52 Super Series 2015 - Outlook looks hot for the 52 Super Series

by 52 Super Series on 19 Sep 2014 Ibiza – Valencia, Puerto Portals and Cascais are the venues which will be new to the 2015 52 Super Series as the world’s leading monohull circuit sets out for five regattas in three different countries. The five month season long series will feature up to nine new TP52s among a fleet which should be around 12 to 15 boats strong.

The mainstays of Palma’s Copa del Rey and Porto Cervo, Costa Smeralda are joined by a curtain - raising regatta in May in Valencia. The Bay of Palma and its reliable summer sea breezes will see back-to-back regattas from Puerto Portals where the TP52 World Championships are again a key stage of the 2015 52 Super Series and the Copa del Rey, before the September finale on the Atlantic waters off Cascais, Portugal. There the lure of potentially strong breezes and big swells draw the fleet to a famous venue which has a great reputation for winds, infrastructure and on-shore ambience.

Agustín Zulueta, CEO of the Barclays 52 Super Series comments:

'2015 will be a formidable year for the 52 Super Series. We have nine new boats in build and we will see most or all of them in Valencia where the facilities are second to none. Overall we wanted to expand the Circuit to visit some venues which are new to us as a series. So alongside the popular appeal of the Copa del Rey it is great to be going to Cascais for example late season where we have high hopes of stronger winds, and to Puerto Portals in the height of summer. It really is a great mix of venues.'

The timelines for new boat builds preclude running a US 52 Super Series in 2015 and so the season in Europe opens 18 to 23 May in Valencia, from the Real Marina Juan Carlos 1. The regatta will have the support of the City of Valencia and the Real Club Nautico de Valencia and will be based in front of the iconic America’s Cup Veles e Vents building.

In June the class return to the idyllic waters off the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club before heading to the Bay of Palma for the TP52 World Championships 13th to 18th July which are followed by the Copa del Rey between third and 8th August.

The 2015 champions will be decided in Cascais, Portugal between 15th and 20th September.

Guillermo Parada, skipper of Azzurra, is openly enthusiastic as he looks forwards to the 2015 52 Super Series: 'We have very good venues, good winds, good racing areas and a range of different sailing conditions ... what more could you ask for? We are really excited and inspired by the idea of nine new boats including our new Azzurra which is being built in Valencia. All this confirms that the work done to maintain and grow the class and the circuit has been successful. Two years ago to have anticipated this a scenario like this for 2015 was almost like expecting a miracle, but now here it is happening, and that really encourages us and inspires us to keep pushing and working hard for the future of our team and the circuit.'

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

Calendar:
The Barclays 52 Super Series 2014 is a calendar of four European regattas. They complement the US 52 Super Series which comprise Quantum Key West regatta which took place January in Key West ( USA) and was followed by a regatta in Miami, fifth to 9th March.
• Rolex Capri Sailing Week , Capri , Italy , 20-24 May
• Audi TP 52 World Championship , Porto Cervo , Italy, 10-14 June
• 33 Copa del Rey Mapfre, Palma, Spain , August 4-9
• Zenith Royal Cup Marina Ibiza , Ibiza, Spain , 17-21 Event website