Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Rolex TP52 World Championship on Bay of Palma - Practice Race

by 52 Super Series 24 Aug 2019 09:15 PDT 25-29 August 2019
Rolex TP52 World Championship Cascais 2018 © Nico Martinez / 52 Super Series

Provezza, winners on these Bay-of-Palma waters in 2017, served notice that they should be among the favourites to win the 2019 TP52 World Championship title as they held off Azzurra to win the Official Practice Race in a light sea breeze today.

The Turkish-flagged team, which has John Cutler steering and Hamish Pepper as tactician, has already tasted success on this incredibly close-fought 52 Super Series season, taking a slender victory in light-to-moderate airs in Puerto Sherry in June. With Bay of Palma ace navigator Nacho Postigo helping decode the subtleties of today's course area, Provezza was one of the first to choose the right side, leading Azzurra and Quantum Racing to the top mark, building a lead of over 100 metres by the leeward gate. But the 2015 world champions Azzurra got back on terms on the second run, splitting gybes with the leaders, but fading to leave the win to Provezza.

"Today was good, but we are realistic. We are happy with the way the boat is going even if we had a couple of things go wrong, so we still have to learn from today, for tomorrow, when it counts," recalled Provezza's Hamish Pepper. "We ripped our kite and did not do a good job recovering when we needed to. Today we had a good day, but there are ten other teams here capable of doing what we did today, we got our noses in front this time. We have to be able to do it when it counts. Cascais [last month] was such a different regatta, we need to start afresh tomorrow."

As a dress rehearsal for the first Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals 2019, the Official Practice Race is an essential warm up, not least for owner-helms getting their game back up to the very high level required. Doug DeVos made a solid start in the driving seat of Quantum Racing to cross third today, showing no obvious signs of ring rustiness, despite having been away from the circuit since last year.

After the strong breezes and big waves of Cascais, this Rolex TP52 World Championship is expected to see light-to-moderate, 8-13 knot sea breezes, through what should be a ten race series for the 11 boats from eight different nations.

"Some days we may need to be patient, some days we may need to move a little to chase down the best of the breeze, but this is the Bay of Palma and you can be pretty sure that at some stage there will be eight to 11kts. For us on Provezza though we just aim to take each leg, each race, at a time. So we need to make a good start, sail a good upwind, and make sure it is a good first race. We feel good in these conditions, the boat we asked Vrolijk for really was optimised for 11kts and it felt good in Cadiz. But look down the dock here and I am sure we are not the only boat that has the capacity to go well in 11 kts."

Victor Mariño from Platoon commented:

"Now we are at the middle of the season everyone is now reaching a peak in terms of ability, and so it is really, really close. This will be a very competitive regatta everyone wants to win. We think that if we don't make mistakes, we can be in the top four every race, and then we will have a good chance to win the World Championship, but it gets more difficult every year, more difficult than when we won."

Entries:

Alegre - Andy Soriano (USA/GBR), 2018 Botin
Azzurra - Roemmers Family (ARG/ITA), 2018 Botin
Bronenosec - Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS), 2019 Botin
Gladiator - Tony Langley (GBR), 2017 Botin
Phoenix 11 - Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2018 Botin
Phoenix 12 - Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2014 Botin
Platoon - Harm Müller-Spreer (GER), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Provezza - Ergin Imre (TUR), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Quantum Racing - Doug DeVos (USA), 2018 Botin
Sled - Takashi Okura (USA), 2018 Botin
Team Vision Future - Jean Jacques Chaubard (FRA), 2015 Botin

Racing at the Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals 2019 starts on Sunday 25th August and finishes on Thursday 29th August. You can enjoy live images of the racing supported by expert commentary and analysis every day. All shows will begin 15 minutes before racing is due to start and can be enjoyed at 52superseries.com or via the app.

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen Posted on 18 Jul
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
An exceptional fleet of grand classics are preparing An exceptional fleet of grand classics led by the legendary three-masted schooner Atlantic, a strong showing from the Wally yachts among the numerous Maxis, and the arrival of the new Magic Carpet e are all signs... Posted on 10 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais overall
American Magic Quantum Racing win Rolex TP52 Worlds after breezy week in Cascais. Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing crew were crowned 2025 Rolex TP52 World Champions today in Cascais, Portugal. Posted on 6 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 4
All on the line Sunday as American Magic Quantum Racing seek to close out eighth world title After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 Worlds with a hard earned five points buffer. Posted on 5 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead. Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 2
Consistent American Magic Quantum Racing move clear ahead American Magic Quantum Racing stepped three points clear at the top of the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship leaderboard today in Cascais, Portugal on the strength of a first and third from two breezy races. Posted on 3 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Interview with the CYCA Team
A highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta from July 17 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is fielding a highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta that will be run from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, from 17th July 2025. Posted on 1 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais - Practice Day
Will Platoon Aviation's big breeze, big pressure experience prove key to their fourth world title? Of the three past and present world championship winning crews which completed their final practice today in typically muscular 25 knot breezes and big waves out of Cascais, Portugal it was Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation which showed best today. Posted on 1 Jul
Introduction to the Admiral's Cup/Fastnet 2025
After a 22 year abscence, the renowned Admiral's Cup is back. After a break of 22 years, the renowned Admiral's Cup is returning to the international yacht racing scene in July 2025. One short ocean race, three days of inshore racing, and then the fabled Fastnet to finish Posted on 29 Jun
Rooster 2025Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeBarton Marine Pipe Glands