52 Super Series - Princess Zahra Aga Khan baptises the new Azzurra

by Azzurra Sailing Team on 23 May 2015 Azzurra’s baptism was held today in Valencia after the day’s races were over and the Princess Zahra Aga Khan did the christening. Ran is at the head of the provisional overall results while Azzurra is in fifth place.

The most important event today at the Ford Vignale Valencia Sailing Week was after the racing was over, back in port by the famous Veles e Vents building: Azzurra’s official christening. The boat was first christened in March in Valencia where she was built, at the Port America’s Cup. This technical launch was followed by her winning test run at PalmaVela and now her official racing debut in the 52 Super Series 2015. Today the Princess Zahra Aga Khan baptized the third TP52 named Azzurra, heiress to two previous versions and their winning sporting pedigrees.

Azzurra’s owners, the Roemmers family, and top board members of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda were present along with many guests including representatives of all of the other boats competing in the 52 Super Series. At 5:30 PM the Princess broke a bottle of Dom Perignon on Azzurra’s bow on the first try: a good sign for the rest of the boat’s career. The following cocktail saw members of all the teams in the competition happily enjoying the party together.

On the water, Azzurra sailed well without being able to profit fully from the skill and agility shown during maneuvers. Two excellent starts were followed by some unlucky turns of events including a penalty that was harsher than it should have been. Azzurra placed fifth and eighth in today’s races and is fifth overall. Ran is first followed by Alegre and Sled.

Quotes of the day

Owner Pablo Roemmers: “On the water we could have done better, we got a penalty called a bit late and it cost us dearly because we had the kite up already. But definitely the highlight of the day was the christening. We’re extremely happy that the Princess Zahra Aga Khan came to christen the third Azzurra and that’s all we needed. Now we have no excuse: we expect to have good performances.”

Skipper Guillermo Parada: “I think for sure that today is a very important day. Friday, May 22nd will be a day that we remember for a long time. We christened the boat so we expect that to bring us a bit of good luck and we feel that we’ll be lucky for the rest of the week and hopefully we can put everything together. We’re happy, we feel that today we sailed a lot better and things are starting to click. Unfortunately a couple of situations didn’t let us get the results we were expecting, but overall we’re confident and looking to the future with hope.”

YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo: “Having the Princess Zahra Aga Khan baptize Azzurra is the continuation of a tradition for us. In the ‘80s her mother baptized the versions of Azzurra that competed in the America’s Cup, her daughter has baptized the latest versions of Azzurra, boats that have the same name, sporting spirit and values as the previous versions and that now race in the 52 Super Series. We haven’t yet lived up to our full potential, but we’re sure to get there soon. Once again, I have to thank the Roemmers family for the opportunity they have given us in this boat and all of Azzurra’s crew for the hard work they put in every day.”

As always, you can follow the regattas in real time via Virtual Eye on our website News direct from the regatta course will be posted on Azzurra’s Facebook page and Twitter account. Registered journalists can find copyright-free high res images for publication in the press area of the website.

Overall after nine races

1. Rán Racing, SWE (Niklas Zennström SWE) (2,1,2,2,10,5,7,4,1) 34pt
2. Alegre, GBR (Andy Soriano USA) (1,3,1,5,2,9,2,8,9) 40pt
3. Sled, USA (Takashi Okura JPN) (7,11,3,3,3,1,11,1,3) 43pt
4. Bronenosec, RUS (Vladimir Liubomirov RUS) (8,6,6,1,9,6,1,6,5) 48pt
5. Azzurra, ITA (Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG) (6,5,5,9,1,8,5,5,8) 52pt
6. Provezza, TUR (Ergin Imre TUR) (5,2,7,8,8,7,6,12,2) 57pt
7. Quantum Racing, USA (Dalton DeVos USA) (4,7,8,6,6,11,3,3,10) 58pt
8. Platoon, GER (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) (3,8,11,4,7,2,12,7,7) 61pt
9. Interlodge, USA (Austin and Gwen Fragoman USA) (10,4,4,10,11,12,4,2,4) 61pt
10.Paprec FRA (Jean-Luc Petithuguenin FRA) (9,10,12,12,4,3,9,11,12) 82pt
11.Gladiator, GBR (Tony Langley GBR) (11,9,9,7,12,4,10,10,11) 83pt
12.XIO, ITA (Giuseppe Parodi ITA) (12,12,10,11,5,10,8,9,6) 83pt

2015 Calendar 52 Super Series
18 to 23 May: Valencia (Spain)
8 to 13 June: Porto Cervo (Italy, Sardinia)
13 to 18 July: Puerto Portals (Spain, Mallorca)
3 to 8 August: Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
15 to 20 September: Cascais (Portugal)