Hehad said it, Michele Zambelli, that he would give it his all in the second leg of the Mini Transat, the longest and toughest (2,770 miles from Lanzarote to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe). He really didn’t like the twelfth place he got in the first stage (a stage he had also led, except then opted for a wrong tactical choice): and now, in fact, he is there, less than 300 miles from the finish, playing for the victory.
A GREAT REGATTA OF THE ROMAINE
Currently the Romagnolo, aboard Proto Illumia, is in second position behind the very strong Frederic Denis, who commands a 59-mile lead. The real match-race, however, is with Frenchman Luke Berry, who is eight miles behind Zambelli. Michele initially chose to stay in that zone of steady winds that lie further south of the conventional route, and then meticulously and precisely went on the attack of the opponents. Pedote, fresh winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre, finished second in the 2013 Transat. Now, we will not know if Zambelli, at calculated fees, will be able to match Pedote, but he is still having a great race. It will certainly improve, and not by a small margin, on the 10th position obtained in 2013.
OTHER BLUES DON’T SHINE
The Italian hopes are all pinned on him, as the other Italians are unfortunately not shining. Alberto Bona retired, among the Series the situation is not rosy: good performance by Roland Ventura, 14th for now, Andrea Fornaro is 23rd and Federico Cuciuc 39th.
