Barclays 52 Super Series - Azzurra out front in Capri

by Giuliano Luzzatto on 22 May 2014 Azzurra has claimed the lead in the provisional results of the Rolex Capri Sailing Week, the first event in the Barclays 52 Super Series. The stage is set for tomorrow’s coastal race.

After dominating the second race of the day, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s boat has taken the lead in the provisional results, tied for points with the American team Vesper. Azzurra’s rival, Quantum, is just one point behind which proves just how competitive the Barclays 52 Super Series is and how, with teams as high profile as these, the difference between winning and losing is just a matter of seconds.

The second race belonged to Azzurra, in the lead right from the start. In the first race Azzurra got an excellent start, thanks to which she managed to cinch the left, and seemingly most favourable, side of the race course. But an unexpected wind hole played a dirty trick on her and soon she was at the back of the fleet. She fought her way through the rest of the race and thanks to tactician Vasco Vascotto and the efforts of the entire team she managed to get back a couple of positions, ending the race just behind Quantum, in sixth place. Winds today were again light and from the southwest at just seven to 11 knots. Tomorrow will see the coastal race that will start at noon and should follow a course around Capri to Punta Campanella and the Gulf of Naples.

Coach Rod Davies summed up the day with these words: 'The first race was tough. Not a lot went right for us, but we did pass a boat at the end and got points that proved to be quite valuable. The second race was almost the opposite of the first. We had a very good start and controlled the race from early on. So it was a mixed day, a good one and a bad one.'

Guillermo Parada, skipper and helmsman: 'We stuck to our plan which is to look at the race course, study the line, pick which side we want to do and play our game. I think that we were a little bit unlucky in the first race. We started at the left of the fleet and then ran into a hole with no wind. We had very limited chances to come back but we stayed calm and were able to pick up two places. In the second race we were a bit more cautious and picked a spot a bit more to the right of the fleet, had a clean start and let the boat speed do the work for us. We’re happy because we’re doing well in the light breezes and so far we are in the mix of the regatta. There’s still a long way to go but we have good sensations.'

Vasco Vascotto, tactician: 'We got two very good starts, but unfortunately in the first race we got ‘eaten’ by a wind hole and here in Capri there aren’t very many tactical solutions for recovering positions. We stuck with it and stayed strong and managed to recover a couple of positions finishing just one point behind Quantum. In the second race we got off to an excellent start and always managed to catch the best breezes. The boat follows us perfectly in this light breeze and our new trimmer Grant Loretz has fit right in with the rest of the team.'

Results: Barclays 52 Super Series - Capri, Italy

Overall after four races
1 Vesper, USA, (Jim Swartz USA) (5,2,1,6) 14pt
1 Azzurra, ITA, (Alberto Roemmers ARG) (3,3,7,1) 14pts
3 Quantum Racing, USA, (Doug De Vos USA) (4,1,6,4) 15pts
4 Rán Racing, SWE, (Niklas Zennström SWE) (2,8,2,5) 17pts
5 Phoenix, BRA, (Eduardo de Souza Ramos BRA) (1,7,3,8) 19pts
6 Provezza 7, TUR, (Ergin Imre TUR) (6,4,8,2) 20pts
7 Gladiator, GBR, (Tony Langley GBR) (9,6,5,3) 23pts
8 Paprec, FRA, (Jean Luc Petithugenin FRA) (7,5,9,7) 28pts
9 B2, ITA, (Michele Galli ITA) (8,9,4,9) Azzurra website