2nd Round of Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series
'Action from the Malcesine edition of the Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series 2008'
Carlo Borlenghi
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The second round of the Melges 32 Audi Sailing Series 2008 will take place in Cagliari on the southern tip of the island of Sardinia from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th June. Cagliari is a legendary regatta venue and has already hosted major RC44 and Melges 24 one design regattas so far in 2008. Both those events were blessed with near perfect conditions, so things bode well for a superb event when the Melges 32 fleet rolls into town next week.
Cagliari is a very different venue to the lake conditions we experienced in Malcesine at the inaugural event last month. The sailing waters off Cagliari are wide and open and if the breeze gets into the 15-20 knot range then we are likely to see some significant waves making for spectacular downwind sailing. Good starts, clean lanes and maximum boatspeed will all be key to securing a place on the podium come the end of the regatta.
A twelve boat fleet is expected to take to the water including Luigi Amedeo Melegari's Matrix who will be flying the Audi Sailing Series 2008 leader's red flag having claimed victory in the first regatta in Malcesine. The competition in Cagliari promises to be intense with many of the teams at the regatta capable of winning races. 
Francesco Martino's Pilot Italia will be looking to secure another podium position having finished third in Malcesine and Claudio Recchi at the helm of Uka Uka will be hoping for a return to form after an uncharacteristic mid fleet finish on Lake Garda. Watch out also for Germany's Michael Illbruck aboard Pinta, who will be trying to recreate the performance which saw him win the SORC regatta in Miami earlier this year.
Whilst there will be a couple of boats missing from the line up in Malcesine, the Cagliari regatta will welcome two new teams to the Audi Sailing Series 2008 circuit - Stefano di Properzio's 'Mataran' as well as Ernesto Faraco, Adriano De Concini and friends' entry 'LEA'. Both Audi and the Melges 32 European Class extend a warm greeting to both these crews and we look forward to getting to know them well.
Event website - www.melges32.com
by Justin Chisholm 
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