Trofeo Roberto Trombini -News

· Second-last day of the Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy Match Race 2004
· Much excitement and play-off matches in the quarter-finals
· Semi-finals: Spithill-Norbjerg and Heiner-Williams

Second-last day of the match races in Marina di Ravenna for the 10th Roberto Trombini Challenge Trophy, an international Match Race event organised by Progetto Vela, in collaboration with Circolo Velico Ravennate and the International Yacht Club Marinara. After winds of 50 knots (Bora) during the night, the wind conditions returned favourable, in the morning down to 12-15 knots and in the afternoon down to 6-8 knots.

The quarter-finals have been particularly hard fought: the even balance of the teams made for never ending excitements: 3 duels in the quarter-finals ended only at the 5th match, the deciding game at 2-2 points. James Spithill (Luna Rossa Challenge) worked hard to get the better of Matteo Simoncelli (Itway Match Race Team): leading 2-0, the Spithill saw Simoncelli, completely transformed compared to his performances during the Round Robins, moving up to 2-2
There were a lot of close crossings and penalties, spectacular victory of Matteo Simoncelli in the 2-2 match where he got a penalty on the arriving line but he lead the race at the end. The play-off match saw the advantage of a length for Spithill but remaining an open competition till the end. Applause from the large public for both of them.

Victory also for Dane Lars Norbjerg over the Australian Michael Dunstan at the deciding game for 3-2: the 2 skippers had been chasing each other winning one match each till the decider, due to a penalty to Dunstan on the arriving line. The crowd cheered. Same score, 3-2, for Dutchman Roy Heiner over the Swede Bjorn Hansen sealed victory for the Dutch Olympic champion in the last match raced with a very little wind.

In the last quarter-finals Englishman Ian Williams beat Flavio Favini 3-1. After the 2-0 for Williams, there has been a long break due to a problem at the halyard of the spinnaker in Favini’s boat. Then followed the great victory of the helmsman of Mascalzone Latino. The final success of Williams at the end of a well-balanced match was won by with half a length advantage.

These will be the semi-finalists of the 10th Trombini Trophy: James Spithill against Lars Nordbjerg, Roy Heiner against Ian Williams. Then the finals for the 1st and the 3rd place
followed by the traditional spectacular fleet race and then the prize-giving ceremony.

James Spithill (AUS) won Matteo Simoncelli (ITA) 3-2
Lars Norbjaerg (DEN) won Michael Dunstan (AUS) 3-2
Roy (NED) won Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 3-2
Ian Williams (GBR) won Flavio favini (ITA) 3-1

Progetto Vela - Via Gamba 3, 48100 Ravenna, Tel 0544 465556, fax 0544 463157
Comunicazione/Communication - Fabio Colivicchi +39 335 5730 361 – fabcol@tin.it

<< COMUNICATO PRECEDENTE