Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Menorca 52 Super Series Sailing Week - Day 3

by 52 Super Series 23 May 2019 14:38 PDT 21-25 May 2019

On an uncompromising, very much one-sided race course off Mahón, Quantum Racing proved the top scoring boat at the Menorca 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week to take the overall lead at the first circuit regatta of 2019 by one single point.

After missing Day 2's scheduled races due to the lack of breeze, the third day was a gift with the bright spring sunshine and 10-15 knots of breeze. But with the race area located to the east of the entrance to Mahón's expansive natural harbour one of the world's biggest the topography upwind created a natural deflection in the wind, creating a one-sided course that placed a gilt-edged premium on starting perfectly and getting to the right as smartly as possible.

Regatta leaders Azzurra had made a dream start to their season. A second and a win on the first day was smartly followed by another victory in the first of today's three races. A textbook start on the signal boat end of the line, a swift tack to the right and the team from the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda led all the way around the course, extending their lead to eight points at the top of the 11-boat fleet.

But, as is nearly always the case, when there is such pressure on one side of the course and off the line, it is close to impossible to repeat the same plan time and again. Azzurra were held up by Sled at the start of the next race and their strategy was compromised. Provezza got away to lead while Azzurra rounded fifth dropping places on each subsequent leg to finish seventh. A mainsheet winch problem just before the start of Race 5, the third contest of the day, left Azzurra flat footed and nearly last off the line. The dream, 2,1,1, was rudely awoken to a harsh 17pts reality, just as perennial rivals Quantum Racing hit their straps for a glamour 4,2,1 today.

Guillermo Parada, the Azzurra skipper-helm grimaced: "It is the third day of racing, we are almost tied on points and it is like starting all over again! But tomorrow we will be back fighting. That is our style. If we thought we were going to have a comfortable week... no way?"

Quantum Racing started well each race but lost places again in the first heat of the day, leaving Alegre and Provezza to gybe away to the left of the run and gain in better wind pressure. But thereafter the new team line up were firing on all cylinders, extending on the third race to be almost 300 metres ahead on the one sided, follow my leader course.

Provezza, Ergin Imre's Turkish-flagged team show considerable podium potential, their 12pts for the day's diet of three races, sees them tied on points with Azzurra, also just one point behind the regatta leaders. The new afterguard on Provezza, John Cutler steering with Kiwi compatriot Hamish Pepper, appear to have gelled with unflappable navigator Nacho Postigo and their Judel/Vrolijk design which was updated through the winter is proving quick enough.

Cameron Appleton, tactician on Quantum Racing commented: "We made it hard on ourselves on the first race but after that it went well. There is a big geographical shift and the right was strong. We fought hard and we had really good strategy all day. Ed was able to execute really well and the rest was the guys just really working really hard and sailing the boat really well. The starts are a tricky part of the race especially when there is really only one place to start and Ed did a good job in races two and three."

www.52superseries.com

Regatta standings after Day 3:

1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (8,5,4,2,1) 20 p.
2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (2,1,1,7,10) 21 p.
3. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (6,3,3,1,8) 21 p.
4. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,2,6,3,7) 23 p.
5. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (1,7,8,10,2) 28 p.
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (4,11,2,5,6) 28 p.
7. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (3,10,11,6,5) 35 p.
8. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (9,8,5,9,4) 35 p.
9. Phoenix 12 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (7,4,7,8,9) 35 p.
10. Team Vision Future (FRA) (Jean Jacques Chaubard) (10,6,9,4,11) 40 p.
11. Gladiator (GBR) (Tony Langley) (11,9,10,11,3) 44 p.

Update from Azzurra

The start of the second race was similar to the first, but this time Sled closed the door and Azzurra had to follow. She alternated positions in the middle of the fleet with other teams and ended the race in seventh place. But the last race was the most difficult: just a few seconds after the start Azzurra had a technical problem with her mainsheet and dropped back. Her attempts at recovery were frustrated by the fact that the breeze had rotated closing any tactical opportunities and she didn't have any other options than to sail in her adversary's dirty air. Her tenth place finish was unusual for Azzurra and her team, but several other teams have also alternated excellent and disappointing results.

With two days left to go the provisional results see Azzurra in second place trailing her rival, Quantum, by just one point. Provezza is in third place, tied for points with Azzurra. Platoon is in fourth place, but just two points behind Azzurra and Provezza. Racing will begin tomorrow at 12.30 CEST

Guillermo Parada, skipper: "Clearly the first race was great, and in the second we recovered well after a difficult start. We lost a position on each run which isn't good, but we finished seventh and still felt like we were in a good place. Unfortunately, right after the start of the third race we had a technical problem with the mainsail winch. The mainsheet lost tension suddenly and we lost a length at just the wrong time. Even worse was that we didn't have any tactical options open to get back in the game. This is the third day of this event and tomorrow we'll have to start over. We didn't think that we would dominate from start to finish, but tomorrow for sure we'll fight, that's our style."

Related Articles

Exceptional Line-Up for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5, carried by the lively winds of late September that extend the Tropezian summer with its golden light. Posted on 18 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo preview
Spectacular Sardina will see teams looking to finish 2025 on a high note Teams on the 52 SUPER SERIES head to the renowned YC Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo for the final event of the season, 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta, all sharing the same, universal ambition, to finish on an absolute high note. Posted on 17 Sep
Range Rover main sponsor for 52 Super Series Week
The event will mark the conclusion of the YCCS 2025 sporting season The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will bring its 2025 sporting season to a close with the final leg of the 52 Super Series, one of the world's premier professional grand prix circuits. Posted on 4 Sep
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Overall
It's a certain kind of Magic… On the 52 SUPER SERIES' return to the Mediterranean after two regattas in the Atlantic, 2025 circuit leaders American Magic Quantum Racing scored a resounding victory today on the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, lifting the top prize. Posted on 23 Aug
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 4 Season 2
Bulwarks and Bulldust welcomes Jack Macartney into the Captain's Chair This week Bulwarks and Bulldust speaks with Jack Macartney, legendary Australian sailor, Sydney to Hobart winner, RTW racer, 18-footer driver, and co-owner of Cannafox. Posted on 23 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 4
American Magic Quantum Racing go into final day with an 18 point lead American Magic Quantum Racing have given themselves what appears to be a relatively straightforward task as they now go into the final day of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week with a margin of 18 points with two races still to sail. Posted on 22 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 3
American Magic lead at the midpoint Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing emerge with a slender one point lead overall at the end of a long mentally and physically demanding three race programme today on the Bay of Palma at Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week in Mallorca. Posted on 21 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 2
Sled move into contention with race win. Takashi Okura's Sled move into second place on the 12 boat leaderboard some five points behind Andy Soriano's regatta leaders Alegre which took a well earned second in the only contest to be sailed today. Posted on 20 Aug
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory True to tradition, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez honours each of its 19 classes with awards presented in the pure Corinthian spirit inherited from the legendary Nioulargue. Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory. Posted on 19 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 1
Alegre ring the changes with Puerto Portals opening win Andy Soriano's Alegre team made the best start to the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week winning the only race sailed today, the first day of competition as the 12 boat fleet returns to Puerto Portals for the tenth successive year. Posted on 19 Aug
Palm Beach Motor YachtsAllen Dynamic 40 FooterPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOM