Finale for 52 SUPER SERIES 2022

The 52 SUPER SERIES celebrates its tenth anniversary with the final event of the 2022 series on October 25-29 in Barcelona, Spain. The world’s leading grand prix monohull circuit was started in May 2012 at the Real Club Náutico de Barcelona’s prestigious Trofeo Conde de Godo regatta when five TP52s took the start lines and four completed the full regatta.

Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing lead the 2022 season standings by five points ahead of the Plattner family’s Phoenix. Takashi Okura’s 2021 champions Sled and Harm Müller Spreer’s are not far behind and both, especially, are looking to finish the season with a regatta title win.

DeVos’s US flagged Quantum Racing have won three of the four regattas contested so far this season, all of the victories secured with the American owner steering. But although this record might suggests they have a enjoyed a certain edge, in fact every event this season has gone to the wire.

And with this Barcelona finale being very late in the season it is very likely to prove a tricky venue to close out the 2022 championship title with shifty, awkward offshore breezes some of the time and perhaps faltering sea breezes.

While Quantum Racing are pitching to make 52 SUPER SERIES history by becoming the only team to win five 52 SUPER SERIES season titles, this battle promises to be closer than they have experienced before. As victors in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018, they have never won any of their four circuit titles to date, by less than 22 points. Their biggest margin was 59pts in 2016 and their most recent season win, back in 2018, was by 37pts.

Seeking to dethrone Quantum Racing will be Tom Slingsby, tactician on Phoenix, who has every faith his team can win the circuit title which narrowly eluded them last year.

“They can be beaten but it won’t be easy,” noted Slingsby. “Quantum are a slick team and very fast but this is yacht racing and I have a lot of faith in our team. Last event we started well but I didn’t do well enough on the first beats of each race.

“We need to round mark 1 in better shape if we want a shot. And I think we are definitely still improving as a team. For sure we have stepped up our game this year to be contenders but we need to keep up that consistent improvement if we want to win this title.”

Stepping into the hot seat on Phoenix is owner-driver Tina Plattner who returns to the helm for the first time since she raced in her home city of Cape Town in February 2020.

“She maybe has not steered in a few years but she is picking it up again very quickly and sails the boat very fast in a straight line,” shared Slingsby. “We are the underdogs and have nothing to lose and will just give it everything and see how it stacks up. We are excited as a team.”

Jordi Calafat, Platoon’s strategist, believes Quantum Racing have the edge – in part due to a new keel fin this season – and that edge could carry them to the 2022 title.

“The changes they have made and they are sailing very well, they don’t make mistakes and have the talent on board to do it,” noted Calafat. “But the nature of the class just now is everyone has their ups and downs. Phoenix won in Portals and then were down in Scarlino recently. They are sailing well and obviously feel comfortable with their speed.”

Quantum Racing’s team director Ed Reynolds is hopeful for a good result. “It would be really special to win in Barcelona, not just because it’s where we started with the 52 SUPER SERIES, but it is Quantum’s European headquarters where we have been here for 25 years,” he offered. “And we would love to win it with Doug steering. There is a real element of pride in that if, and I say ‘if’, we could win this event Doug would have steered and won at four events of five.”

Racing is scheduled to start with a 1300hrs warning signal. Follow the racing LIVE streamed every day on the 52 SUPER SERIES website and social network channels.

Race details – Teams – Facebook

52 SUPER SERIES 2022 Series (after four of five regattas)
1. QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 19+33+44+34 = 130 pts.
2. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso & Tina Plattner, 27+42+25+41 = 135 pts.
3. PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 26+40+51+41= 158 pts.
4. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 43,5+44+36+39 = 162.5 pts.
5. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 43+41+52+46 = 182 pts.
6. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 61+54+42+46 = 203 pts.
7. VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 45+54+79+54 = 232 pts.
8. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 39+71+50+75 = 235 pts.
9. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 60+73+71+77,5 = 278.5 pts.

52 SUPER SERIES 2022 Schedule
May 23-28 – BAIONA 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK – Baiona, Spain
June 20-25 – ROLEX TP52 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CASCAIS – Cascais, Portugal
July 21-26 – PUERTO PORTALS 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK – Puerto Portals, Mallorca
September 26-October 1 – SCARLINO 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK – Scarlino, Italy
October 25-29 – BARCELONA 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK – Barcelona, Spain

Source: 52 Super Series