Vincenzo Onorato and Mascalzone Latino are the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Champions, achieving a first in the sailing world - three back-to-back victories in this ultra-competitive one design class.

Milan, 19 April 2008 - Vincenzo Onorato and Mascalzone Latino are the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Champions, achieving a first in the sailing world - three back-to-back victories in this ultra-competitive one design class. What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that Onorato had not one, but two substitutes for regular tactician Adrian Stead in Morgan Larson (on Wed.) and John Kostecki (on Thurs-Sat).

The final day lined up as an all-Italian battle pitting defending champion Mascalzone Latino (ITA), the leader of the series since the first race, against Joe Fly (ITA), the second-place, well-sailed boat. The pivotal moment came early, with the first weather mark rounding on race 9 between Joe Fly and Barking Mad (USA) looming large in the end. Barking Mad tactician Terry Hutchinson explained, "From my perspective, we were fouled by Joe Fly at the top mark. We did not protest them because we did not want to be... It is tough racing, It's hard enough. You get into these situations and I think Mascalzone and Joe Fly were having a good regatta against each other. Mascalzone Latino witnessed the infringement (against Barking Mad) and they were within their rights to file a third party against them in the situation. That leaves the umpires to decide the decision."

Rather than play it safe and exonerate themselves with a 720 penalty, Joe Fly took their chance in the protest room, where the international jury -chaired by Tom Ehman - decided in Mascalzone's favor and disqualified Joe Fly, giving the win to Mascalzone, and dropping Joe Fly to second overall for the championship.

The DSK-Comifin Sailing Team now returns to the Med to continue racing on the team's Swan 45 while the finishing touches are made to the new Swan 90, DSK3. DSK-Comifin will return to the Farr 40 circuit in early 2009.

Complete wrap-up report:http://www.farr40worlds.com/content/view/90/34

Final results (Top ten of 33; no discards permitted)

1. ITA, Mascalzone, Vincenzo Onorato, 3-12-1-14-3-5-6-3-7-9, 63 points
2. ITA, Joe Fly, Giovanni Maspero, 9-1-8-15-6-2-5-2-34(dsq)-5, 87
3. MON, Mean Machine, Peter de Ridder, 24-3-9-9-14-1-14-9-2-17, 102
4. DEN, Nanoq, HRH Crown Prince Frederik, 13-15-16-20-17-9-4-13(scp)-3-4, 114
5. ITA, Calvi Network, Carlo Alberni, 6-9-12-33-26-14-7-7-4-2, 120
6. SUI, Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, 8-14-6-6-7-20-9-4(scp)-32-15, 121
7. USA, Ramrod, Rodrick Jabin, 22-8-17-3-10-21-10-19(scp)-1-11, 122
8. USA, Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, 23-5-3-2-16-6-2-24-23-22, 126
9. GER, Opus One, Wolfgang Stolz, 15-16-21-1-5-23-22-15-12-1, 131
10. ITA, Nerone, Mezzaroma/Migliori 19-19-2-29-1-25-13-21(scp)-5-6, 140

Results:http://www.farr40worlds.com/content/view/70/1/