Mascalzone takes fleet honors at Key West

Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino lost key crew to illness and injury, yet still manage to best the fleet in their first outing with his latest Mascalzone Latino Farr 40, hull # 40139 delivered late last year.

Jim Richardson's Barking Mad, which was Key West Race Week's Boat of the Week in 2008, led going into the final day, with 26 points to Mascalzone's 29 and Giovanni Maspero's Joe Fly with 31 points.   Joe Fly won the first race of the day with Mascalzone coming second and Barking Mad fifth, so going into the last race they were all within just a point of each other.  Joe Fly initially led in the final race, but Mascalzone managed to climb back on top, winning the race and series, with Joe Fly second and Barking Mad third overall.

But, despite the close finish, not all the honors of the week belonged to Mascalzone, Joe Fly and Barking Mad. In ten races, there were six different winners.   Races were also won by Alex Roepers' Plenty, Doug Douglass's Goombay Smash, HRH Crown Prince Frederik's Nanoq and many mark roundings and finishes saw the entire fleet pass within a minute from start to finish - so even those at the back were quite competitive!

The fleet on the East Coast will next see action in Miami in March, where it's sure to be warmer than Key West! After Miami a number of boats will ship to the Med for spring events including the Farr 40 Porto Rotondo Regatta, April 24-26 and Rolex Capri Sailing Week, May 19-24.  Both events anticipate strong fleets in advance of the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds @ the YCCS in Porto Cervo June 24-27.