Copa del Rey - Azzurra takes third podium spot

by Giuliano Luzzatto on 4 Aug 2013 At the 32nd Copa del Rey, Azzurra stepped on the third spot of the podium, behind Quantum Racing and Ran. The next 52 Super Series event will be the Audi Settimana delle Bocche in Porto Cervo.

A third place for Azzurra at the conclusion of the 32ndCopa del Rey, which starting this year forms part of the 52 Super Series. The season will conclude in Porto Cervo, Sardinia with the regatta having the longest tradition held by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda: the Audi Settimana delle Bocche, scheduled from September 10th to 14th.

The first race today saw Azzurra, slightly early over the line, being the protagonist of a minor collision with Paprec, which resulted in a 360-degree penalty turn. The subsequent recovery didn't go beyond sixth place. In the next race, the breeze picked up to over 20 knots and Azzurra avoided further risks at the start: despite a conservative start a bit further behind the line, the Italian boat finished with a positive, third place trailing Quantum and Ran.

Guillermo Parada, skipper: 'It was a tough week that didn't go the way we would have expected. For sure, we sailed below our level and we have to find the reasons why that took place. We have another three-four weeks to think about it, analyze it and go to Porto Cervo where we will set a realistic goal and try to execute it, in order to achieve the best possible result for the current season.'

Vasco Vascotto, tactician: 'A third place can be a good result, but it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for us because we didn't sail the way we know how to sail, making life easy for Quantum and difficult for us. We now have to calmly analyze the errors we committed so that we don't repeat them in Porto Cervo, Azzurra's home, where we want to make a good impression.'

52 Super Series - Copa del Rey final results

1 Quantum Racing, USA, (Doug DeVos) (3,2,2,1,1,1,1,1,5,2,1) 20pts
2 Rán Racing, SWE, (Niklas Zennström) (1,1,1,6,3,2,3,2.5,3,5,2) 29.5pts
3 Azzurra, ITA, (Alberto Roemmers) (2,4,3,7,2,7,2,5,1,6,3) 42pts
4 Rio, USA, (Manouch Moshayedi) (6,3,5,3,6,3,7,4,2,7,5) 51pts
5 Provezza, TUR, (Ergin Imre) (4,7.5,4,4,5,4,4,7,6,3,6) 54.5pts
6 Gladiator, GBR, (Tony Langley) (7,5,8,2,9,5,8,6,4,1,4) 59pts
7 Interlodge, USA, (Austin Fragomen) (5,7.5,6.5,5,4,6,5,2.5,7,8,DNF) 66.5pts
8 Paprec, FRA, (Jean Luc Petithugenin) (9,6,6.5,8,8,8,6,8,8,4,DNF) 81.5pts
9 Aquila, AUT, (Aquila Sailing Team) (8,9,9,9,7,9,9,9,9,9,DNF) Azzurra website