Samba Pa Ti Crowned 2012 Melges 32 World Champion

The final day of competition at the 2012 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), had spectators on the edge of their seats for the last race of the ten part racing series. John Kilroy, Jr. on Samba Pa Ti triumphed over the thirty-three strong fleet to claim the class’ most coveted trophy and title – that of Melges 32 World Champion.

“We’ve worked so hard for so long to accomplish this,” commented Kilroy during the awards ceremony. “We won in Key West, then felt as though we were a little off track. Officially, we are back where we need to be with this incredible win, a win I consider one of the most treasured I have ever won.”

Kilroy was joined onboard by tactician Paul Goodison and crew Federico Michetti, Harry Melges III, Luca Faravelli, Martino Tortarolo, Justin Smart and Marco Carpinello.

Proudly seated second overall is Alec Cutler on Hedgehog with tactician Richard Clarke and in third, is a deserving Steve Howe on Warpath with Morgan Larson on tactics.

Race number ten provided more surprises under overcast skies, light and shifty breezes out of the Northeast. Keisuke Suzuki from Japan on Swing, with tactician Jesper Radich put the fleet on alert when he challenged and overtook John Taylor’s Ninkasi with Jeff Madrigali on tactics. Suzuki slowly but surely acquired a monster lead as the race progressed, then gained more momentum and extended furthermore earning over a two minute lead at the finish for the win. Edoardo Lupi’s Torpyone had a great race finishing second, while Alex Jackson on Leenabarca claimed third.

Top Five
1.) John Kilroy, Jr./Paul Goodison, Samba Pa Ti; [20]-8-1-12-1-1-1-2-8-5 = 39
2.) Alec Culter/Richard Clarke, Hedgehog; 5-7-2-4-7-6-4-4-[11]-10 = 49
3.) Steve Howe/Morgan Larson, Warpath; 2-15-4-7-8-3-8-3-12-[20] = 62
4.) Benjamin Schwartz/Chris Rast, Pisces; 4-1-[19]-2-4-13-11-14-2 19 = 70
5.) Pieter Taselaar/Nick Thompson, Bliksem; 7-16-6-11-5-11-7-1-9-[18] = 73

Full results