Barcelona, 28th September 2019 – Caipirinha by owner and helmsman Martin Reintjes: this is the name of the 2019 Champion of the Melges 32 World League, who earned the title today at the end of the fourth and final stage of the season.
Caipirinha, with Gabriele Benussi on tactics, achieves this result after appearing as the leader of the 2019 ranking on the eve of the event hosted by OneOcean Port Vell in Barcelona: today, the lack of breeze, has crystallized the standings of both the stage and the circuit, determining the successes of the German La Pericolosa by Christian Schwoerer in the challenge of Barcelona and at the same time sanctioning the name of the best team of this long season started on the race course of Villasimius and then continued in the events of Puntaldia and Malcesine.
The success of Caipirinha confirms the strength of the Italian fleet that maintains the Melges World League title in Italy (after the success of Giogi by Matteo Balestrero last year).
On the podium of the season, in second place, the two-time World Champion by Pavel Kuznetzov, on the equals with the defending champion Giogi.
The seasonal top five is completed by another Italian team, the veteran Torpyone of Edoardo Lupi and Massimo Pessina, followed by the German Wilma of Fritz Homann.
Kilian Holzapfel’s German Homanit wins the Corinthian title of the Melges 32 World League series, followed by Jens Kuhne’s compatriot Sjambok and Mahmut Saral’s Turkish Atlas.
The podium of the stage at OneOcean Port Vell sees alongside the winner onboard La Pericolosa, the teams of Giogi (second) and Caipirinha (third).
Martin Reinties – “Raising the Melges 32 World League Trophy is a great thrill for me and for the whole team. We achieved this great success in the third year of presence in this extremely competitive fleet where this year we measured ourselves no more as a Corinthian team but as a pro team, to give us objectives at the highest level. We think we have hit one of the targets we set ourselves at the beginning of the season but now we have to stay absolutely on the ground because after this stage we are already entering the atmosphere of the World Championship in Valencia, which is obviously the target of all our opponents and for which we will try once again to give everything. Thanks to all my team guys who have allowed this team to grow up to today’s levels”.
Gabriele Benussi – “So far a great season for Caipirinha Sailing Team that has grown from race to race. After the podium in Malcesine we managed to defend the circuit’s leadership and to seal this victory, which I think is absolutely deserved for the great work and dedication shown by the guys who make up a team that worked very well together on every detail in many hours and days of training that served to build our potential. Now we look forward with confidence and always with the utmost respect for a fleet in which the balance of power is always on the line of maximum equilibrium”.
Martin Reintjes, as the winner of the circuit, has also been awarded with the special prize reserved by the partner La Thuile for a stay in Valle d’Aosta at the Hotel ***** Montana Lodge, while the lucky-drawn prize for a stay at the Boutique Hotel Rifugio Lilla in La Thuile went to Alessandro Tonelli (team Caipirinha). To Christian Schwoerer the prize offered by Garmin Marine with the Quatix 5.
The next appointment for the Melges 32 fleet is always set in Spain, on race course of Valencia, from 24 to 27 October for the Melges 32 World Championship 2019.
About OneOcean Port Vell – OneOcean Port Vell is a renowned marina for big yachts located in the heart of Barcelona. Originally built for the 1992 Olympic Games, it currently offers 150 berths of up to 160 meters in length, with one of the longest dock in the world with 400 linear meters, which makes it one of the leading marinas in the sector of the big yachts. For more informations about OneOcean Port Vell, visit: www.oneoceanportvell.com
Melges Europe and Melges World League thank all the partners who have contributed to the success of the series: Helly Hansen, North Sails, Tiirenia, Quantum Sails, Garmin Marine, La Thuile, Rocket Performance, Revi Trento Doc, Loison Pasticceri dal 1938, Rigoni di Asiago, Dai Dai, Norda, XPouf, Le Formiche di Fabio Vettori, boutique hotel Rifugio Azul (Minorca) e Rifugio hotel Lilla (La Thuile) e One Ocean; and on the direct contribute of the Team Partners UYN thanks to Brontolo and G3Bau Sailing Team; Camarca Caffè thanks to Fra Martina Sailing Team.
Melges Europe and Melges World Leagu proudly support One Ocean Foundation and the message of Charta Smeralda.
Usefull links:
– Event page
– Official results
– IG offical page
– FB offcial page