UKA UKA RACING ARE READY TO DEFEND...

UKA UKA RACING ARE READY TO DEFEND THE 2008 WORLD TITLE THEY WON IN PORTO CERVO

THE REIGNING CHAMPIONS HAVE A GOOD INSIGHT INTO THE LOCAL CONDITIONS THEY FACE WHEN RACING IN ANNAPOLIS

Uka Uka Racing, Lorenzo Santini’s team who are holders of the world title for the Melges 24 class, are back, arriving last Monday, here in Annapolis – located in Maryland on the North-Eastern U.S.A.-coastline – to prepare to defend their World Champion title.
This is this the fourth time this year that Uka Uka Racing have flown across the Atlantic Ocean to come to Annapolis to learn the difficult racing conditions here.

In the course of the first few days, characterized by light breezes, the team were interested in testing their speed and to understand the situations and condition to be expected in the different race areas on Chesapeake Bay, where on Monday , October the 26th, the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championship will start.

After having won the 2008 World Championship the team has won all the races which they took part in, notwithstanding small crewing changes to key roles.
This is the winning sequence of their triumphs: the Premiere Racing of Key West (U.S.A.) at the beginning of 2009, then the NOOD Regatta in Annapolis (U.S.A.) followed by the Italian Championship in Cagliari, followed by victory at the Torbole Week (the last leg of the Volvo Cup) and finally but not least the European Title in Hyères (FRA) at the end of August.

This is a real dream team, whose key members have been Lorenzo Bressani at the helm, Federico Michetti team manager and trimmer, the tacticians Jonathan McKee and Branko Brcin (replaced McKee in Hyères), Francesca Prina, the Bow, Matteo Sprecacenere (replaced Prina in Key West), Carlo Zermini (replaced Santini in Torbole) and lastly the owner Lorenzo Santini, the foundation on which the successes are built .

“My opinion – says the owner Lorenzo Santini - is that we trained very well for the main event of this season; I am therefore confident, and so is everybody in our team. Of the difficult racing area, we decided to strengthen the team by relaying on the experience of Dave Scott, an experienced sailor and North Sails worker, who knows this racing area very well.”

“I’m looking forward to getting going – says the helmsman Lorenzo Bressani - we are ready to race. We trained well, together with Terry Hutchinson, Favini, Zandonà and Larson. The feedback is very positive. No doubt the racing area is complicated and speed itself will not be so critical t as at other events, but certainly it will not hurt.”

“This year has also been fantastic for us – continues Bressani – we won all the races in which we took part, therefore I do not feel any more tense than we should for an important event. We are all focused and ready.”

The Pre-Worlds event, ahead of the World Championship, will take place today and tomorrow – starting at 10.30 am – and will consist of 2 races for each day.

For more information regarding the event please refer to the official website:
http://www.melges24worlds2009.com/

The event will be closely covered in real time with footage, team interviews and pictures on the website: http://www.sailinganarchy.com/otwa/ - http://www.t2p.tv