Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

52 Super Series Puerto Portals Sailing Week - Day 4

by 52 Super Series 28 Aug 2021 15:38 AEST

The 20th anniversary celebrations to highlight the continued popularity and success of the TP52 class were blessed with an appropriate measure of champagne sailing on the Bay of Palma as competition for the 52 Super Series paused for the day and enjoyed a fantastic day of racing.

The 16 boat fleet which has gathered in Puerto Portals spans the generations from the 2005 Blue Carbon to the newest 52 Super Series boat, Vladimir Liubomirov's 2019 launched Bronensosec. And as it was always hoped for, not only was the spectacle of big fleet TP52 racing as inspiring as ever it was, the newer, top 52 Super Series boats did not have it all their own way.

Although Doug DeVos' US flagged four-times circuit champions were victorious on points aggregated over the two races it was two Italian invitees Roberto Monti's Air is Blue which took second and Marco Serafini's XIO which was third on the IRC corrected time racing.

The breezes were the best yet this week, 13-14kts, and racing in the middle of the Palma Bay there were options either side on the upwinds and downwinds, but mainly it was the team which was able to jump clear off the start line and into the geographical wind bend up the right of the windward axis which was best able to get clear.

In the first race it was Terry Hutchinson and Lucas Calabrese on the Quantum Racing, aided and abetted by navigator Michele Ivaldi who were super sharp off the start line and - with owner Doug DeVos steering - able to hook into that lift and just step progressively away from the fleet, extending away to a lead of over 550 metres. But Roberto Monti's Air Is Blue, which started life in 2008 as Audi Q8 were able to do well on the second round to take second on corrected time with Xio right up among some of the best of the 52 Super Series regulars taking third.

And while the right did pay well on the first race in the second the starters closer to the pin, left end of the line, did better. Bronenosec, with Morgan Larson steering, were able to impose themselves early and once rounding the top mark with the early lead were able to hold off Platoon and Quantum Racing on the race course, but again XIO were in the mix to finish third.

Doug DeVos of the day's top boat Quantum Racing remarked,

"It was so fun to be out there. All that big fleet of boats out there sailing together was great, conditions were beautiful, really classic conditions besides everything it was a fun day to go sailing. We did pretty well. We found a solution to some of the things that happened yesterday. There are still a few bits with team that we are trying to figure out but it seems like we had a few things going better to day. And it was good to see the Invitational boats on the podium. Overall this is such a great group of sailors from all over that have come to join the 52 Super Series and it is really fun to have them out on the water and have everyone racing together. as a fleet, now hopefully some of them will join the super series in the future."

Roberto Monti, the owner driver of Air Is Blue could not contain his smiles,

"It was amazing to be racing with all of the other TP's - this was the most beautiful thing to happen today, racing together. We tried to stay with them, we were amazed to see that we could have a good race and a good result. Our key moments were the two starts, when you have two good starts that's 80% of the race. We were lucky to have two good starts. At the end we have a boat that is very fast downwind and so we can gain some seconds downwind. This is what made us do well today. This is not a boat for the 52 Super Series but we enjoy being able to be invited here with them and to race with them."

20th Aniversary Regatta Results: (after the two races)

1. Quantum Racing (USA) (1,3) 4pts
2. Air is Blue (ITA) (2,5) 7pts
3. XIO (ITA) (3,4) 7pts
4. Bronenosec Gazprom (RUS) (10,1) 11pts
5. Sled (USA) (5,7) 12pts
6. Provezza (TUR) (11,2) 13pts
7. Arobas (FRA) (6.5,8) 14.5pts
8. Gladiator (GBR) (6.5,11) 17.5pts
9. Interlodge (USA) (12,6) 18pts
10. THA72 (THA) (9,10) 19pts
11. Platoon (GER) (4,DNS17), 21pts
12. Zero Emission (FIN) (19,9) 22pts
13. Alegre (GBR) (8,DNS17), 25pts
14. Blue Carbon (ESP) (DNS17,12) 29pts
15. Beau Geste (HGK) (DNF17,DNS17) 34pts
16. Phoenix (RSA) (DNF17,DNS17) 34pts

Invitational Regatta Standings:

1. Air is Blue (ITA) (2,3,4,5,3,1,2) 20pts
2. Beau Geste (HK) (1,1,1,1,1,DNF8,DNS8) 21pts
3. XIO (ITA) (3,DNF8,2,3,2,2,1) 21pts
4. THA72 (THA) (4,2,3,2,4,4,5) 24pts
5. Arobas (FRA) (5,6, DNC 8,4,6,3,3) 35pts
6. Zero Emission (FIN) (6,4.5,5,7,5,5,4) 36.5pts
7. Blue Carbon (ESP) (7,4.5,6,6,7,DNS8,6) 44.5pts

Related Articles

52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 4
Vayu wins the only race of the day The fourth day of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week started punctually at 12 noon (CEST) when the Race Committee started the first and only race in a 10 knots Mistral. Posted on 26 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 4
Sled look to close out regatta win, American Magic Quantum Racing on the cusp of swansong 7th title The penultimate day of racing proved to be a sharp contrast to the two previous days of strong Mistral winds presenting the 13 teams from ten different nations with a different challenge as the conclusion of the 2025 season approaches. Posted on 26 Sep
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez starts tomorrow
245 competitors vying for 19 trophies Saturday 27 September heralds the start of the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. A great many of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez's 245 guests have already made the famous port in France's Var department. Posted on 26 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 3
Sled lead in Porto Cervo and have slashed American Magic's circuit lead in chase for the title The strong Mistral breeze on Sardinia's Costa Smeralda dropped away nicely today and three good, highly competitive races were completed, bringing the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta back to schedule. Posted on 25 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 3
Sled maintains regatta lead, Phoenix top boat for the day The third day of racing at the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo Range Rover Sailing Week enjoyed perfect champagne sailing conditions, racing in a Mistral wind which eased back from the initial 20-22 knots. Posted on 25 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 2
Sled consolidates its position at the top in strong Mistral winds On the second day of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week, the Mistral wind on the race course off Porto Cervo was as strong as forecast, blowing at over 20 knots from the morning onwards. Posted on 24 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 2
Immaculate Sled on song in breezy Sardinia With a race win which they delivered with a near perfect execution in brisk Mistral conditions, Takashi Okura's Sled today moved further ahead at the top of the leaderboard at the 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo Range Rover regatta on Costa Smeralda. Posted on 24 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 1
Solid Sled earn early lead in Sardinia Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races. Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 1
Vasco Vascotto's tactical choices led Platoon Aviation to victory in the first race At 12 noon (CEST), the Race Committee, chaired by PRO Maria Torrijo, started the first race of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week with a Mistral wind of 9-10 knots, increasing to 18 knots during the day. Posted on 23 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo practice race
The loss of the last 'dress rehearsal' is something of a disappointment Although there was just enough breeze to execute a couple of meaningful practice starts, the breeze dropped away and thereafter proved insufficient to allow the planned two short official practice races to be sailed today off Porto Cervo. Posted on 22 Sep
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeMarkSetBotAllen Sailing