Melges 24 European Championship

The Melges 24 European Championship in Tønsberg, Norway, concluded with a silver medal for MELGINA, helmed by our member Paolo Brescia and racing under the colors of our Club.

Five unforgettable days of racing, from August 29 to September 4, saw 42 crews from 12 nations compete in one of Scandinavian sailing’s most historic venues. It was a memorable silver medal for Paolo Brescia’s crew, racing under the Yacht Club Italiano burgee and including our young member Filippo Vulcanile, alongside Simone Ferrarese, Jas Farneti and Federico Zampiccoli.

After a difficult start to the championship, partly due to swell and current conditions unfamiliar to the Ligurian crew, MELGINA came into her own on the third day, when a powerful Atlantic weather system brought gusts of up to 36 knots. Paolo Brescia’s crew took full advantage, scoring two race wins and climbing the overall standings.

The light and unstable winds on the final day instead favored the Croatian crew of Ante Cesic aboard Razjaren, who secured the European title in the final race. Third overall was NIKA, owned by Russia’s Vladimir Prosikhin and racing under the colors of the Yacht Club de Monaco.

“It was an incredibly exciting championship, with local conditions that were very challenging for us to interpret, but it was also memorable for the close battles against such a high-level fleet,” commented Paolo Brescia.

Also worthy of note was TAKI 5’s fifth place overall and second place in the Corinthian category. The crew included our members Giacomo Fossati and Pietro Seghezza, the Club’s Racing Director, alongside Nicolò Bertola, Giovanni Bannetta and Marco Zammarchi.

It was a very positive end to the season for our Club’s crews, who distinguished themselves at the highest level in the Melges 24, one of the most prestigious classes in international sailing.