Azzurra at the start of the Rolex TP52 World Championships

Only a few hours are left before the start of the Rolex TP52 World Championship at Scarlino in the Tuscan Maremma. Due to conclude on Saturday, May 20th, the event scores both in the World Championships and as the third event of the 52 Super Series, following on the heels of the season’s openers on the other side of the Atlantic, in Key West and Miami, Florida.

Azzurra is leading the circuit’s provisional results thanks to their victory in Miami. The team has a 7 point lead over second placed Platoon and 11 over the American team Quantum Racing, reigning world champion, eager to retake the lead and close the distance to the YCCS yacht.

All ten teams in Scarlino have prepared meticulously, optimizing their boats right down to the smallest detail and studying new tricks to increase performance and gain that little bit to edge out their adversaries. Azzurra has proven that they have closed the gap in performance separating them from Quantum, but this time not only the Americans are in the running for top honors - any of the ten teams could win. The most dangerous are certainly Platoon, constantly improving, and Ran, who in 2013 at the TP52 Worlds in Miami beat Azzurra out of the title by only one point. Azzurra, the sporting symbol of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, then authoritatively conquered the 2015 world title.

Morale on board Azzurra is high, the crew is concentrated and know they are ready, but they also know how to maintain a champion’s humility, with the necessary respect for their opponents. This Rolex TP52 World Championship will be a closely fought battle with Vascotto in top form after winning the Rolex Capri Sailing Week in the Farr 40 Class, the opening series in the great Mediterranean racing season partnered by Rolex.

The practice race took place today, Monday the 15th, and the opening ceremony will be this evening in the Marina di Scarlino. Tomorrow’s racing will award points, with no discards, for both Worlds and the 52 Super Series. The racing program, weather withstanding, has two windward-leewards each day and includes a costal race on Thursday. The starting gun is set for 1pm, CET. As always the racing can be followed on Virtual Eye, with commentary in English, either on www.azzurra.it or www.52superseries.com, with live TV from Thursday to Saturday, on-air fifteen minutes before the start at www.52superseries.com.

For the first part of the week the weather forecast gives medium strength northerly thermals, topping out at 18 knots, with the winds possibly going southerly for the weekend.