Rolex TP52 Worlds - Azzurra begins with a third

by Azzurra on 17 May 2017 The YCCS boat took third place in the only race run on the first day of the Rolex TP52 World Championship. Quantum has the lead, followed by Platoon.

This morning the fleet of ten TP52s left the dock at 11 to tune up for the 1pm start. With 15 knots from the northeast everything seemed perfect, but a building thermal, blocking the gradient breeze, ruined everyone’s plans. The first start got off at 2pm but was cancelled shortly after for lack of wind. Azzurra sailed well, working back up to fifth after having been forced over early by Platoon.

When the NE breeze finally filled in, the marks were reset and the world championship finally began at 3:40pm. Azzurra got off to a good start at the committee boat, but so did Quantum from the middle of the line, with Platoon and Sled at the pin end. With a shifty breeze, building at times to 18 knots, the race was anything but predictable: coming in to the first windward mark, Azzurra was in the lead, with Quantum at her heels, but a sudden shift let the Americans in and they rounded first. At the leeward gate positions were unchanged, with Azzurra a boat length behind, and Sled right behind her.

On the second windward leg Sled went to the right and took the lead, and the covering duel between Azzurra and Quantum let Platoon close the gap. At the second windward mark, Azzurra rounded in fourth, with Platoon in third, and for the second time Quantum managed to get her nose in from leeward to edge out Sled and round in first again. The jibing battles on the last leeward leg were high paced, with Azzurra passing Sled into third, behind Quantum and Platoon.

After several attempts to start another race, unstable conditions caused the committee to abandon for the day.

Quotes

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “I think we should be pleased with our result as today was full of risks, with the gradient wind that fought it out with the thermal sea breeze. This was why the first start was delayed, and then the race abandoned after the start. Later the gradient wind filled in, but it was very puffy and shifty. We were in the first group but slid behind because of some minor tactical errors, but managed to finish a solid third, and we should be satisfied with that. Naturally we have to work on a few details, but the boat is fast and we think we have what it takes to keep the fight going during the coming days.”

Vasco Vascotto: “Today was a risky day, it would have been easy to loose a lot of points and comprise the series, but we managed to stay close to the leaders despite a few small tactical errors, which were all my fault. But I know where I made my mistakes; on the second beat I should have tacked on Platoon but instead I left the door open, while Quantum tacked on top of both of us. I should have seen it coming, maybe tomorrow the roles will be reversed, but I’ll try not to make similar mistakes.”

Tomorrow’s start has been brought up to 11:30 CEST to try to use the morning north-easterly and then the thermal sea breeze and perhaps get three races off. The forecast, however, is still uncertain.

Rolex TP52 World Championship - Day 1

1. Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos, USA), 1 point
2. Platoon (GER, Harm Müller-Spreer), 2 p.
3. Azzurra (Alberto e Pablo Roemmers, ITA/ARG), 3 p.
4. Sled (Takashi Okura, USA), 4 p.
5. Alegre (Andrés Soriano GBR/USA) 5 p.
6. Gladiator (Tony Langley, GBR) 6 p.
7. Sorcha (Peter Harrison, GBR), 7 p.
8. Bronenosec (Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS), 8 p.
9. Provezza (Ergin Imre, TUR) 9 p.
10. Rán Racing (Niklas Zennström, SWE), 10 p.