Azzurra stays strong at the Cascais 52 Super Series

The boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s burgee is still sailing strong and has gotten another excellent second place in the only race run today. Tomorrow, July 20th is the final day of the Cascais 52 Super Series and Quantum Racing is in the lead overall, but just five points ahead of Azzurra.

It was a long, hard day today on the waters off Cascais, Portugal. It looked like it would be another day of sailing in fresh breeze like in the past few days, but at just a few minutes from the start the wind built to 30 knots and forced the Race Committee to move the course to an area that was covered by a land mass. Here the fleet had to wait until 3:20 PM (4:20PM CEST) before they could get a race underway in breeze from the northwest that from 11 knots built quickly to 14.

The course was very hard to read, but Azzurra sailed smart without taking too many risks for the win that went to Alegre. Azzurra finished second and resisted the temptation to attack Alegre while covering Quantum, who finished third.

Skipper Guillermo Parada tells the story of the day: “It was a long day that started with meetings on shore at 8 AM and on the water we had everything from 30 to 7 knots so it was demanding. In the morning we went off shore but just a couple of minutes before the start the reading said 30 knots at the bottom and even stronger at the top mark so Maria (Torrijo, PRO) decided to move the course. When we finally got a race started we got a clean start on the Committee Boat which gave us the option to chose the side we wanted and Santi (Lange) and Cole (Parada) did a good job positioning us. We were leading at the top mark, but a big lift came at the very end and Alegre squeezed inside.

We weren’t able to do a 'sandokan' (gybe-set) at the top mark so they extended their lead. Quantum did a sandokan and was catching up to us but we held them off. In the last run we were getting close to Alegre and looking for a chance to attack, but we’re happy with the second place. I was hoping for a second race to narrow the margin, but Maria preferred not to run it, but tomorrow is another day.”

The second race was abandoned after two starts were called off just two minutes before the gun due to shifty and unstable breeze that oscillated from 3 to 13 knots. Tomorrow will see this event’s final two races and the first warning signal will be at 12 PM local time, 1 PM CEST. The forecast calls for breeze from the northwest at 16 to 26 knots. 

Santi Lange, tactician: “It was really, really tricky today. Outside was very windy and inside was fluky, so it was very difficult to race. But we’re still in second place and tomorrow is another day. I don’t look so much at our scores as at how well we are sailing and today we can be happy.”

Tomorrow, July 29th the first warning signal will be at 12 PM local time, 1 PM CEST. Fans can follow the action on Virtual Eye on the website www.52superseries.com or on www.azzurra.it. Updates from the course will be posted on Azzurra’s Facebook page, while the best racing shots will be on her Instagram account.

Cascais 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week after seven races

1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (2,1,2,2,1,4,3,) 15 p.
2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (3,3,1,3,6,2,2,) 20 p.
3. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,4,3,1,7,5,5,) 30 p.
4. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (4,2,4,7,3,3,7,) 30 p.
5. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (6,6,5,4,5,1,4,) 31 p.
6. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (1,5,7,5,2,7,6,) 33 p.
7. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (7,7,6,6,4,6,1,) 37 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 24th - 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