Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Royal Cup 52 Super Series Scarlino Day 3

by 52 Super Series 29 Sep 2022 09:53 PDT 26 September - 1 October 2022

Sled working a particular magic in Tuscany to extend their lead

The waters of the Golfo di Follonica, Tuscany continue to deliver excellent racing conditions for the Royal Cup 52 SUPER SERIES Scarlino. With winds gusting over 25kts for Race 5 of the ten race series and a slight drop to 12-15 for Race 6, the 2021 52 SUPER SERIES champions Sled, steered by Takashi Okura, eked out a four points lead Thursday in their quest to land the Royal Cup.

Sled's afterguard of Francesco Bruni, Murray Jones and Andrea Visintini seem to have the best handle on the wind changes on the race areas, once again finding small gains which other teams either miss or are not best positioned to take advantage of. This sixth sense, or particular magice, saw them pull through race leaders Quantum Racing on the final downwind to win Race 5. Complementing this with a third behind Platoon and Phoenix in the second race Sled moved clear of Quantum Racing with whom they had started the day tied.

Visintini, Sled's Italian navigator enthused, "Checco (Bruni) and Murray (Jones) are really doing the magic. They see things that other boats don't see. And the boat is fast. Mr Okura is doing a great job, especially downwind."

He adds, "It was challenging today with the big winds and waves. And in terms the next couple of days the wind will be much the same, hopefully a little more stable as the front goes through tonight and that should be the last one, so some sunshine coming up as well, maybe."

Their four points takeaway from the day was not the best in the fleet, though. On day three together things started to fire for Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon and the new line up at the back of the boat which now features Italy's three times circuit winning tactician Vasco Vascotto. With a second and a first today it was the team's best day of this five regatta 2022 season which saw them finish sixth in Puerto Portals, Mallorca in July, a venue where they went with higher expectations especially after winning their second Rolex TP52 World Championship title there on the Bay of Palma in August 2019.

But Vascotto cautioned, "We are not heroes today just like we were not zeroes yesterday. It takes time to put the pieces in place, good starts, speed, manoeuvres, and tactics and I feel like today was a lot better. The communication is better, we know each other better what I can get from Harm and what he needs from me."

Their three points aggregate elevates them to fifth overall 12 points off Sled's lead with up to four races still to sail.

Quantum Racing sailed to a third and a fifth today. They led the first race comfortably and in the second contest were up to third at one point, so maybe finish the day rueing points lost here and there. But in the pursuit of the 2022 52 SUPER SERIES season title, for the second day in a row here, after 34 races now so far this season - and potentially up to 14 left - they finished tied on the exactly the same aggregate points as rivals Phoenix.

Provisional Standings after Day 3:

1. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 5+1+3+4+1+3 = 17 pts
2. QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 2+2+4+5+3+5 = 21 pts
3. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso & Tina Plattner, 3+4+7+1+6+2 = 23 pts
4. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 7+3+1+3+5+8 = 27 pts
5. PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 4+7+8+7+2+1 = 29 pts
6. VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 1+9+5+9+4+6 = 34 pts
7. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+5+2+6+7+9 = 37 pts
8. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 9+6+6+2+8+7 = 38 pts
9. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 6+8+9+8+9+4 = 44 pts

Related Articles

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
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Looking ahead to the 27th edition The elegance of the Classics, the power of the Moderns, the majesty of the Maxis. This dreamlike combination, a legacy of the Nioulargue, will once again come together in the stunning setting of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5. Posted on 22 Jun
Rolex TP52 World Championship preview
The pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES will be held at Cascais The annual Rolex TP52 World Championship represents the top tier of monohull grand prix sailing. Held as the pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in the sport. Posted on 19 Jun
Sailing with Matt Cornwell
From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds, Matt's journey has been shaped by resilience, big moments, and life at the bow. We caught up with him to talk favourite races and what he'd be doing if he weren't a sailor. Posted on 13 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup overall
American Magic Quantum Racing are Galician royalty, winning 2nd event of 2025 with a race to spare. Delivering an impressively consistent series across 10 races sailed in broad range of weather conditions Doug DeVos's US flagged crew of American Magic Quantum Racing won the second regatta of the 2025 season to lift the prestigious Royal Cup. Posted on 7 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022. Posted on 6 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better. Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 2
American Magic Quantum Racing extend their lead after challenging light winds day Patience, concentration, risk management and perhaps a highly developed sixth sense of the subtle changes in the light breezes, were among the key assets shared by the crews which did best today, the second racing day. Posted on 4 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 1
Top level consistency gives 2024 champions a strong start in Baiona The 2024 overall circuit champions, Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing, lead the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP after two good races on the beautiful but challenging race area off Baiona on the NW corner. Posted on 3 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup practice day
Breezy, beautiful Baiona finds favour again with TP52 teams Takashi Okura's Sled team today laid down a marker on the beautiful waters off Baiona, NW Spain as the top performers over the two official practice races sailed today on the eve of the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup. Posted on 2 Jun
Switch One DesignVaikobi 2024 DecemberAllen Dynamic 40 Footer