Barclays 52 Super Series - New TP52 Phoenix launched in Valencia

by 52 Super Series on 1 Apr 2014 Barclays 52 Super Series 2014 is being held from 20th to 25th May in Capri, Italy. The brand new TP52 of Brazilian owner Eduardo de Souza Ramos was launched and christened in her home port of Valencia at the weekend.

Preliminary sailing trials and training start the crew’s preparation for their participation in the Barclays 52 Super Series,

The boat, Phoenix, built at King Marine in Valencia and designed by Botin Partners, was launched at the America’s Cup city’s Marina Real Juan Carlos on Saturday. The owner, who represented Brazil twice at the Olympics, took the helm of his new boat which is the first TP52 to fly the colours of Brazil on the Barclays 52 Super Series. The new boat is being worked up prior to her first regatta, Palma Vela in Palma, Mallorca early May.

'This has undoubtedly been one of the happiest days of my life. It is a very exciting boat and it is great to see her launched here in Valencia where I will base the boat.' Said the owner who is a successful entrepreneur in the motor industry in his native Brazil.

The crew will be lead by Brazilians Sergio Rocha and Andres Fonseca and Argentinian double Olympic bronze medallist Santiago Lange. Other crew members include Gonzalo Araujo as mainsail trimmer, Pedro Mas on the bow and Javier Plaza as trimmer.

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 is followed by a regatta in Miami fifth to 9th March. After the Miami regatta, which begins on March 5, the competition will move to Europe, where four regattas are contested, two in Italy and two in Spain:

• Rolex Capri Sailing Week , Capri , Italy , 20-24 May
• TP 52 World Championship , Porto Cervo , Italy, 10-14 June
• Copa del Rey, Palma, Spain , August 4-9
• Royal Cup Marina Ibiza , Ibiza, Spain , 17-21 September