Lang Walker's Kokomo second at Audi Farr 40 Cup
Nerone (ITA), owned by Massimo Mezzaroma, helmed by Antonio Sodo Migliori with tactician Vasco Vascotto, is the overall winner of the Audi Farr 40 Cup, second leg of the Farr 40 European Circuit Med.
'Photo: Francesco Nonnoi - Audi Farr 40 Cup - Italy 2008'
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Following a breathtaking final day's racing during which the Sardinian mistral grew from 18 to 33 knots, just two points separated the top three boats in the final classification. Lang Walker's Kokomo (AUS) took second place ahead of Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino (ITA) in this event organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the Farr 40 European Fleet Association.
'We managed to get in a race today to close this leg of the circuit in style.' commented Nerone's helmsman Sodo Migliori after today's fourth and final race. ' The wind really increased after the start, it got up to over 30 knots but nevertheless we were able to keep our adversaries in check today. So with the third place in race four added to good results in the previous races we won the series. I'm sorry for Massimo Mezzaroma who couldn't be here but we've been on the phone to him and he is delighted with the result.'
Race four started with 18 to 22 knots of wind from 270?. Mascalzone Latino got a good start and led Dangerous but Fun (Mon), owned by Michele Perris, for the duration of the 7.5 nautical miles of windward-leeward course number four. Giovanni Maspero's Joe Fly (ITA) held third place at the first windward mark but had been overtaken by Nerone at the leeward gate. Mascalzone led Dangerous But Fun and Nerone across the finish line.
Adrian Stead, tactician on board Mascalzone Latino enjoyed the challenging conditions: 'We had a great day's racing in Porto Cervo as usual. There was a bit too much wind towards the end which was challenging, we had 33 knots on the last run just before the jibe and we knew the guys from Monaco were sailing well and we had to make the jibe. We managed it despite the very strong wind, we had really great teamwork today and it was great fun.'
Following race four , and faced with ever stronger gusts, the YCCS Race Committee headed by PRO Peter Reggio decided to call it a day. 'At the start we had around 18 or 19 to 20 knots, which was great for these boats. Then it really started to blow up before the first run and got up to 30 to 32 knots. There was absolutely no way we could have started a second race today.' With the necessary four races completed to make this leg of the European Circuit valid, none of the owners or crews were complaining.
Wolfgang Schaefer, President of the Farr 40 European Fleet association was happy with the series: 'It was a tough series, just what you'd expect in Porto Cervo. We had a typical mistral situation, unfortunately we only got in four races but they were very interesting ones, especially the last one. We had some very interesting situations today, the wind got up to 32 knots. It was a great race though and we finished with only two points separating the top three boats which shows just how close the competition is in this class. Overall it was a great regatta and now we are looking forward to the Sardinia Rolex Cup which should be just as exciting, but hopefully with the forecast lighter winds.'
Almost half of the fleet will remain in Porto Cervo for a further week to compete in the Sardinia Rolex Cup taking place from June 14th to 21st. Five teams representing Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain and Southern Europe will take part, each composed of a Farr 40, a Swan 45 and a Transpac 52.
Overall Classification
Place, BOAT, Owner, Sail No. Pts Total Place
1) NERONE, Massimo Mezzaroma, ITA1972 3, 1, 5, 3, 12.00
2) KOKOMO, Lang Walker, AUS8883 1, 4, 2, 6, 13.00
3) MASCALZONE LATINO, Vincenzo Onorato, ITA1 5, 2, 6, 1, 14.00
For Results, Entry Lists, Notice of Race and further details of this event and the YCCS 2008 season, please visit www.yccs.it.
by Event media 
Port Macquarie, NSW
