52 Super Series 2015 - Azzurra takes first sail in waters off Valencia
by Azzurra Sailing Team on 18 Mar 2015
Azzurra's first sail test - 52 Super Series 2015 Jesus Renedo / Azzurra
In preparation for the 52 Super Series 2015, the new Azzurra has taken her first sail in the waters off Valencia. The first impression on the boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's burgee is excellent.
Salt water first touched the new Azzurra’s hull just after her technical launch held Saturday March 14th at the Port America’s Cup in Valencia.
Monday March 16th the crew headed by skipper Guillermo Parada and tactician Vasco Vascotto boarded the new TP52, designed by Marcelino Botin and constructed under the supervision of project manager Miguel Costa, for the first time.
'For an Italian sailor,' tactician Vasco Vascotto said, 'having the privilege of sailing aboard a boat named Azzurra has a unique value. It gives us the chance to continue a tradition of success that began over thirty years ago. It’s a great honour and a huge responsibility that I share with a strong and unified team.'
The new 2015 version of Azzurra can be spotted from afar thanks to a silver racing stripe that accents her sleek and elegant hull lines. This is a modernised call back to the classic elegance of previous versions of Azzurra that raced in the 1980’s challenges for the America’s Cup.
Azzurra 2015 was built following new class rules for the upcoming season. The new rules allow for a larger sail plan and deeper draft on lighter boats to further enhance performance. The boat has beamy and flared lines that come from careful study of fluid dynamics for top performance both up and down wind. Special attention was paid to structural engineering for maximum rigidity and resistance at the lowest possible weight. The deck is clean and unencumbered with no coachroof and the cockpit is free of lines as they run under the deck.
A perfect racer!
Starting tomorrow, March 18th, Azzurra will be doing a series of training sails against Phoenix, a boat with similar characteristics that was launched last year. These trial runs will be both a workout for the crew will be an excellent opportunity to optimise the new Azzurra.
In about eight knots of breeze the sailing and shore teams ran today all structural stress and systems tests necessary on a newly launched boat.
Skipper Guillermo Parada commented: 'The job list is still very long but we are happy so far. The feeling on the boat is good and the system seems to be very neat so once we have everything tweaked and working properly we are confident that it’ll be really, really nice. We are headed for a long week of work, but we’re very happy and I’m sure we’ll be in good shape by the end of the week.'
TP52 Azzurra 2015 technical specifications
LOA: 15,85 m.
Beam max: 4,42 m.
Draft: 3,50 m.
Displacement: 7000 kg.
Mainsail area: max 98m2
Headsail area: max 66m2
Gennaker area : max 270m2
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