52 Super Series - Azzurra recaptures the lead in the Copa Del Rey

by 52 Super Series on 8 Aug 2015 Azzurra recaptured the lead of the Copa del Rey Mapfre and now is ahead just one point after an incredible recovery in the second race of the day. Tomorrow will see the grand finale with four boats with just two points difference in the provisional results. The day’s first place finishes went to Provezza and Quantum.

It wasn’t a day for the faint of heart today in the waters around Palma. The numbers don’t tell the full story of what happened today on the regatta course: Azzurra ended the day with a sixth and a fifth place, two finishes that put her in the middle of the results and that could seem to reflect a conservative strategy adopted to maintain her overall lead in the 52 Super Series. But that wasn’t the case: Azzurra raced two regattas that were full of adrenaline and an emotional roller coaster. After two excellent starts, fast and in relatively clean air she soon found herself in dirty air because today the left side was practically obligatory and the whole fleet was there. It was necessary to get a fast start on the pin, but getting into the middle when you’re the championship leader isn’t always a good strategy.

The first race saw Provezza gain the left side at the start. The race was practically won from there. She was followed by Quantum, Bronenosec and Platoon. The latter, after gaining the left at the start in the second race, lead the race until halfway through the downwind leg, to then drop back to eighth place because of a penalty when she was in fourth place. Quantum took advantage and finished first. She is now third overall tied for points with the German team aboard Platoon.

Azzurra was behind at the first mark which she rounded second to last in a tightly packed fleet. Her recovery began as soon as the downwind leg started and was consolidated on the second upwind leg when tactician that was different from the other boats. She was sixth at the second mark and fifth on the finish line just ahead of Xio. This incredible recovery means that the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's boat has hung on to her leadership just one point ahead of Platoon and Quantum.

Tomorrow will be the final day of the 34th Copa del Rey Mapfre and will be spectacular. Following tradition, the prizegiving ceremony will be held at the foot of the Palma Cathedral and will be officiated by King Felipe VI of Spain.

Guillermo Parada, Azzurra’s skipper had these words: “It was a tough day for us but we were able to hang on and to hold on to our lead for one more day. There are four boats very close going into the final race. I’m sure it will be a nice race to watch and hopefully we can hold out again. It would be very nice to finish this week winning the Copa del Rey and that’s what we’re looking for.”

Tactician Vasco Vascotto: “The second race today was the best in the entire season so far thanks to an incredible recovery that came from the strength of our desire to win. We are still leading in the provisional results in the Copa del Rey. Even in terms of the Super Series we can’t complain but we have to sit down and think things over. We’re making mistakes that we don’t want to repeat.”

52 Super Series at 34th Copa del Rey Mapfre, Palma de Mallorca

1. Azzurra, ITA (Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG) (1,1,5,3,4,6,5) 25 p.
2. Platoon, (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) (6,3,3,1,1,4,8) 26 p.
3. Quantum Racing, (Doug DeVos USA) (3,4,2,9,5,2,1) 26 p.
4. Bronenosec, (Vladimir Liubomirov RUS) (10,5,1,4,2,3,2) 27 p.
5. Alegre, GBR (Andres Soriano USA) (2,2,6,5,10,9,3) 37 p.
6. Sled, USA (Takashi Okura JPN) (5,7,8,2,9,5,4) 40 p.
7. Provezza, (Ergin Imre TUR) (4,11,10,6,11,1,9) 52 p.
8. Xio Hurakan, (Marco Serafini ITA) (9,8,7,10,7,8,6) 55 p.
9. Spookie, (Steve Benjamin USA) (7,10,4,11,8,10,7) 57 p.
10. Gladiator, (Tony Langley GBR) (11,6,9,8,6,7,10) 57 p.
11. Paprec, (Jean-Luc Petithuguenin FRA) (8,9,11,7,3,11,11) 60 p.