Azzurra pads lead at 52 SUPER SERIES Cape Town

Cape Town, South Africa (March 4, 2020) – After posting a 9-7 on the opening day of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2020 season, Harm Muller-Spreer’s world champions Platoon bounced back today record a 2-1 as the top scoring boat in the fleet. But, after six races and three days, it is still the 2019 overall title holders Azzurra who lead, today extending their cushion to ten points.

Azzurra’s consistency, posting a 2.83 point average, is the result of patience, minimizing risk, and obviously good boat speed, while Platoon’s strong showing now moves them to within three points of second-placed Phoenix 11.

“We have been consistent and playing it safe where we can; most of this season that is the plan,” notes Cole Parada, Azzurra’s strategist. “The boat is going very fast, especially downwind, so we are happy and feel like we have taken a step on from last year. We think we are better in the flat water, like here, which was our Achilles heel in the past. It is hard to make that assessment just now because all the boats are so even in this flat water.

“We are not taking any risks. Even if the left is favored we are not pushing, we are trying to keep safe, clean lanes and letting the race develop.”

But to date all of the races have been sailed in light to moderate breezes, often one-sided drag racing off the start line. However, all that is widely expected to change tomorrow as the brisk south-easterly ‘Cape Doctor’ is forecast to arrive, for one day only. This could prove a decisive day in terms of shaking up the leaderboard.

Doug DeVos’s Quantum Racing triumphed in the first race of the day extending away from second-placed Platoon in a modest, oscillating 10 knot north-westerly that died on the second round. But the four-time 52 SUPER SERIES champions matched their win with a sixth from the nine starters.

While Azzurra lead by ten points overall the chasing pack is tightly grouped, just four points separating Hasso Plattner’s second-placed Phoenix 11 from Andy Soriano’s sixth-placed Alegre.

After an OCS in the first race of the regatta, then penalties yesterday, Platoon’s trimmer Ross Halcrow was upbeat. “It felt pretty good out there today. In fact we have felt good all week so far but we have just had these unfortunate incidents out there on the water, so it is good to get back to it today.

“We had a couple of good starts and then that makes life a lot easier. The first race had options but the second course is very left favoured, but the weed comes into play. If you go too far you get hooked up with weed. We stayed a little bit out. We saw Bronenosec unfortunately get the weed. When you are behind then you have to push it and they did and had some losses.”

A collision with Alegre during the first race yesterday means Sled is unable to continue racing due to damage to their standing rigging. Their score is redressed to average points per race sailed after Race 3.

Racing is from March 2 to 6.

Event Details – Results – Facebook

Day Three Results (6 races)
1. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (4,2,2,2,5,2) 17 points.
2. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (1,3,1,7,8,7) 27 p.
3. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (5,8,4,5,1,6) 29 p.
4. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (3,4,RDG6,RDG5.5, RDG5.5, RDG5.5) 29.5 p.
5. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (9,7,8,3,2,1) 30 p.
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (7,1,DNF11+2,4,3,3) 31 p.
7. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (2,10,7,1,6,8) 34 p.
8. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (6,6,3,8,9,4) 36 p.
9. Phoenix 12 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (8,5,5,9,7,5) 39 p.
10. Paprec (FRA) (Jean-Luc Petithuguenin) (10,9,6,6,4,9) 44 p.

The 2020 season marks the ninth edition of the 52 SUPER SERIES which is established as the world’s leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit.

2020 Calendar:
March 2-6 – Cape Town 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, Cape Town, South Africa
March 31-April 4 – Rolex TP52 World Championship Cape Town 2020, Cape Town, South Africa
May 12-16 – Royal Cup 52 SUPER SERIES Scarlino 2020, Scarlino, Italy
June 17-21 – Audi 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo & TP52 20th Anniversary Invitational, Porto Cervo, Italy
July 18-22 – 52 SUPER SERIES Valencia Sailing Week, Valencia, Spain
September 15-19 – Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, Puerto Portals, Spain

2020 Entries:
Alegre – Andy Soriano (USA/GBR), 2018 Botin
Azzurra – Roemmers Family (ARG/ITA), 2018 Botin
Bronenosec – Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS), 2019 Botin
Gladiator – Tony Langley (GBR), 2017 Botin
Paprec Recyclage – Jean-Luc Petithuguenin (FRA), 2015 Judel/Vrolijk
Phoenix 11 – Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2018 Botin
Phoenix 12 – Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2014 Botin
Platoon – Harm Müller-Spreer (GER), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Provezza – Ergin Imre (TUR), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Quantum Racing – Doug DeVos (USA), 2018 Botin
Sled – Takashi Okura (USA), 2018 Botin
Team Vision Future – Jean Jacques Chaubard (FRA), 2015 Botin

Source: 52 Super Series