Wild and wacky at 52 SUPER SERIES Cascais

Cascais, Portugal (July 18, 2019) – After a disappointing Puerto Sherry regatta last month when they finished seventh overall, their worst regatta result in the history of the world’s leading grand prix monohull circuit, Quantum Racing are on fire in the big winds and waves of the Atlantic off Cascais and lead the third regatta of the season by six points.

The 2018 52 SUPER SERIES champion conclusively won the first race today at the Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, at one point over 500 metres ahead of second while racing in winds of more than 25kts and surfing to a new speed record for the boat of over 25kts.

The second race was much less straightforward with the windward mark set closer to the land. Offshore, to the left of the upwind, the breeze held more solid. But inshore the leaders saw shifts of more than 40 degrees, lulls as light as eight knots and still gusts to more than 20.

Hasso Plattner’s Phoenix crew held their composure to deliver the race win which unfortunately eluded them yesterday after they had led all the way to the final gybes of the second run. It was a well earned first race victory on the circuit for the hugely experienced owner, Plattner, in demanding conditions.

Quantum Racing finished fourth, losing out on the second beat when conditions were funky, but their consistency across the six races sailed so far has seen them climb back into contention for the 2019 circuit title. When they arrived here in Portugal at the weekend they were 14 points behind the season leader Provezza.

Now, today, as the circuit passed the mid-point of the 2019 season – Race 6 being the 23rd contest of the year – Azzurra have the overall lead on 89 points, but Quantum Racing – ominously perhaps – are now just four points behind, locked on the same tally as Platoon and Provezza.

“It was a tricky day…where the race course is set up at the top it is really random,” said Cameron Appleton, Quantum Racing tactician. “I think we had five knots of breeze to 25 knots of breeze. And shifts that were more than 60 degrees. So like that it is just about being patient and knowing which one you really wanted to use.

“Overall our guys did a great job today in these challenging conditions. We had some amazingly fun donwnwinds. We knew we would just need to chip away, we had a bad one in Puerto Sherry, and so we are feeling a bit more comfortable here, I am especially, remembering that we do know how to sail. We just needed to have trust in the group, the team and what we are about.”

Vladimir Liubomirov’s Bronenosec, with Sime Fantela on the helm and Morgan Larson are up on to the podium for the regatta after a solid pair of third places today. It was a less profitable day for Platoon and Provezza, the top two teams on the overall 2019 standings coming into this event. Platoon had to do a penalty in the first race and finished seventh which they paired to a fifth in the second heat. Provezza, winners last month in Puerto Sherry, were second to Quantum but then they too had a taste of life at the very back of the fleet.

The forecast seems to promise wind right through to when the regatta finishes. Racing at the Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week extends from July 16 to 20.

Results after Day 3 (6 races)
1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (2,1,2,2,1,4) 12 p.
2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (3,3,1,3,6,2) 18 p.
3. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (4,2,4,7,3,3) 23 p.
4. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,4,3,1,7,5) 25 p.
5. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (6,6,5,4,5,1) 27 p.
6. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (1,5,7,5,2,7) 27 p.
7. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (7,7,6,6,4,6) 36 p.

52 SUPER SERIES – Cascais details – Results – Facebook

Overall 52 SUPER SERIES Standings (After 2 Regattas)
1. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) 66 p.
2. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) 68 puntos.
3. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) 71 p.
4. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) 77 p.
5. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) 80 p.
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) 88 p.
7. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) 92 p.
8. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso/Tina Plattner) 108 p.

The 52 SUPER SERIES is established as the world’s leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit. The 2019 season will mark the eighth season of the 52 SUPER SERIES which grew from the ashes of the TP52 MedCup which finished in 2011 when the principal sponsor withdrew.

52 SUPER SERIES 2019
May 21-25 – Menorca 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week – Menorca, Spain
June 18-22 – Puerto Sherry 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup – Cadiz, Spain
July 16-20 – Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week – Cascais, Portugal
Aug 25-29 – Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals – Mallorca, Spain
Sept 24-28 – Porto Cervo 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week – Sardinia, Italy

Source: 52 SUPER SERIES