For more information about the 2008 Volvo Melges 24 World Championship, visit www.melges24worlds2008.com.

ABOUT SEVENSTAR YACHT TRANSPORT

As the first and most specialized motor and sailing yacht shipping specialist, Sevenstar Yacht Transport offers trouble-free shipping for yachts of any size. Sevenstar’s network of experienced carriers, loadmasters, and crews work with the best equipment to ensure minimum risk to client’s yachts enroute to a virtually unlimited choice of destinations.

Headquartered in Holland, at the heart of the global yacht building industry, Sevenstar staff understand the unique requirements of yacht owners and their vessels, from the family cruising yacht to the largest round-the-world racing multihulls to production motor yachts. - whether they are family cruisers, round-the-world racing multihulls, or production motor yachts.

Sailing schedules and detailed information about Sevenstar’s services can be found at www.sevenstar.nl. Immediate questions can be addressed to our staff at info@sevenstar.nl or +31(0)20 448 8590.

For high-resolution images or to learn more about Sevenstar SLAM Racing, visit www.sevenstarslam.com. Media inquiries and image requests should be directed to Media Officer Alan Block at alan@blocksail.com or +1 248 563 0657.

CREAM RISES TO TOP AS MISTRAL BLOWS AT MELGES 24 WORLDS

PORTO CERVO, ITA (5 June 2008) - After two disappointing days of light winds in the Golfo Pevero, a powerful Mistral brought 25 knots of Northwesterly breeze to Sardinia for three races on Tuesday as well as the final “qualifying” race on Wednesday morning.  Most of the top teams here in Porto Cervo have risen to the challenge of big air racing, recovering from early miscues that put them in uncharacteristically bad positions going into Tuesday morning.

Amongst those teams are Simon Strauss’s Sevenstar SLAM, with two-time Melges 24 World Champion Bill Hardesty on tactics.  “We’ve finally found our upwind groove,” said New York-based Strauss.  “We’re still a bit off the pace downwind, but upwind, we’re blazing fast.”  His team started the regatta with a 24, 14, 19 scoreline, but since that point they’ve grabbed 2,4,5 in the last three races to jump from 38th position all the way to 17th place.

Strauss helmed Sevenstar SLAM to nearly a wire-to-wire victory during race 5 yesterday, but the incredibly fast Joe Fly overtook Strauss’s team less than 400 meters before the finish to win by less than five seconds.  Joe Fly is also recovering from a rough start with a 22,27 on Sunday, yet since then they’ve seen only single-digit finished and have moved into 15th place, just within striking distance of the leaders

FINAL STAGE BEGINS

Race 6 marks two important milestones for the fleets:  First, it means that each team can drop its worst score, and second, it marks the point where the top 58 boats are split off into the Gold fleet, while the rest will race in the less prestigious Silver fleet.  Middle-pack teams are currently awaiting the results of pending morning protests to find out whether they are sailing against the best, or just racing for second-best when they get back on the water this afternoon.  With the breeze forecast to remain strong for at least another two days, there should be some serious excitement on the course.

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© 2008 Meredith Block / BlockSail.com