J24 Blog

[source: J24 Arzchena]

Andrea Casale dominates in the first three races of the Italian J24 Championship

Arzachena – Cannigione, May 28, 2008. Finally there was racing in the Italian J24 Championship. After the cancellation of racing on the first day due to a  sirocco wind reaching 48 knots, the second day was also in doubt, this time due to a lack of wind. The 45 boats in the race had to wait for over an hour and a half for the start signal that finally arrived at 12.30 with wind at just over ten knots.

Previous racing had preditected a struggle between four or five crews with surprises behind every mark.  The favorites going into the first day of racing were Andrea Casale (Fiamme Gialle), the Brazilian Daniel Glomb (Bravissimo), 2007 European champion Cruciani Francesco on Avoltore, 2007 Italian Champion Claudio Buiatti of J di Qaudri, and Luigi Ravioli in J di F. Glomb, not who is not Italian, is allowed to race in this open championship but obviously is ineligible for the national title. The likely champion will be the boat that is the most consistent.

At the end of the day the leader in the standings is “Fiamme Gialle,” with skipper Andrea Casale winner of the first race, third in the second and second in the third. In second place, the Englishman [Brazilian?] Glomb, then Cruciani, Buratti, New Zealander Whitemore  [Keith is from New Zealand now?], and Luca Ravioli, paying heavily for a sixteenth place in the first race.

A look at Sardinian competitors: the highest placing boat is Mariolino Di Fraia on Botta Drita in the eighth position while in the twelfth [Should be 13th] position is the boat from Arzachena, Sardares.