Azzurra ready for the grand finale of the 52 Super Series in Menorca

by Azzurra on 18 Sep 2017 Azzurra is at the head of the circuit's provisional scoreboard with a slight lead on Platoon and Quantum. Racing begins tomorrow at 12:30 CEST and will end Saturday, September 23rd.

There are eleven TP52s docked at the Club Maritimo de Mahon for the final event in the 2017 52 Super Series. This has been the hardest fought season ever in this top level and highly competitive sailing circuit.

Racing will begin tomorrow at 12:30 CEST and will continue to Saturday, September 23rd, alternating windward-leeward courses with two coastal races. Azzurra has arrived in Menorca at the lead of the Super Series, with just three points overall on the current World Champion, Platoon, and six points on Quantum, winner of the 52 Super Series in 2016.

52 Super Series rules state that the final score be tallied on the sum of all points earned over the season without exception (low point system). The top three teams are practically tied for points and all of them have a chance at winning the Series. Provezza and Ran are slightly behind, but both teams have won an event each. Each of the previous five events- the Menorca 52 Super Series is the sixth and final event of the 2017 season- has seen a different team win overall: there is no clear favorite going into this event.

Today's Practice Race was abandoned when winds were blowing at over 28 knots and thunderheads were heading straight for the fleet.

Riccardo Bonadeo, YCCS Commodore said: “Our team Azzurra has arrived at the final event in the 52 Super Series in top form and with a slight advantage on a close fleet. These are all top teams that sail at top level: that's what the scoreboard really says. By the end of the week we'll have a winner, but whatever the score, it's really sports that win. I know how hard our club members and Azzurra's owners the Roemmers are working along with her team to reach their goal. I'd like to take advantage of the opportunity to thank them once again on behalf of the whole Yacht Club Costa Smeralda”.

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “We're heading into the final event of a season that has been especially close with three teams almost tied. All we have to do is stay calm and concentrated, the boat is sailing well and our team is excellent: we need to do what we do best without complicating things for ourselves. Easier said than done, but if we can do it we could be celebrating a new victory in a few days.”

Bruno Zirilli, navigator: “After the front that passed through today and forced us to abandon the Practice Race, the weather should be better during the event. Winds at 10-15 knots from different directions are predicted. For now we're expecting to be able to race every day, even though it will be choppy when the winds are from the north. When they're from the west there will be shifts that will be hard to predict, not ideal for us since we have to defend our lead, but the boat is well tuned and we're going to have to sail well.'

Tomorrow's forecast calls for northerly breezes at 10-15 knots. Two windward-leeward races are scheduled to begin at 12:30.

52 Super Series Overall after five regattas
1. Azzurra (Alberto e Pablo Roemmers, ITA/ARG), 182 p.
2. Platoon (GER, Harm Müller-Spreer), 185 p.
3. Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos, USA), 188 p.
4. Provezza (Ergin Imre, TUR) 214,3 p.
5. Rán Racing (Niklas Zennström, SWE), 228 p.
6. Bronenosec (Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS), 246 p.
7. Sled (Takashi Okura, USA), 271 p.
8. Gladiator (Tony Langley, GBR) 280,6 p.
9. Alegre (Andrés Soriano GBR/USA), 322,5 p.