52 Super Series Key West Day 2 - Azzurra takes second place

by Azzurra Sailing Team on 22 Jan 2014 On day two of the US 52 Super Series Key West 2014 Azzurra takes a brilliant second place behind Quantum in the day’s only race that was marked by big rain squalls and unstable winds. Ran finished third.

The second day of racing was marked by strong instability due to the storms and heavy rain squalls that pulled the breeze in direction and intensity. The race committee had to cancel several times the starting procedure because of sudden wind shifts, even in excess of 30 degrees with respect to the weather mark, that would have turned the race into a lottery and not a racing competition based on the sailing skills of the crew and its ability to decipher the usual wind oscillations.

Azzurra got off at the middle of the starting line with perfect timing but the left wind shift favored Quantum and Ran on the left. Thanks to a flawless tack after the start, Azzurra snapped second place from Ran in the first beat. After a series of huge rain squalls that came with gusts over 20kt, sudden wind lulls and forced sides on the course, fleet positions remained unchanged. However, the race provided a beautiful fight with Ran in the second beat and a photo finish with Quantum. The race committee had set today the finish at the third beat for a total of five legs. It was in fact in the last leg that the brilliant tactical choices onboard Azzurra had allowed them to close the gap with Quantum. The Americans however were able to maintain their lead and cross the finish line barely ahead.

Quote of the day
Guillermo Parada, skipper: 'It’s a pity, it was quite a boring day because of all the wind shifts and in most of the legs there were no tactical options. After a start where we didn’t position ourselves correctly, we sailed well and tried to take advantage of all the opportunities the race would give us. We were very close to Quantum and had to duck them in the first beat while in the last leg we had an opportunity to overtake them. Up to 30 seconds to the layline we had a slight advantage but at the end the shift favored them and they crossed ahead.

However, it’s only three races out of ten and we haven’t had any extraordinarily bad result. It’s a long Series and we have to keep up the pressure.'

US 52 Super Series at Quantum Key West standings after three races:
1 Quantum Racing (USA)m Doug DeVos (USA) 1,1,1 3pts
2 Rán Racing (SWE), Niklas Zennström (SWE) 2,2,3 7pts
3 Azzurra (ITA), Guillermo Parada (ARG) 3,3,2 8pts
4 Sled (USA), Takashi Okura (USA) 5,4,5 14pts
5 Interlodge (USA), Austin Fragomen (USA) 4,5,6 15pts
6 Hooligan (USA), Gunther Buerman (USA) 6,6,4 16pts

52 Super Series – 2014 Racing Schedule
20 - 24 January – Quantum Key West Race Week
5 - 9 March - 52 World Championship, Miami
20- 24 May - Rolex Capri Sailing Week
10 - 14 June - TP52 World Championship, Porto Cervo
4 - 9 August - Copa del Rey, Palma de Mallorca
10-14 September – Royal Cup, Ibiza

Team Azzurra
Guillermo Parada - Skipper and Helmsman
Vasco Vascotto - Tactician
Francesco Bruni - Strategist
Bruno Zirilli - Navigator
Paul Westlake - Mainsail
Mariano Caputo - Bowman
Juan Pablo Marcos - Midbow
David Vera - Pitman
Maciel Cichetti - Trimmer
Mariano Parada - Trimmer
Simon Fry - Trimmer
Gabriel Marino - Grinder
Alejandro Colla – Grinder
Boat Captain: Pedro Rossi
Coach: Guillermo Baquerizas
Coach: Rod Davies

Event website: click here
Azzurra website: click here