USMCA NEWS

NEWS

JOHN MOLLICONE LEADS THE MELGES 24 GOLD CUP

19 AUGUST 2006 • After two days of racing John Mollicone on Big Dave, USA-623, a three-time All American, 2004 College Sailor of the Year Finalist, Clinic Director and Brown University Sailing Coach as well as 1999 winner of US Sailing's Championship of Champions Regatta leads the field of fifteen Melges 24s with a steady string of bullets. Ken Read, another three-time All American and Winner of the prestigious Morris Trophy as the nation's Outstanding Collegiate Sailor on Endura, USA-655 is seated in second place overall followed by Brian Smith and David Ford on Lightwave Nano; USA-513 in third.

Day one was completely dominated by Mollicone with bullets across the board, while both Read and the team of Smith and Ford tied up second and third with eleven points a piece. Sean Scarborough on Rhino, USA-541 held tight in fourth with thirteen points at days end. Sailing World's Stuart Streuli was loving fifth place on Lightwave Micro, USA-17.

Four races were on tap for Saturday, with again Mollicone doing a spectacular job of holding on to the top spot, however as the races unfolded we saw Mollicone's ability to hold on to his gun diminish as he landed a 1-2-4-5 finish. It was Read turning up the speed a knotch as he managed a 2-1-1-1 finish separating him and first place position holder Mollicone by one point going into Sunday's races. Smith and Ford's results are holding them steady in third overall, five points back from Read. Scarborough stays in fourth and Streuli in fifth.

Now with seven races completed and a throw-out in effect, the leader board remains as it did after Friday races, but with a definite change up in the points department Read is now one point out of tying up with Mollicone and two points from taking the lead. Sunday's races will be nailbiting for sure as these two sailing greats go head-to-head for the 2006 Melges Gold Cup Title!

FULL RESULTS:
1.) John Mollicone, USA-623; 1-1-1-1-2-4-[5] = 10
2.) Ken Read, USA-655; [5]-4-2-2-1-1-1 = 11
3.) Brian Smith/Dave Ford, USA-513; 2-[5]-4-3-3-2-2 = 16
4.) Sean Scarborough, USA-541; 4-3-6-6-[7]-3-4 = 26
5.) Stuart Streuli, USA-17; 3-7-5-[8]-5-6-3 = 29
6.) Platt Johnson, USA-147; 8-2-3-5-6-8-[9] = 32
7.) Geoffery Pierini, USA-551; [7]-6-7-7-4-5-6 = 35
8.) Bill Carleton, USA-378; [13]-8-9-10-9-7-8 = 51
9.) Mitch Hnatt, USA-441; 6-9-8-9-[13]-12-11 = 55
10.) Daniel Cameron, USA-43; 9-10-10-[11]-10-11-7 = 57
11.) Pete Cucci, USA-522; 10-12-[13]-12-8-9-10 = 61
12.) Mike Royer, USA-514; 11-13-12-4-11-13-[14] = 64
13.) Bill Blank/Ben Cudd, USA-568; 12-11-11-[13]-12-10-12 = 68
14.) Gary Schneidman, USA-37; 14-14-[16/OCS]-14-14-14-13 = 83
15.) Peter Hilgendroff, USA-47; [15]-15-14-15-15-15-15 = 89

Stay tuned to this site as a full wrap-up report will be posted as soon as information becomes available. Visit the Official Gold Cup Web site.