Melges 24 European Sailing Series 2026 at Fraglia Vela Riva - Day 2
by International Melges 24 Class Association 4 Jul 19:07 UTC
3-5 July 2026
Day Two of the Melges Reunion hosted by the Fraglia Vela Riva in cooperation with the Italian Melges 24 Class and the International Melges 24 Class Association, delivered another classic afternoon of Lake Garda racing as the famous Ora breeze once again built after midday, allowing three more races to be completed in the 2026 Italian Melges 24 National Championship - the second event of the Italian Trofeo Gaudi and the seventh event of the Melges 24 European Sailing Series.
Although the breeze arrived slightly later than on Friday, delaying the first start by twenty minutes, Principal Race Officer Gabriella Gabrielli and her race management team quickly made up the time. A steady 14-15-knot southerly provided another spectacular day of racing, with long planing runs downwind and tactical upwind battles framed by the dramatic cliffs surrounding the northern end of Lake Garda.
Three different teams claimed race victories. Croatia's Panjic, helmed by Luka Šangulin, won Race 4, while Michael Goldfarb's War Canoe captured Race 5 in fitting fashion on the 250th anniversary of the United States, the birthplace of the iconic Melges 24. The final race of the day belonged to Paolo Brescia's Melgina, whose victory strengthened the Italian team's lead in the Corinthian division.
With the first discard now applied after six races, the overall standings underwent a dramatic reshuffle. Despite not winning a race on Saturday, Michele Paoletti's Strambapapà remained firmly in control thanks to another remarkably consistent day (3-2-4), ending the afternoon with a comfortable 13-point net score.
The biggest movers came from Croatia. Razjaren, helmed by Karlo Kuret for owner Lukasz Podniesinski, posted another consistently strong day (4-4-3) and, after discarding Friday's 21st-place finish, climbed from ninth to second overall on 16 points. Fellow Croatian team Panjic also capitalised on the discard, scoring 1-3-8 to leap from seventh into third overall after dropping yesterday's 13th-place finish.
Just outside the podium, War Canoe celebrated Independence Day with scores of 5-1-13, finishing the day tied on 23 points with Panjic in fourth overall. Melgina rebounded from an early retirement to close the day with RET-9-1, remaining fifth overall while extending its lead in the Corinthian division. Former World and European Champions Altea by Andrea Racchelli scored 13-8-5 to slip from second overnight to sixth, but remain well within striking distance heading into Sunday's final three races.
The Corinthian division remains equally competitive. Paolo Brescia's Melgina retained the lead despite an early retirement in Race 4, bouncing back with a 9-1 finish in the final two races to end the day fifth overall on 26 points. Hungary's Chinook, helmed by Ákos Csoltó, holds second among the amateurs after posting 9-11-6, while Germany's White Room, led by Michael Tarabochia and Luis Tarabochia, remains third following a consistent 15-6-10 day. With just 11 points separating the top three Corinthian teams and three races remaining, Sunday's finale promises an exciting battle for the amateur title.
Sunday's decisive final day will begin with the first warning signal scheduled for 1300 hours, with two races planned. By the afternoon, the fleet will know not only the 2026 Italian Melges 24 National Champion, but also the winner of the Melges Reunion, the seventh event of the 2026 Melges 24 European Sailing Series. With the discard now in play and several teams still firmly in contention, both the Overall and Corinthian titles remain open.
Results after Day 2: (top ten, 6 races)
1. STRAMBAPAPÀ (ITA 689) Michele Paoletti - 13 pts
2. RAZJAREN (CRO 867) Karlo Kuret - 16 pts
3. PANJIC (CRO 803) Luka Sangulin - 23 pts
4. WAR CANOE (USA 841) Michael Goldfarb - 23 pts
5. MELGINA (ITA 854, Corinthian) Paolo Brescia - 26 pts
6. ALTEA (ITA 722) Andrea Racchelli - 29 pts
7. FREMITO D'ARIA (ITA 673) Dario Levi - 29 pts
8. CHINOOK (HUN 850, Corinthian) Ákos Csoltó - 37 pts
9. WHITE ROOM (GER 677, Corinthian) Michael Tarabochia - 37 pts
10. WHATEVER (ITA 731, Corinthian) Michele Ferrari - 44 pts