Lack of wind leaves 52 Super Series fleet and the 2024 season start on hold in Palma

New boats, new faces and an accumulation of pent-up energy and excitement will have to stay on hold as the winds refused to blow today on the Bay of Palma for what should have been the first day of racing for the 2024 52 SUPER SERIES season at 52 SUPER SERIES PalmaVela Sailing Week.

Rain clouds eliminated any chance of a sailing breeze and the fleet remained poised at the Real Club Náutico de Palma’s race dock for the day, but by mid-afternoon it was clear there was no chance of equable racing.

The prospects do look good as the five day curtain raiser for the season progresses with the famous sea breeze forecast from Tuesday.

Principal Race Officer Maria Torrijo explained,

“The forecast was that there would be no wind at all, and unfortunately it came true. We are affected by the storms that are passing around Mallorca and that don’t allow the wind to come in. The fleet was already writing off the day early but I was the one who held out a little longer; I always prefer to wait for the forecast to prove true, because it’s still a prediction not a fact. The truth is that these are not typical conditions; in fact, the day before yesterday we had 15 knots and yesterday a little less, but we were able to do some lovely training races. These TP52s need at least seven knots of breeze.”
She continued,

“For tomorrow, the forecast is still not promising, because we are expecting thunderstorms in the morning, with quite a lot of rain; it might come in a bit later. Fortunately, the rest of the week looks good. If the conditions are right, we could extend the programme from two to three races per day’.”

Ten boats from seven different nations, including a new Platoon Aviation for Harm Müller-Spreer’s world and 52 SUPER SERIES champions and a new Alegre for Andy Soriano’s will compete for the first time.