hold his lead, but only just from the charging Melleby who had blitzed into second place. The fierce battle for the lead between these two lasted until the finish, with Celon eventually prevailing and securing fourth overall. Meanwhile after rounding the first mark outside the top ten, Zandona was making steady progress up through the fleet. By the finish he was up to sixth, which tied him on points with Melleby. With the count back applied Zandona claimed second overall, with Melleby clearly delighted to have achieved the first ever Norwegian podium finish at a Melges 24 World Championship.

Without doubt Chris Larson is a popular and worthy winner of this Championship. Significantly, the only one of the top three whose scoreline did not include a race win, his amazing consistency in the capricious Annapolis conditions was simply too much for the opposition. Soaking in his victory tonight Larson said he was delighted to have won and relieved to have got through the final day on top. 'As it turned out the OCS scenario on the first race really meant the battle was over before it began. We were pretty surprised just after the start when we saw Hutchinson, Zandona and Bressani all going back. That pretty much handed control to us and there was the regatta over.'

The battle for the 2009 Corinthian Melges 24 World Title proved to be equally and today brought a final showdown between California's Bruce Ayres sailing Monsoon and Annapolis local hero Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron sailing Gannet.  The battle for third place was also extremely close with just seven points ultimately separating third to seventh place.

Going into the day Ayres had a narrow four-point lead over Blumencron who was ten points ahead of Charleston's David Dabney in Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy and Germany's Christof Wieland aboard Unsponsored, both on 35 points.  Also tied on 39 points were Henry Filter, from Annapolis sailing Wild Child, and August Hernandez of Chicago aboard High Voltage whilst seventh placed Zetzema Wietze helming Gelikt for Carlo Vroon of the Netherlands, trailed them by just a further two points.

Wieland's chance of the final podium position evaporated on the start line of the penultimate race when he fell foul of the Z Flag and had to take a 20% penalty dropping him from 9th to 12th, his worst result of the series.  Von Blumencron made no such mistakes and led the Corinthian division from the off to take a confident win (and a ninth in the overall race) with Hernandez second, Dabney third, Witze fourth and the Ukrain's Vasily Gureyev sailing Null fifth.  Ayres crossed the line in sixth putting Von Blumencron into the overall lead by a single point going into the final race.  Dabney and Wieland were now tied for third with Hernandez fifth, Weitze sixth and Filter seventh.

For Ayres, one of the veterans of the Melges 24 class and a former North American Corinthian Champion, the Corinthian World title has long been unfinished business.  From the off it was clear he had no intention of letting the championship get away from his grasp this time around.  At the first weather mark he was lead Corinthian and managed to slide nicely over the top of a gaggle of open division boats whilst Von Blumencron, coming in on the port layline, was forced to dip and look for a slot rounding well into the teens.  Having gained separation Ayres confidently stretched away and whilst Von Blumencron did manage to pick off several of the open division boats between them he was never in a position to challenge for the lead.  Meanwhile the battle for third place was still raging.  On the water it was Filter who took the third in race eleven, but right behind him was Hernandez with Wieland fifth, Weitze sixth, Gureyev seventh, local boy Jim Golden eighth and a disappointed Dabney ninth.

Having finished first and second respectively Ayres and Von Blumencron were tied on 28 points with Ayres finally getting his hands on the much-coveted Henri Samuel Corinthian World Championship Trophy on count back.  Herenandez's fourth place was sufficient to give him the final podium position whilst a disappointed Dabney had to be content with fourth overall.

Speaking after racing a delighted Bruce Ayres was full of praise for his crew of Don Smith, Dave Navin and tactician Jon Pinckney.  "I'd like to particularly thank Don Smith and John Pinckney for hanging with me for ten years and of course Dave Navin.  We don't sail a lot but when we get to these regattas our goal is to hang in there with the best and we're delighted to have achieved that goal."

The International Melges 24 Class (IMCA) would like to take this opportunity to thank the Eastport Yacht Club, Regatta Chair Liz Filter, the Race Committee, the many volunteer club members, the International Jury, Title Sponsor Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis and all the supporting sponsors, suppliers and private donors who so generously contributed to make this regatta possible.  This was the first time that the City of Annapolis has granted a one-design regatta the right to use the downtown City Dock as a regatta centre and the Melges 24 fleet is proud to have been the first to enjoy such a privileged position.  "The sight of so many Melges 24s right in the heart of Annapolis and the added buzz of an army of spectators lining the dock morning and evening has made this a truly special event for us." Noted the IMCA's Fiona Brown.

The success of the partnership between the IMCA, Eastport Yacht Club and Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis was summed up perfectly by Paul Rochelle, General Manger of Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis who commented, "We are so proud to have been the title sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 Worlds Championship.  What an amazing competition!  This has truly been an exciting partnership - between sailing's elite competitors and the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite of Lexus dealership!"

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contactfiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 46 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 71 points
3. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 71 points
4. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 73 points
5. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 83 points
6. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 85 points
7. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 100 points.  
8. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 102 points
9. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 109 points
10. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 119 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five Overall

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 28 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 28 points
3. August Hernandez - High Voltage - 45 points
4. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 47 points
5. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 48 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup.T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing, Peroni master-brewed, andLeinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US,North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions,Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Annapolis, MD, USA - After yet another light and fickle day on the water, the fifty-one boat international fleet competing at the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, now appear resigned to racing in sub seven knot breezes. With day five of the regatta seeing maximum pressure of no more than six knots, the Race Committee certainly had to have their wits about them to get two races off as soon as the opportunities presented themselves.

So far this regatta, 2001 Melges 24 World Champion Flavio Favini aboard the Swiss registered Blu Moon, had produced an uncharacteristically lacklustre performance, but today Favini spectacularly returned to more familiar form; winning both of the day's races in some style. Whilst still handicapped by a trio of double-digit scores earlier in the week, today's sparkling performance leapfrogs the Blu Moon crew from up eleventh to seventh overall tonight.

Going into day five, overnight leader Chris Larson on West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes, held a tenuous six-point lead over Norway's Eivind Melleby on Full Metal Jacket. Topping the leaderboard at a major regatta such as this one produces its own special kind of mental pressure, but the experienced Larson certainly showed no signs of stage fright in the first race of the day, turning in a confident performance to take second place behind Favini and extending his winning margin at that stage to sixteen points. With second placed Melleby faltering with a sixteenth, an eighth for Gabrio Zandona on Joe Fly was good enough to move the Italian team back up to second overall but only with a four point margin over Melleby.

In the second race of the day Andrew Wills on Cracker Racing held on to his first mark lead until the end of the second beat when he finally succumbed to sustained pressure from both Favini and Lorenzo Bressani on Uka Uka Racing. On the final run Favini comfortably saw off Bressani's advances and ghosted across the finish line to take his second victory of the day by a margin of several boat lengths. After a difficult start to the regatta reigning World Champion Bressani now sits in third overall and mathematically at least still within striking distance of retaining the title he won last year in Porto Cervo.

Zandona and Larson finished in quick succession in seventh and eighth place respectively in the final race, so the American skipper takes a fifteen-point advantage over his Italian rival into the last day of the Championship. Terry Hutchinson's solid 5,3, scores today move him up to fourth overall, with a seven point gap back to 2006 Melges 24 World Champion Nico Celon in fifth.

The overall order in the Corinthian Division looks a little more established at the end of day five, with Monsoon helm Bruce Ayres's pair of Corinthian bullets giving him a four point delta over Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on Gannet. A four and a three for David Dabney on Conejo Racing - Ocean Sailing Academy leaves him tied on points with Germany's Christof Wieland on Unsponsored. Dabney is in third place by virtue of the count back with Wieland in fourth overall, four points ahead of Henry Filter on Wild Child.

The fervent collective hope amongst everyone here in Annapolis is that tomorrow's much-heralded forecast of winds in the mid-teens comes to fruition for the final day of racing. With the Race Committee keen to try to complete their series by getting three races in before the 14.30 cut-off, the prospect of the World Title being decided in the last race of the regatta is a tantalisingly real one.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contactfiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 32 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 47 points
3. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 52 points
4. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 58 points
5. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 65 points
6. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 66 points
7. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 75 points
8. Alan Field - WTF - 80 points
9. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 92 points
10. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 94 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 21 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 25 points
3. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 35 points
4. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 35 points
5. Henry Filter - Wild Child - 39 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup.T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing, Peroni master-brewed, andLeinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame, BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US, North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions, Kathryn M Weber, CPA, MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Annapolis, MD, USA - When the fleet left for the racecourse on day four of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, collective hopes of any racing were pretty low. The promising early morning breeze out on the Chesapeake frustratingly evaporated almost immediately the fleet reached the race area. Consequentially a long wait ensued while the Race Committee tried to track down some more. The delay lasted until just before midday, when Principal Race Officer Jeff Borland decided to try to get the fleet racing around a four-leg racetrack, in breezes which averaged no more than five knots.

The lack of breeze at the start resulted in a somewhat chaotic scene as the barely moving boats struggled to build enough speed to get away from the line, as well as almost twenty boats being called over at the gun. Down at the favoured pin end, a battle of wills between Chris Larson on West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes, Terry Hutchinson on Quantum Racing and Argyle Campbell on Rock n Roll resulted in all three boats losing out. After appearing to get away to near perfect starts Hutchinson and Campbell were called OCS and had to make an agonising return to restart. Larson meanwhile had stayed safe but had been forced to tack on to port to avoid the pin boat, resulting in a huge slow bear away behind a pack of starboard tackers. A few boat lengths up the line Norway's Eivind Melleby had made a clean start with good speed and as the OCS boats peeled off in front of him he suddenly had a clean lane in which to lead the fleet out to the left hand side of the beat.

As the fleet made their way slowly up the first leg, the left phase breeze initially helped those on the left to secure their position as the leading pack. However a twenty-degree right shift at the top of the leg caught out those who had gone furthest left; including early leader Melleby, who had to settle for rounding the windward mark just inside the top ten. It was Lorenzo Bressani helming Uka Uka Racing who made the most sense of the variable conditions to round the top mark already well ahead of the pack. Second around was local Corinthian helmsman Henry Filter on Wild Child, just ahead of Alan Field on WTF and Neily Williamson on Millewa Milluna. Second placed overall Larson had made a good recovery from his difficult start to round in tenth place whilst at this stage Championship leader Gabrio Zandona on Joe Fly was still struggling up the beat in a high twenties position.

As the race progressed, the breeze if anything got a touch lighter. Bressani turned his lead at the front of the fleet into a virtual horizon job, while Filter made the most of his local experience to make his second place secure at the finish. Field also refused to relinquish his third place and ghosted home ahead of Tony Beale on Scotch Bonnet in fourth and Nico Celon on Fantastica in fifth. Melleby meanwhile had managed to pick off a few boats and chalked up a satisfying sixth place which moved him up to second place overall tonight. With Zandona only managing to claw his way back to seventeenth, Larson's eventual twelfth was good enough for him to regain the overall lead. With two more days of scheduled racing to go Zandona now sits in third place, just four points behind Melleby, who in turn is further six points off Larson. Bressani's win takes him up to fifth overall.

Henry Filter's win in the Corinthian Division saw him close the gap on the top three helms and he lies in fourth tonight. Despite only managing a Corinthian seventh today Bruce Ayres on Monsoon continues to hold the overall lead, but only on count back from Othmar von Blumencron on Gannet in second. With this pair tied on nineteen points, third placed Christof Wieland on Unsponsored is poised just two points behind to capitalise on any slip-ups from the top two.

Tomorrow's forecast is rumoured to call for similar weather to today, however there is some hope on the horizon for the racers, in the form of a local prediction of big breeze on Saturday's final day of racing. Certainly, given the frustrating conditions they have experienced so far, the fifty-one international teams competing at this Championship would surely welcome an opportunity for some real Melges 24 high-speed adrenaline action.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contactfiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 22 points
2. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 28 points
3. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 32 points
4. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 44 points
5. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 49 points
6. Terry Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 50 points
7. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 55 points
8. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 56 points
9. Alan Field - WTF - 57 points
10. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 60 points
    

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 19 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 19 points
3. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 21 points
4. Henry Filter - Wild Child - 26 points
5. Zetzema Weitze - Gelikt - 26 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup.T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing, Peroni master-brewed, andLeinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US,North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions,Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Annapolis, MD, USA - For the competitors arriving at the City Dock this morning on day three of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the chances of racing taking place seemed unlikely, with Annapolis shrouded in low cloud and no evidence of any wind whatsoever. Despite the gloomy outlook, Principal Race Officer Jeff Borland put all trust in his local knowledge and led the fleet out on to the race area. This forthright strategy was eventually rewarded, when after a prolonged delay, a fitful breeze finally developed and racing got underway. As a further bonus the quickly clearing skies soon bathed the competitors, race management fleet and the many spectator boats in some welcome warm sunshine. With winds peaking at no more than seven knots, by no stretch of the imagination could the racing today be described as high adrenaline, but nevertheless the conditions did produce some fascinating tactical battles at the front of the fleet.

Race one saw the three Championship leaders, Chris Larson on West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes, Gabrio Zandona on Joe Fly and Bill Hardesty on Events Clothing/Atlantis, round the first windward mark in that order. Hot on their heels was first Corinthian helm Bruce Ayres on Monsoon. Rather than follow leader Larson down the left hand side of the course, Joe Fly tactician Daniele Cassinari opted for an early gybe on to port. As Larson and the rest of the leading pack went almost to the left hand layline, the Italian team on 'Joe Fly made good progress closer to the middle of the course. When the boats converged at the leeward gate it was neck and neck between the first two; Larson coming in from the left having to handbrake his way round the port gate, whilst Zandona arriving with more pressure and speed from further right was able to make a smoother exit from the right buoy. Zandona immediately captialised on this slight edge and moved smootly into the lead up the second beat. As the leg progressed the breeze became increasingly unstable; dropping as low as four knots at times. Staying in the maximum pressure, Zandona rammed home his upwind advantage and rounded the second windward mark well ahead of Larson, who was now having to deal with a sustained challenge from Ayres. These three boats had pulled out a big gap on the rest of the pack and were well into the run before the fourth boat, Lorenzo Bressani on 'Uka Uka Racing rounded the weather mark. There were no place changes amongst the top four on the one sided and somewhat processional final leg, with Zandona claiming his second race win of the series ahead of the ever consistent Larson in second, a clearly delighted Ayres in third and a relieved looking Bressani in fourth. Norwegian Eivind Melleby on Full Metal Jacket continued his impressive form in this series, clocking up another top ten result in fifth.

Another delay then ensued whilst the Race Committee and competitors waited around hopefully for the wind to re-establish itself. When a seven to eight knot breeze finally filtered on to the racecourse, it took a general recall and an I-Flag deterrent to get the fleet underway for the five-leg final race of the day. After the wind flicked into left phase just before the start, Kristen Lane on Brick House won a three way battle for the pin with 2006 World Champion Nico Celon at the helm of Fantastica and US National Champion Brian Porter on Full Throttle, to lead the fleet away. The boats further back along the line were tightly packed and struggling to accelerate, giving Celon and Lane the opportunity to quickly tack on to port and set off into a little extra pressure. A drop in breeze to around five knots and a port hand shift as the leaders approached the windward mark for the first time, gave added advantage to the boats who had got furthest left. Celon led around the top mark in close proximity with Eivind Melleby on Full Metal Jacket who had made a stunning comeback from what had looked like a poor situation immediately after the start. Kristen Lane went around third, with Rome Kirby on USA 620 fourth and Robby Wilkins on Vamoose in fifth. Championship leader Chris Larson pulled off yet another top ten rounding in sixth place, all the time with a close eye on his series rival Zandona who rounded just outside the top ten. Down the first run Melleby and Celon were engaged in a fierce battle for the lead with the Norwegian eventually prevailing after he sneaked over the top of the Italian in the final boat lengths to the mark.

On the light air second beat new pressure developed quickly on the right. Zetzema Wietze on Dutch entry Gelickt was the first to spot it and in a matter of minutes moved from the mid-teens up into fourth place. Zandona also did well out of the right hand side and slipped into sixth behind Peter Lane. At the top mark Melleby still led from Larson and Celon but with Lane and Zandona now very much back in contention. Down the run and final beat, whilst Melleby always looked calm and composed in first place, a real slugging match had developed between the next five boats for second place. At the finish as Melleby took a comfortable win, Celon edged out Larson into third with the rapidly charging Zandona slotting into fourth.

With the single discard for the twelve race series is now in play, Gabrio Zandona and the Joe Fly crew have moved up to become the new Championship leaders, by just one point from Chris Larson on West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes. Sixth race winner Eivind Melleby on Full Metal Jacket eases into the final podium position at this stage with Bill Hardesty on Events Clothing/Atlantis discarding a final race thirty-eighth to take fourth. Carlo Fracassoli on Gullisara continues to impress and is in fifth place overall.

Today saw no let up in the scrap for the Corinthian Division World Title, with Bruce Ayres now leading by just one point from Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on Gannet in second. A good day for Germany's Christof Wieland on Unsponsored elevates him to third place overall tonight.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled. You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog. For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contact fiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Six Races

1. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 15 points
2. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 16 points
3. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 22 points
4. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 38 points
5. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 41 points
6. Brian Hutchinson - Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team - 42 points
7. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 43 points
8. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 43 points
9. Nicola Celon - Fantastica - 44 points
10. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 50 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Six Races

1. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 12 points
2. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 13 points
3. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 17 points
4. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 20 points
5. Zetzema Weitze - Gelikt - 23 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup. T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing, Peroni master-brewed, and Leinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians, RACEBOOK-US, North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions, Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by the International Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Annapolis, MD, USA - Despite the decidedly damp and cold conditions which prevailed on day two of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship, the quality of racing for the international fleet was nonetheless characteristically red hot. Overnight leader Chris Larson aboard West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes turned in a solidly consistent 6,4, scoreline for the day, w.hich sees him extend his margin at the top of the leaderboard tonight to eleven points. Surprisingly perhaps Larson believed that the Annapolis conditions today had been more predictable than normal. 'The wind didn't really move about that much today, so much so in fact that in both races we were actually able to one-tack both first beats by simply hitting the left hand layline. This afternoon though the wind did begin to get a little spotty, with more pressure in some places than others.' Whilst obviously delighted to still be leading at this stage, Larson also recognised that there was still a long way to go in this Championship. 'We are four races in to a twelve race series and so far I've been successful with doing my job on the boat, which is to get us off the line cleanly. Richard Clarke has been doing a great job on tactics and the whole crew has been solid. I think if we can maintain this approach then we will be in good shape.'

Today also saw a return to more familiar form for two of the Melges 24 fleet's most well known teams, as Italians Lorenzo Bressani on Uka Uka Racing and Gabrio Zandona on Joe Fly respectively, each took a gun in today's two races. Bressani followed up his win in the first race with a second place in race two, after a prolonged battle with Zandona at the front of the fleet. Uka Uka Racing's 1, 2 score today earned them boat of the day; an achievement made all the more impressive given that they were racing with a substitute crew, following a severe ankle injury to their regular bow-girl Francesca Prina. For the first time this regatta, they have broken into the top ten and now sit in seventh place overall. Trimmer Federico Michetti was full of praise for stand-in Meredith Adams, who he said had coped well with sailing with a foreign speaking team. 'To be honest I was very nervous about how things would go today as we have raced and trained for so long with Francesca. Meredith fitted in really well however and picked up our way of doing things very quickly.'  Asked if he thought Uka Uka Racing could still win this championship, Michetti glanced down at the results sheet and commented 'For sure we could. There are lots of teams in the top ten with poor scores. We definitely have no more room for mistakes and it will be very, very difficult. However, we like a good fight and of course will be trying to the very end.' Michetti has his own special incentive to keep striving for victory; already a triple Melges 24 European Champion, victory here this week would make him the first ever person to have sailed on three Melges 24 World Championship winning crews.

A third place in race one and a win in race two has catapulted Zandona and the Joe Fly crew into second place overall, ahead of Bill Hardesty on Events Clothing/Atlantis in third. Hardesty confirmed that it had been another tricky day out on the racecourse but said he was pleased with his team's 2,7, performance today. 'The breeze was up in the morning and died back a little this afternoon. We feel pretty comfortable in the breezier stuff, but the light winds have been a bit of a weakness for us so far. However we think we may have found the extra gear that we have been looking for as we were able to hang on to the Italian boats a lot better in the second race.' Hardesty also believes that the unpredictability of the current out on the Chesapeake is creating an extra challenge for the racers. 'With the amount of rain we have been having here recently, looking at the tide charts is all but useless. With all the rivers draining into this area it's hard to know whether you are sailing in salt water or fresh.'.

Most of the other top ten teams had an up and down day today. Brian Porter on Full Throttle finished with a 5,12, tally and sits in fourth overall. Italy's Carlo Fracassoli on Gullisara dropped from third to fifth after scoring two results outside the top ten. Norwegian Eivind Melleby marred his otherwise single-digit scoreline so far with a twenty-second place in race two, but only dropped one place to lie in sixth. Italian Flavio Favini on Swiss entry Blu Moon had a disappointing day by his own high standards with a 9,21 and has tumbled from second to eighth overall tonight. Also dropping down the order to ninth place after an 11,18 day was US sailor Alan Field on WTF.  Jamie Lea at the helm of Team Barbarians seems to have been anchored in tenth place since the regatta started and a 16,8 set of results today sees him remain there going into day three.

In the Corinthian Division things could not be tighter between the top two teams so far with David Dabney on 'Conejo Racing - Ocean Sailing Academy' and Bruce Ayres on Monsoon tied on eleven points apiece. Just two points adrift and poised to pounce is Othmar Mueller von Blumencron on Gannet.

With two more races scheduled for tomorrow and the likelihood that similar conditions to today's will prevail, the fifty-one boat international fleet can look forward to another day of tricky sailing, as this regatta goes into it's third day. Just to throw in an added dimension to the already intriguing mix, the single discard for the twelve race series could come into play if both races are completed tomorrow.

Full results are available from the Event Website. The championship runs until Saturday 31 October with a total of 12 races scheduled.  You can follow the racing live on the IMCA Official Blog.  For further information or to request photographs or video footage please contact fiona.brown@melges24.com.

Provisional Overall Top Ten After Four Races

1. Chris Larson - West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes - 17 points
2. Gabrio Zandona - Joe Fly - 28 points
3. Bill Hardesty - Events Clothing/Atlantis - 31 points
4. Brian Porter - Full Throttle - 31 points
5. Carlo Fracassoli - Gullisara - 33 points
6. Eivind Melleby - Full Medal Jacket - 38 points
7. Lorenzo Bressani - Uka Uka Racing - 39 points
8. Flavio Favini - Blu Moon - 39 points
9. Alan Field - WTF - 40 points
10. Jame Lea - Team Barbarians - 49 points

Provisional Corinthian Top Five After Four Races

1. David Dabney - Conejo Racing-Ocean Sailing Academy - 11 points
2. Bruce Ayres - Monsoon - 11 points
3. Othmar Mueller von Blumencron - Gannet - 13 points
4. Christof Wieland - Unsponsored - 16 points
5. August Hernandez - High Voltage - 24 points

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup. T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing,Peroni master-brewed, and Leinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians,RACEBOOK-US, North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions, Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by theInternational Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

With four races now on the board, overnight leader Chris Larson remains in the lead with a substantial points margin at the 2009 Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis Melges 24 World Championship. In second overall is Gabrio Zandona helming Giovanni Maspero’s Joe Fly. Seated third is Bill Hardesty driving Vince Brun’s Bailout.

The Corinthian division is quite heated as David Dabney barely held on to his first place position as Bruce Ayres on Monsoon is in second with equal points. In third is 2007 Corinthian Melges 24 World Champion Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on Gannet.

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Stay close as a full report will be issued shortly by the IMCA.

Annapolis, MD, USA - The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship got underway today with two tricky races sailed in predominantly light airs out on Chesapeake Bay. As well as having to deal with a capricious breeze, which peaked this the morning at around ten knots but dropped to around six knots by the afternoon, the fifty-one-boat fleet also had to factor some complex and not insignificant current flow into their race strategies. With the local conditions playing such a major role in things, it is perhaps no surprise that it was ‘local boy’ Chris Larson at the helm of West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes who was able to make most sense of it all. Backed up by tactician Richard Clarke, Larson turned in the most consistent results for the day, with a 5,2, scoreline that sees him top the leaderboard tonight. Despite snagging a crab pot when leading race one, Flavio Favini on the Swiss entry Blu Moon still managed to post a third and fifth today and sit in second place, just one point off the lead. After recovering well from a poor start in the first race, Italy’s Carlo Fracassoli on Gullisara clawed his way back to ninth place at the finish, before taking a comfortable win in the second. This pair of top ten results were good enough to put him third overall at the end of the first day.

Reigning Melges 24 North American Champion, Terry Hutchinson on Quantum Racing, had what can best be described as a very mixed day on the water; having pulled off a spectacular win in the first race of the day and finishing in thirty-seventh place in the next. Hutchinson was surprisingly philosophical about things this evening when he commented ‘The win in race one was very satisfying as we had great speed and everything felt great. Our thirty-seventh in the next race was no more or less complicated than us allowing ourselves to get completely dorked by two competitors in the middle of the start line. There are actually a lot of positives about that second race performance and we are confident that we will be able to pick ourselves up tomorrow, with our usual attention to detail and focusing in on getting off the start and nailing the first shift.’ Bill Hardesty and tactician Vince Brun aboard Events Clothing/Atlantis also struggled for consistency today with a nineteenth in race one followed up by a solid third in race two. Asked about today’s conditions Brun shook his head ruefully and commented ‘Pretty tricky all round. It seemed to us that you had to pick a side, as there was nothing to be gained from working the middle. The spread of the fleet means that if you guess right then you are in the top few, but if you get it wrong you are nowhere.’ Nevertheless after two races the Events Clothing/Atlantis team sit securely inside the top ten in seventh place.

The ever improving Alan Field and his USA crew aboard WTF sailed two impressively composed races today and their 4,6 scoreline puts them in fourth place and well within striking distance of the podium teams. Top flight European Star helm Eivind Melleby steered Norwegian entry Full Metal Jacket into fifth overall with an 8,4 tally for the day. Current Melges 24 US National Champion Brian Porter on Full Throttle started the day with a second place before faltering slightly with an eleventh in the second race and now sit in sixth place tonight.

Reigning World and European Champion and regatta favourite Lorenzo Bressani on Uka Uka Racing had a terrible start to his title defence, due in no small way to an ankle injury sustained to bow-girl Francesca Prina yesterday, which tragically may see her take no further part in this regatta. Uka Uka Racing struggled to an uncharacteristic 26,10 scoreline and sit in fifteenth place at the end of the first day. Bressani was clearly speaking candidly when he told us that ‘The first race was simply a disaster. Everything was bad, my start, our tactics the whole thing just went wrong.’ Perhaps most significant however was the recovery that Bressani pulled off in the second race after another poor start. In a twelve race series it is always risky to bet against the determination of the Uka Uka Racing and with every team here likely to put in a high score this week, only time will tell how important their tenth place this afternoon will be come the end of this regatta.

The Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Sponsored by:

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis - Title Sponsor

Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis, the Baltimore-Annapolis area's ONLY Elite Lexus dealership for six consecutive years, will be the title sponsor of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. To drive a Lexus is to experience the perfect blend of automotive performance and luxury. To own a Lexus from Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis is to experience something even more: a recognition of your personal needs that goes beyond offering expert service and convenient hours. Throughout the regatta, competitors and spectators will be able to inspect a wide range of Lexus luxury automobiles, which will be on display at the regatta center.

Pusser's Rum - Official Rum

The official rum for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Pusser's Rum. Rum and the sea are inseparable, and no rum is more akin to the sea and the sailor than Pusser's Rum - the Original Navy Rum. Pusser's continues its long standing association with the Melges 24 Class by hosting the mid-week Pusser’s Painkiller Party as well as providing their legendary Pusser’s Painkiller cocktails for the daily post racing gatherings and sponsoring the Pusser's WipeOut Of The Day competition.

Coral Reef Sailing Apparel & Gill - Official Apparel Sponsor

The official apparel sponsor for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Coral Reef Sailing Apparel (CRSA) and Gill. CRSA is continuing their strong commitment to the Melges 24 class by providing apparel for the World Championship. Items can be purchased online now, or on-site at the event. Gill is a brand leader in foul weather apparel specific to the sailing enthusiast.

Atlantic Yacht Rigging - Official Rigging Partner

The official rigging partner for the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship is Atlantic Yacht Rigging. AYRS is a full service company that can help with any of your rigging or repair needs any time of the year. From wire swaging projects to fiberglass repair and everything in between, they will be onsite providing the best service to the entire fleet.

T2P.TV - Official Video Partner

T2P.TV is an National award winning media group specializing in live, on the water video production and online broadcasting of major sailing events for almost a decade. As such they have been involved in coverage of every facet of the sport from Jr. Sailing to the America's Cup. T2P.TV will be providing official video coverage of all the racing action throughout the Championship.

Official Beer

We thank Buck Distributors for supplying the official beers of the regatta. Miller Lite triple hops brewing,Peroni master-brewed, and Leinenkugel a legend in brewing for over 140 years. Cheers!

Tacktick - Official IMCA Media Output Sponsor

Tacktick, the world leader in wireless, solar powered electronics for the marine industry, is the Official Sponsor of the Media Output from the 2009 Melges 24 World Championship. Tacktick's support will enable the class to provide media output in the form of daily press releases, live online reporting from the racecourse via the official Melges 24 Blog as well as on the dock video interviews with the sailors.

Other supporting sponsors include the City of Annapolis, National Sailing Hall of Fame,BoatingLaw.com, Go!The Airport Shuttle, Boatyard Bar and Grill, Sam's Waterfront Cafe, APS Ltd, Pusser's Caribean Grille at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, Team Barbarians,RACEBOOK-US, North Sails One Design, SailFastPhoto, PantherVision, Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co, Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard, Sail 22, Latis Yachting Solutions, Kathryn M Weber, CPA,MarinaCastTV, Fawcett Boat Supplies and LaCroix Waters. This event is also supported by theInternational Melges 24 Class Association (IMCA), the US Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA)and the Annapolis Melges 24 Fleet #22.

The Melges 24 Class and Eastport Yacht Club are extremely proud to be partnered with these outstanding companies and sincerely thank them for their generous support of the 2009 Worlds.

Day two of the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis World Championship is upon us. For the latest and greatest updates, in real-time from the race course check out the official Melges 24 Blog, blog.melges24.com. IMCA Press Officer Justin Chisholm will be putting us through the paces. Tune-in NOW as racing starts soon.

Visit Official Melges 24 Blog