52 Super Series 2015 - The newest Azzurra is ready to kick off

by Azzurra Sailing Team on 19 May 2015 Tomorrow the 52 Super Series 2015 will begin with a fleet of twelve boats at the starting line. Azzurra, the first runner up in last year’s edition, will be challenging a fleet that is even larger and more competitive than it was in 2014.

Tomorrow at 1:00 PM the warning flag will be raised for the first race in the 2015 edition of the 52 Super Series. A fleet of twelve boats will compete in six scheduled races in the waters around Valencia for this first event, the Ford Vignale Valencia Sailing Week, that will be held from May 19th to 23rd.

The 52 Super Series is growing constantly both in terms of quality of the teams and technology of the builds. This latest edition, with twelve boats competing, will also see an increase in the number of participants. Nine of the twelve boats racing are new builds and Azzurra is one of them. The levels of competition and technology are very high and investments in this high-level event are only expected to grow.

Azzurra isn’t the only Italian boat racing in the 52 Super Series. Marco Serafini’s Xio will also be racing and there are several Italian sailors on other boats. The 52 Super Series remains the event to follow in the world of top class monohull racing.

Azzurra’s competitors are: Alegre, Bronenosec, Gladiator, Interlodge, Paprec, Phoenix, Platoon, Provezza, Quantum, Ran, Sled, Vesper and Xio.

Forecasts for tomorrow are for the usual Valencian fresh breezes at up to 18 knots, but a weather front is expected during the second part of the week-long event. The winner of this first event of the season will be announced after the last race on May 23rd.

After racing on May 22nd the new Azzurra will be officially christened in a ceremony that will be held by the Veles e Vents building. Azzurra has been the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s sporting symbol since 1983 when it was the first Italian Challenger in an America’s Cup regatta.

Quotes on the eve of racing:

Guillermo Parada, Skipper: “I think that the start of the 52 Super Series 2015 will be a wonderful fit for Azzurra. We’re going to be racing against plenty of good people and nine new boats are so it will be a very challenging and exciting season. We’ll also have the official christening of our boat this week with both our sponsor families, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the Roemmers present, so we’re really looking forward to the week.”

Vasco Vascotto, Tactician: “We have prepared for this regatta as best we could and I really think we’re ready. The 52 Class is growing constantly; this year’s fleet of twelve is a big change from the past. We know that there will be good results along with worse ones, it’s inevitable in a fleet as competitive as this. The important thing is steady nerves and keeping calm.”

As always, you can follow the regattas in real time via Virtual Eye on our website News direct from the regatta course will be posted on Azzurra’s Facebook page and Twitter account.

Registered journalists can find copyright-free high res images for publication in the press area of the website.

2015 Calendar 52 Super Series
18 to 23 May: Valencia (Spain)
8 to 13 June: Porto Cervo (Italy, Sardinia)
13 to 18 July: Puerto Portals (Spain, Mallorca)
3 to 8 August: Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
15 to 20 September: Cascais (Portugal)

Azzurra
Pablo and Alberto Roemmers - Owners
Alberto Roemmers- Helm
Guillermo Parada - Skipper
Vasco Vascotto - Tactician
Bruno Zirilli - Navigator
Giovanni Cassinari - Mainsail
Mariano Caputo - Bowman
Juan Pablo Marcos - Midbow
David Vera - Pitman
Maciel Cichetti - Trimmer
Grant Loretz - Trimmer
Mariano Parada - Trimmer
Gabriel Marino - Grinder
Alejandro Colla – Grinder
Nicola Pilastro- Grinder
Boat Captain: Pedro Rossi
Coach: Guillermo Baquerizas
Coach: Marco Capitani