Azzurra is recovering ground at the Rolex TP52 World Championship

The second day of racing at the World Championship began with a wait while the breeze from the south filled in and stabilized in the area where racing was going to be held. The first warning signal was at 1:20 PM. The wind was at 14 knots from the south and was predicted to be in rotation to the left, typical conditions for thermal breeze in the Bay of Palma.

Azzurra got a good start on the pin that she got after winning a spectacular battle with Quantum in the last minute before the start. But the pre-start match race between these two teams ended up giving Platoon an advantage as she started upwind from the battlers.

From there she got half a length which she transformed into a small advantage over Azzurra. A compact trio composed of Sled, Platoon and Azzurra arrived together to the mark. Sled, after getting a clean start on the Committee Boat free from other teams’ cover, was in the right position to balance out the advantage that teams sailing on the left side had. She captured the position at the head of the fleet and won the race followed by Platoon and Bronenosec. Azzurra finished fourth after getting a penalty for starboard/port cross with Bronenosec. 

In the second race the wind tricked everyone. At first it was better on the left and Azzurra got a good start on the pin. But then it died down and rotated 40 degrees to the right along the first run. The Race Committee quickly adjusted the course, but the different and difficult to read changes in air pressure ended up favouring the teams that were sailing on the right along the second beat. Teams changed positions, both at the head of the fleet and behind. Azzurra finished fifth after having recovered positions up to third place along the first run. Alegre edged out Platoon for the win even though the German team had been in the lead for the first half of the race. 

The event’s provisional results now see Sled in the lead followed by Platoon in second place. There are no less than four teams tied for points for third place: Alegre, Quantum, Azzurra and Phoenix 12.

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “We had an OK day today, not very good but not very bad either. In both races we went for the pin and got it. In the first race the fight we had for it with Quantum slowed us down a little and we got to the mark third, then we got a penalty along the second beat which cost us a position. In the second race we got an excellent start on the pin, but a big wind shift to the right gave us all some problems. We recovered up to third place along the first run but then the wind died and we dropped back two places along the beat and were passed by teams that we had just passed. We have to keep on fighting and hope for better luck in the next three days.” 

Tomorrow the first Warning Signal is scheduled for 1:00 PM CEST. Racing will be streamed from start to finish on the 52 Super Series website and on www.azzurra.it. Live updates straight from the course will be posted on Azzurra’s Facebook page, while a selection of the best images will be on Instagram. The forecast sees a low pressure front south of the Balearics so conditions are expected to be very unstable with the chance of rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. 

Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals
Provisional overall after 4 races
Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (9,1,1,2) 13 p.
Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (4,5,2,3) 14 p.
Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (10,4,5,1) 20 p.
Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (1,7,8,4) 20 p.
Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto Roemmers) (2,9,4,5) 20 p.
Phoenix 12 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (3,3,7,7) 20 p.
Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (5,8,3,6) 22 p.
Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (8,2,9,9) 28 p.
Gladiator (GBR) (Tony Langley) (6,10,6,8) 30 p.
Team Vision Future (FRA) (Jean Jacques Chaubbard) (7,6,10,10) 33 p.
Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (12 DNF,12 DNC,12 DNC,12 DNC) 48 p.

52 SUPER SERIES 2019

Menorca 52 Super Series Sailing Week, 
May 21th - 25 th, Menorca, Spain.

Puerto Sherry 52 Super Series Royal Cup, 
June 18th - 22th Cadiz, Spain.

Cascais 52 Super Series Sailing Week, 
July16th - 20th Cascais, Portugal.

Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals 2019, 
August 25th - 29th Mallorca Spain.

Audi 52 Super Series Sailing Week, Porto Cervo
September 23th - 28rd Sardinia, Italy.

AZZURRA
Pablo and Alberto Roemmers - Owners
Guillermo Parada - Skipper, Helm
Santiago Lange - Tactician
Bruno Zirilli - Navigator
Giovanni Cassinari - Mainsail
Mariano Caputo - Bowman
Juan Pablo Marcos -  Midbow
David Vera - Pitman
Grant Loretz- Trimmer
Ciccio Celon - Trimmer
Mariano Parada - Trimmer
Gabriel Marino - Grinder
Alejandro Colla – Grinder
Nicola Pilastro - Grinder
Pedro Rossi- Boat Captain
Coach: Guillermo Baquerizas
Sail performances: Gonzalo Ramos Vertiz