Azzurra wins 35th Copa del Rey Mapfre

by Giuliano Luzzatto on 7 Aug 2016 Azzurra, the boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s burgee, has won the 35th Copa del Rey Mapfre placing first in a race even in the final day of the event.

Yesterday the Racing Committee had to abandon racing due to strong northerly winds, but today, the final day in the event, there were classic “Palma conditions” with thermal breezes from the southwest up to 15 knots.

Azzurra and other TP52s were participating with a handicap at this event in the IRC One Class along with other boats built for off-shore racing. Azzurra placed first and sixth in today’s two races.

With today’s good finishes Azzurra confirmed her leadership at the Copa del Rey Mapfre, a leadership that she captured right from the start of 35th edition of this prestigious event, which this year is not part of the 52 Super Series circuit. On the podium along with Azzurra there are two other TP52s that are familiar to all those who follow the 52 Super Series: Alegre and Paprec Recyclage. Another 52 Super Series contender, the Italian team Xio/Hurakan, finished in fifth place in the highly competitive Class IRC One.

For Azzurra the Copa del Rey Mapfre podium is more than just a win in one of the most important regattas in the Med, it’s also the confirmation that an important step ahead in the fine tuning of the boat’s set up has been made in anticipation of the TP52 World Championships that will be held in Mahon in September. The Mahon event will also be the fourth event in the 52 Super Series.

Quotes of the day:

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “Naturally, we’re very happy to have won the Copa del Rey, for the fifth time for many of Azzurra’s team members who previously competed aboard the TP52 Matador. We have reached all the goals we set for ourselves before the event in Puerto Portals, now we can take a short rest and do some repairs on the boat who has been working just as hard as we have. We want to get to the World Championship in Mahon in as good shape as possible!”

Vasco Vascotto, tactician: “We arrived at this event after two and a half weeks of hard work that paid off because we really hit the targets we set for ourselves: to be solidly in second place in the 52 Super Series, to close the velocity gap between our boat and the others, and to win the Copa del Rey. September’s World Championship is getting closer, now I think we can go there feeling that we have everything in place, ready to defend last year’s title. We’re happy, now we can relax a bit and enjoy this result together with the Roemmers family, the YCCS and our fans.'

“And speaking of top world sports events I’d like to say ‘break a leg’ to the Italian sailors competing in Rio, keep up the good work and don’t let emotions and Olympic stress get to you. You have to stay concentrated, get a good start, tack on the right wind shifts and dominate the competition, same as ever.”