52 Super Series returns to the roots of sailing

by Lars Böcking on 22 Apr 2012 The inaugurate 52 Super Series gets underway during the Trofeo Conde de Godo in Barcelona, Spain from 23rd to 27th May 2012. The 52 Super Series is an event series of '52'- boats, recently established by sailing enthusiasts and business men Doug DeVos, Niklas Zennström and Alberto Roemmers, racing at high profile and prestigious sailing regattas in cooperation with yacht clubs and local event organizers.

After the discontinuation of the MedCup in 2011, the top 52 teams, namely Quantum Racing (USA), Rán (SWE), Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), Gladiator (ENG) and Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One (GER/FRA) identified a new battlefield where they are going to fight for glory. A new ownership structure has been established where the teams in the 52 Super Series have an equivalent stake and their interests are equally taken into consideration when making strategic decisions.

‘The 52 Super Series will be the world’s top mono-hull in-shore fleet race competition at the highest technological and design level. The 52 Super Series will gather the world’s most talented sailors, and will separate those who compete from those who perform’ – says Niklas Zennström, Owner and Skipper of Rán.

‘Concentrate instead of exaggerate’. The intention of the 52 Super Series is not to create an artificial environment but rather focus on the genuine and natural setup of the high profile yacht clubs - full of tradition, full of history and flair – the essence of sailing.

Guillermo Parada, Skipper Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, is very enthusiastic about the newly established series: ‘I am hugely excited about this new approach of focussing and concentrating on what sailing is all about’. He further adds: ‘Being the pinnacle of mono-hull in-shore fleet racing, the 52 Super Series adds high value to the profile, positioning and attractiveness of the events and regattas it is cooperating with. A real win-win situation’.

The 52 Super Series Calendar 2012 comprises the following regattas:
Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona, May 23 – 27
Sardinia Cup, Porto Cervo, June 11 – 17
Royal Cup, Palma, July 10 – 14
Copa del Rey, Palma, July 16 – 21
Valencia Cup, Valencia, September 16 – 23

As the 52 Super Series is trying to achieve a healthy mixture between already established and new regattas, the trained eye will easily notice that the Royal Cup and the Valencia Cup have not been found on the map of sailing in previous years. The 52 Super Series envisions instituting these regattas as an integral part of the international sailing calendar.

In order to align the objectives with the positioning, in 2013, the 52 Series will also take place ‘outside’ Europe.

Ed Reynolds, CEO of Quantum Racing says: ‘We are thrilled about the new concept and approach. We consider 2012 as a transition year in which we try to attract more teams who didn’t compete during the past years’. When being asked about the future development of the series, Ed mentions: ‘The stakeholders driving the 52 Super Series are very successful business men who know exactly what they want and are very realistic about the development potential the 52 Super Series has. From 2013, we would like to grow the 52 Super Series globally with regattas in America as well as the Middle East and potentially Asia in 2014. But we will do this in an economically viable and consolidated manner’.

Jacaranda Marketing with offices in Valencia, Spain and Munich, Germany have been appointed as the main partner to manage and implement the 52 Super Series. ‘We are very pleased that we have been given the opportunity to assist with the development and implementation of the 52 Super Series’, says Lars Böcking, Managing Director. Jacaranda Marketing has been involved in the marketing and management of professional sailing for many TP52 website