2015 52 Super Series – Tough fight for Azzurra in today's coastal race

by Azzurra Sailing Team on 11 Jun 2015 2015 52 Super Series – Today’s hard fought coastal race through Sardinia’s spectacular Maddalena Archipelago saw Azzurra slip back to fourth place overall. The Russian boat Bronenosec is currently the leader in the Settimana delle Bocche.

In the second day of racing at the Settimana delle Bocche, a regatta that is part of the 52 Super Series, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Committee Boat hoisted the warning signal punctually at 12 noon and the coastal race was run in southwesterly winds at 14 to 19 knots. The fleet of nine TP52s headed towards the Maddalena Island through Passo delle Bisce passing by a windward mark two miles from the start.

Azzurra got a good start near the Committee Boat but Bronensec got an even better one right on the pin and held on to her lead for the rest of the race. Azzurra began a long day’s fight of tacks and tactics that saw her in fourth place at the first mark. After hoisting the gennaker, a large sail ideal downwind, she regained positions to second place. The real fight was in a series of gybes with Gladiator and Quantum where Azzurra was penalized after a cross with Quantum. On the downwind leg to Spargi Island, Azzurra broke her gennaker and got another penalty that put her at the back of the fleet. On the upwind leg to the finish, after rounding the Island of Spargi, Azzurra fought hard and managed to recover two positions, finishing seventh.

Provisional results see the Russian team Bronenosec, with many Italian sailors aboard, in the lead, tied for points with Quantum. Provezza is third followed by Azzurra, tied for points with Gladiator. Racing is scheduled to start again tomorrow at noon and will see another windward/leeward race and possibly a short coastal race.

Quotes of the day:

Skipper Guillermo Parada: “It was a tough day and we made some mistakes and we have to make sure that they don’t happen again. It was good that we weren’t placed too badly the end of the race but still I think that we have to be careful for the rest of the week.”

Tactician Vasco Vascotto: “Lots of things went wrong today and weren’t done the way they should be. We were recovering well and were in second place, but then we started making mistakes maneuvering. Quantum caught us on port tack, then we broke our gennaker and then got another penalty. Now we’re going to need to have a long talk and get ready for tomorrow.”

52 Super Series - Settimana delle Bocche
Overall results after three races

1.Bronenosec, RUS (Vladimir Liubomirov RUS) (9,1,1) 11pts
2.Quantum Racing, USA (Doug DeVos USA) (3,4,4) 11pts
3.Provezza, TUR (Ergin Imre TUR) (5,5,2) 12pts
4.Azzurra, ITA (Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG) (1,6,7) 14pts
5.Gladiator, GBR (Tony Langley GBR) (6,3,5) 14pts
6.Sled, USA (Takashi Okura JPN) (8,2,6) 16pts
7.Platoon, GER (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) (7,7,3) 17pts
8.Paprec FRA (Jean-Luc Petithuguenin FRA) (2,9,9) 20pts
9.Alegre, GBR (Andres Soriano USA) (4,8,8) 20pts

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)