Azzurra shoots for a podium finish in a suspensful event in Valencia

A bullet in the second race wasn’t enough for Azzurra to overcome two middling finishes today. Quantum is sure to win the 52 Super Series 2018. Tomorrow is the final day of racing and the fight for victory at this event and second and third places overall is tighter than ever.

Today was a day of highs and lows in the waters off Valencia and not just for Azzurra. Three races were run to make up for the day lost earlier in the event. Breeze was from the south easterly at 8 to 11 knots but shifted to the left and died down during the third race.

The first race got off to a bad start for Azzurra, who found herself behind a very slow team. She had no other choice than to head right on port tack, passing behind the rest of the fleet. She recovered a few positions but never managed to get beyond eighth place in a race that was won by Quantum followed by Phoenix then Platoon.

Azzurra got even in the following race that she dominated right from the start, perfect and on the pin. She lengthened her lead sailing on the left, rounding all of the marks in the lead and winning with no contest. Behind her Phoenix, in top form today, followed by Sled. Azzurra’s two closest rivals in this event, Platoon and Luna Rossa, both slipped up, placing seventh and eighth respectively. So the games were open yet again, both for the win in Valencia and, more importantly, for second and third place in the 2018 season.
The third race was a let down though. After a tough start Azzurra managed to recover, rounding the mark in fourth place. Unfortunately, she didn’t manage to hang on to that standing. Small errors cost dearly and she rounded the gate eighth without managing to find a place in the fleet on the left, the best side of the course after the wind died down and rotated strongly to the east.

The race was won by Sled followed by Luna Rossa, who got lucky in the words of her tactician, Vasco Vascotto. Third place for Quantum who is already the winner of the 2018 52 Super Series. The Valencia Sailing Week sees Luna Rossa in the lead followed by Quantum, Platoon and Azzurra, all in just a handful of points. Tomorrow will have us all on the edge of our seats.  

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “We aren’t all that happy with our results even though we won the second race. The third race was the hardest because we missed a chance to stay ahead of our two closest rivals and didn’t manage to hang on to the small lead that we had. We’re tied for points and tomorrow is the day that’s going to decide everything. Right now we have to rest and celebrate: it’s Mamu Caputo, our bowman’s, fiftieth birthday.  But tomorrow we want to sail well and close this season on a positive note.”

Santiago Lange, tactician: “I think all the boats are close to us so we need to sail well. There are still two races to run tomorrow and in this fleet that could mean a lot of points. I like to race, and I face things day by day without sailing defensively. If we sail well we’ll be ok, we don’t need to look at two teams, we just have to sail our best.”

Tomorrow two windward-leeward races will begin at 1 PM CEST in light conditions. Live coverage can be followed on the 52 Super Series YouTube channel and website on the website www.azzurra.it.

Classifica 52 SUPER SERIES Valencia Sailing Week after 8 races
1. Luna Rossa (ITA) (Patrizio Bertelli) (6,1,1,3,4,6,8,2) 31 p.
2. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (8,2,6,6,2,1,4,3) 32 p.
3. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (1,4,4,8,1,3,7,5) 33 p.
4. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (2,3,3,5,7,8,1,9) 38 p.
5. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (4,5,5,4,5,7,10,6) 46 p.
6. Onda (BRA) (Eduardo de Souza Ramos) (10,8,2,1,3,11,5,8) 48 p.
7. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (5,10,8,10,6,5,3,1) 48 p.
8. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (9,11+ 2 penalty,7,2,9,4,6,4) 54 p.
9. Phoenix (RSA) (Hasso/Tina Plattner) (3,6,9,12RET+2 pen. 11,2,2,11) 58 p.
10. Gladiator (GBR) (Tony Langley) (7,9,11,7,10,9,9,7) 69 p.
11. Paprec (FRA) (Jean Luc Petithuguenin) (11,7,10,9,8,10,11,10) 76 p.