Please select your home edition
Edition
Boatseekr_LeaderBoard_5 - TOP

Rolex TP52 World Championship at Real Club Náutico de Palma - Day 2

by 52 Super Series 4 Nov 2021 18:59 NZDT 2-6 November 2021

Takashi Okura's Sled crew with six times America's Cup winner Murray Jones on the helm and Italian ace Francesco Bruni calling tactics won themselves a share of the overall lead of the Rolex TP52 World Championships on the Bay of Palma today after two of the most challenging but exciting races of recent years.

In the chase for the World Championship title they now share the same 15 points tally as the Plattner family's Phoenix which followed up a golden, two bullets first day with a weighty sixth and seventh today. Phoenix actually still lead on tie break by virtue of those two opening day wins.

But Sled's six points aggregate for the second day of racing - they paired a race win to their fifth in the first of today's pair of windward leewards - sees them also earn an equal share of the overall 2021 52 SUPER SERIES lead, locked on the same 60 points score as four times champions Quantum Racing.

With only three scheduled days of racing left of the 2021 season it could not be closer. Chasing Sled and Quantum Racing now in third are Phoenix which are only two points behind.

In the very shifty, offshore breeze which varied in strength between eight and 18 knots over the course of the two races it seemed no lead was safe to the finish line. There were some very useful recoveries promoted by the clever use of the bigger puffs on the downwind legs especially.

Platoon, Phoenix, Alegre and Bronenosec perhaps rode the mental rollercoaster most. The South African flagged Phoenix were flat footed off the first start and rounded the first mark deep in ninth, recovering to sixth at the line.

On the second race If the regatta leaders then found themselves on the wrong side of the opening beat on the second race they sailed an excellent first run to pass through the first leeward gate in third, chasing Quantum Racing and Platoon.

But in phase of play that was typical of the day, though the mean windspeed at the bottom of the second beat was 12 or 13 knots, the breeze swirled, dropped, puffed up and shifted with brain curdling rapidity for a few funky minutes.

With the changes in pressure the lead group compacted right up and regrouped. Sled broke clear and Bronenosec found their way back into the top three, Vladimir Liubomirov's team leading Sled round the final windward mark.

The immaculate white hulled US flagged Sled stayed right of Bronenosec down the last run to take victory. Having dropped five places apiece in that unsettled mixed breeze Phoenix then pipped Platoon on the finish line for seventh to Platoon's eighth.

As is often the case Quantum Racing's astute risk management, achieved under high levels of stress, ensured they earned a third and a fourth place that for all the world must have felt like a pair of victories for Doug De Vos' team lead by Terry Hutchinson.

Sled's visibly relieved helm Jones smiled,
"It was an incredible day. We were up and down. We had two really good starts but even so we didn't get to the top mark very well in either race the breeze was flipping all around the place. In the end we got back to fifth in the first race and we got to first t in the second race. We did a really good job on the second beat of the second race. We got Bronenosec on the run into the finish. Overall it was all about trying to stay in the pressure as well as the shift and I think the pressure was probably more important than the shift. It was about looking ahead and working out where was going to be the next pressure. There were 15 degree shifts so it was a big deal if you got pressure and a shift. There were big gains. And was for the circuit standings we were surprised to see at the end of today how we shape up but there's still a long way to go."

For Bronenosec an 11pts tally today made it yet another 'woulda, shoulda, coulda' kind of day, rueing a costly finish line penalty which required them to go round again to re-finish but also making the best of some of the opportunities that they created for themselves, finishing second behind Alegre in the second race. And Andy Soriano's team also tasted the lows and the highs, winning the first race but finishing tenth in the second contest. It was that kind of day.

Bronenosec's navigator Bruno Zirilli summed up,
"It was one of the craziest days TP52 racing but I think this was normal given the breeze from the shore below the mountain with the puff and luls coming suddenly. Big ups and downs in the fleet. We sailed very well in the first part of the race being in front and then we finish 9th as we got a penalty right on the finish line, shit happens and today was our turn. Then we recovered in the second race coming second. This kind of up and down I think will continue throughout the week."

Standings ROLEX TP52 World Championship after Day 2: (four races)

1. Phoenix (1,1,6,7) 15pts
2. Sled (7,2,5,1) 15pts
3. Quantum Racing (4,5,3,4) 16pts
4. Platoon (3,3,4,8) 18pts
5. Bronenosec Gazprom (2,8,9,2) 21pts
6. Alegre (5,9,1,10) 25pts
7. Interlodge (9,4,7,5) 25pts
8. Provezza (10,7,2,9) 28pts
9. Code Zero (6,6,10,6) 28pts
10. Gladiator (8,10,8,3) 29pts

52 Super Series 2021 after Day 2:

1. Sled 59pts
2. Quantum Racing 60pts
3. Phoenix 62pts
4. Platoon 63pts
5. Alegre 68pts
6. Bronenosec 72pts
7. Provezza 85pts
8. Interlodge 96pts
9. Gladiator 113pts

Related Articles

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
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais preview
Eleven teams hoping the Portuguese venue lives up to its reputation Given that it is a long time since the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet raced in big winds and waves, a breezy final few training days before the start of next week's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais would be universally welcomed by the 11 teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Boatseekr_LeaderBoard_122 - BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOMU-DECK 2023 - No.4 728x90 BOTTOM