Tag: 52 SUPERSERIES

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Quantum Racing takes the victory of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

 

· The first visit of the 52 SUPER SERIES to Galicia closed with a last day of show in the waters of the Vigo estuary that brought together a large crowd of people

· American Quantum Racing took the final victory after four excellent days of racing and claimed its first title since 2019

· The TP52 fleet leaves Baiona with a great taste in the mouth due to a perfect combination of conditions, surroundings and the excellent reception of the Monte Real Club de Yates

After five days of testing and one of training, this Saturday the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · BAIONA SAILING WEEK, the great nautical event of the year in Galicia that the Monte Real Club de Yates organized with the sponsorship of ABANCA and Tourism, ended this Saturday of Galicia through the Xacobeo.

The TP52s said goodbye to Galicia with eight partials out of ten possible in the boxes of the nine teams that were able to sail every day and start the season testing their boats in a wide range of winds: from light breezes of 8-9 knots, at intensities well above 20 knots.

The combination of a magnificent regatta course located in front of the majestic Cíes Islands, with extraordinary weather and the warm welcome from the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona, venue of the event, convinced the 52 SUPER SERIES on their historic first visit to the Rías Baixas.
On the last day played this Saturday, the nine teams in contention went out on the water with a program of two tests on the agenda and a forecast of good conditions in the regatta field.

The TP52s once again gave a show in the Rías Baixas – Photo Nico Martínez

A hundred boats of spectators came to enjoy the choreography of the TP52 manned by a selection of the best sailors in the world, a historical image for sailing in Galicia.

After four days of northerly component winds, the fleet said goodbye to the Rías Baixas with a southwest breeze and intensities that varied between 17 knots in the first outing of the day and nine in the second, which had to be canceled by a radical wind roll.

Three teams went out on the water with mathematical chances of a title challenge, with Quantum Racing the strongest contender thanks to a four-point lead over Platoon and seven over Phoenix.

The eighth test of the week (after all, the last) presented excellent conditions for the sailing competition. Britain’s Gladiator, Turkey’s Provezza and Thailand’s Vayu all crossed the line early and had to re-start, reducing traffic for their six rivals in the opening stages of the event.

The last departure of the Baiona Sailing Week – Photo Nico Martinez

Once again, the tacticians were forced to resort to all their magic to read a field full of nuances and with no clear path. After an intense exchange of positions, the Alegre of the owner and helmsman Andy Soriano rounded the first buoy of the course in the lead, leading the rest of the race until scoring his first partial victory of the season.

After suffering for a good part of the route, Quantum Racing got a creditable second place that served to extend its advantage at the head of the provisional thanks to the third of the Phoenix and the fifth of Platoon, the only ones who could jeopardize their Galician victory.

Quantum Racing entered the final with a seven-point lead on the provisional table, a comfortable lead but not enough in such a competitive fleet, and an off-line made things very exciting.

With Phoenix leading the charge and Quantum Racing closing the field, at times the Baiona title seemed to go to the South African team, but a radical role of the wind in the middle of the course forced the main race official, María Torrijo, to cancel the test and send the fleet back to the pontoons of the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona.

Quantum Racing collecting the prizes for the winners of the Baiona Sailing Week – Photo Nico Martínez

Quantum Racing was officially proclaimed the first champion of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Galicia. The team led by the setter and helmsman Doug DeVos, the tactician Terry Hutchinson (patron of the American Magic team of the America’s Cup) and the strategist Luca Calabrese (bronze of 470 in London 2012) won their first title since June 2019 in Baiona.

The Quantum Racing crew celebrating victory in the water – Photo Nico Martínez

This is an important first step for the American team in its goal of achieving its fifth crown of circuit champions, after those achieved in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018. In Baiona they have been able to verify that their rivals will not make it easy for them.

The awards ceremony for this first appointment with the SUPER SERIES was held at the Monte Real Club de Yates with a large audience. The president of the club, José Luis Álvarez; the general director of the 52 SUPER SERIES, Agustín Zulueta; the director of Private Banking of ABANCA, Francisco Javier Rivero; the mayor of Baiona, Carlos Gómez; the Deputy for Sports of the Pontevedra Provincial Council, Gorka Gómez; and the delegate of the Xunta de Galicia in Vigo, Marta Fernández-Tapias. Awards were also presented by TP52 class manager Rob Weiland.

The next event of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2022 will be held in the Portuguese town of Cascais. Meanwhile, at the Monte Real Club de Yates they will continue with their usual sports program, which includes the celebration of the Galician Two-handed Championship, on June 11; the Rías Baixas Route, from July 4 to 9; and the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, from July 22 to 25. In September, the other two major events of the club will arrive in 2022, the Prince of Asturias Trophy, from September 2 to 4, with the usual delivery of the National Sailing Awards; and the Spanish J80 Championship, from September 15 to 18.

Rain of champagne to celebrate the victory – Photo Nico Martínez

Final Classification ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

1- QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+5+1+2+3+1+1+2 = 19
2- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller Spreer, 5+1+2+4+4+2+3+5= 26
3- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 1+3+3+1+8+6+2+3 = 27
4- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 6+4+4+6+2+9+4+4 = 39
5- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 9+7+6+3+9+3+5+1 = 43
6- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 3+6+5+7+7+4+4.5+7 = 43.5
7- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 2+2+8+5+5+7+7+9 = 45
8- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 7+8+7+8+1+8+10 (DSQ)+8+3 (PEN) = 60
9- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10 (DNF)+10 (DNS)+10 (DNS)+6+5+6+6 = 61

 

Statements of the day

José Luis Álvarez, president of the Monte Real Yacht Club of Baiona:

“The event has been a complete success and I am very happy because it is the award that deserves the work and commitment of each and every one of the members of the Monte Real Club de Yates. From the first moment we understood the importance of this appointment for the international projection of our club, Baiona and the Rías Baixas, and I think we have fulfilled it. We have returned to the international circuits and have made it clear that Galicia is an ideal setting for holding this type of top-level events. In fact, next year we will host the J80 World Cup”

Agustín Zulueta (ESP), general director of the 52 SUPER SERIES:

“A magnificent event. I would tell you that for the first time we have come to Baiona, and on top of that at the beginning of the season, outstanding. Outstanding for the club and outstanding for all the people who have been part of this great team, both in the water and on land. If they give us the opportunity, we will return, of course”

Terry Hutchinson (USA), Tactician for Quantum Racing (USA):

“Our first experience in Baiona has been spectacular. The race course is impressive, being new to all the teams, it presented new challenges and opportunities, and you come ashore and everyone in the club and in the area welcomes us with open arms. I am looking forward to returning. It has been an excellent test, very difficult, quite a challenge for all the teams due to the subtleties of the route. We are very, very happy. For me this victory is super important, it reflects the work done by the team during the winter, but we still have a lot of room for improvement. There is a lot to compete this season, and the fleet is really competitive.”

Víctor Mariño (ESP), Platoon trimmer (GER):

“The week has exceeded expectations, and by far. The organization has been incredible, the Real Club de Yates de Baiona has surpassed itself. People have been delighted. The conditions have been exquisite, despite having been able to do only one regatta each of the last two days, I think the ones done have been perfect. Very open conditions. It has been shown that we have a great place to sail here, we have to try to bring level fleets, because they enjoy it. It was a great test for all the teams. The third day, with more than 25 knots, was impressive, the perfect day: what foreigners call ‘champagne sailing’”

María Torrijo (ESP), Principal Regatta Officer:

“Today I was left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. We had a weather report that said we were going to have a spectacular day with the southwest, and yes, it came in strong. We did the first very nice test, but then, it must be because of the heat, with so many islands and so much land, that as soon as you got a little closer to land, the wind killed it. It was very difficult. I moved, I tried to get away from one land, and I came close to another, I had a stable wind and it killed me. I had to cancel the last race because the wind had dropped completely and had changed more than a hundred degrees” / “The week has been spectacular: super fun regattas in which it was not clear who could win, whether the one on the right or the one on the the left. It wasn’t like in other places, where you know that whoever wins the start, wins the race; here, each test was different, even on the same day the conditions changed. All the sailors have told me that they have been super fun regattas”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PHOTOS AND VIDEOS : ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES BAIONA SAILING WEEK

 

FINAL SUMMARY ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES BAIONA SAILING WEEK

RACE 5 (05/28/22)

FINAL REGATTA (28/05/22)

RACE 4 (05/27/22)

DAY 5 (05/27/22)

RACE 3 (05/26/22)

DAY 4 (05/26/22)

RACE 2 (05/25/22)

DAY 3 (05/25/22)

RACE 1 (05/24/22)

DAY 2 (05/24/22)

DAY 1 (05/23/22)

OFFICIAL PRESENTATION (05/20/22)

BAIONA WILL OPEN THE SEASON OF THE 52 SUPER SERIES (11/11/21)

TEASER ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES BAIONA SAILING WEEK (04/05722)

TRAILER 52 SUPER SERIES IN BAIONA (05/13/22)

 

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Quantum Racing, embrace the win

 

· The American team won the only event held on the fourth and penultimate day of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · BAIONA SAILING WEEK

Quantum leads the provisional classification with four points ahead of Platoon, which is second, and seven points ahead of Phoenix, which is third

· A collision between the Gladiator and the Sled at the start ended with the withdrawal of both boats from the test leaving the fleet reduced to seven boats

· The competition organized by the Monte Real Yacht Club will experience its last day of tests tomorrow and will award the prizes to the winners

With the end of the competition just around the corner and only two more races pending, the Quantum Race is about to win the victory of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week, which since the past Monday is celebrated in the Rías Baixas under the organization of the Monte Real Yacht Club.

This Friday, on the fourth and penultimate day of the competition, the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet showed that they also know how to compete and create a show in light winds. With an intensity below ten knots and under the influence of unusual heat, the crews moved with the lightest breeze of the whole week and could only contest one race, since the second round of the day did not take place for lack of wind

The American Quantum Racing was the winner and will face the last day of competition at the head of the provisional classification, with a four-point advantage over the German Platoon, a minimum income among a fleet so evenly matched.

The crews go for it all in this final stretch of the Baiona Sailing Week – Photo © Nico Martínez

As in the previous day, the breeze delayed the first departure until after two in the afternoon, but this time it arrived with a range of 8-9 knots, the lowest of the week. An incident between Gladiator and Sled at the start caused the collision and subsequent withdrawal of both, resulting in a black flag for the British team, which scored ten points plus three penalties. The American received 4.5 repair points, but was left without enjoying this seventh round of the championship.

A great start by Quantum Racing to the left of the field allowed the leader to initially take the lead. It soon became clear that the pressure was on the right side of the pitch, and the entire climb to the first mark was concentrated in that area of the pitch. Platoon came in the lead at the first passing point of the course, followed closely by the intense battle between Quantum Racing and Phoenix.

Crossover between the Quantum and the Platoon in the only race held this Friday – Photo © Nico Martínez

The turning point of this seventh round was in the decision of where to start the first downwind section, and here Quantum Racing was right when they went to the left in search of better speed and angle to get ahead and dominate the rest of the Test.

After a brief wait in the water, and given the evidence that the minimum conditions to compete would no longer exist, the main regatta officer María Torrijo decided to end the day and sent the fleet back to the pontoons of Monte Real Bayonne Yacht Club.

The sun plummeted on this penultimate day and the wind blew lightly – Photo © Nico Martínez

There, at the facilities of the club that organizes the competition with the sponsorship of ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through Xacobeo, the crews were able to enjoy a special dinner on an evening that included a live musical performance; and the tents set up by Terras Gauda, Martin Miller’s Gin, Estrella Galicia and Coren.

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week is decided this Saturday. The forecast indicates a wind that has not been seen all week, with a south-westerly component and intensities around 14-15 knots. This new scenario poses new challenges for the fleet and adds drama to the final day, scheduled for two rounds.

The Quantum Race crew getting closer to victory – Photo © Nico Martínez

Three teams start with mathematical options to share the positions on the first Galician podium in the history of the circuit: Quantum Racing, owned by Doug De Vos, leads with 17 points and a magnificent card that includes three partial victories and a fifth worst result, followed by four points behind Harm Müller Spreer’s Platoon and seven points behind Hasso Plattner’s Phoenix.

In a regatta without discards, the pressure is maximum between the crews to avoid mistakes that could ruin the work of the whole week. The identity of the winner of the first of the five events of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2022 will be revealed in an afternoon in which the trophies will also be presented to the winners. It will be at five in the afternoon.

 

Provisional classification ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

1- QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+5+1+2+3+1+1 = 17
2- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller Spreer, 5+1+2+4+4+2+3= 21
3- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 1+3+3+1+8+6+2 = 24
4- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 6+4+4+6+2+9+4 = 35
5- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 2+2+8+5+5+7+7 = 36
6- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 3+6+5+7+7+4+4.5 = 36.5
7- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 9+7+6+3+9+3+5 = 42
8- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 7+8+7+8+1+8+10 (DSQ) +3 = 52
9- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10 (DNF)+10 (DNS)+10 (DNS)+6+5+6 = 55

Statements of the day

María Torrijo (ESP), Principal Regatta Officer:

“It was easier than I thought. The wind has always been the other way around: the first of the day was weaker and the second was good. Today I doubted at first whether to start at 2:00 p.m. or wait a bit thinking that the strongest wind could come, but my sixth sense told me: ‘girl, start, put one in your pocket, we never know what it can happen’, and indeed, I have been very lucky, because that regatta has been good. There were roles, but a little less than yesterday, and it wasn’t very intense but enough to compete. For the second, it simply died: four different winds entered and it was very easy to decide to return to land. Tomorrow the wind is forecast from the southwest and 14-15 knots early. We will start at 1:00 p.m. and we will try to do two heats”

Pedro Mas (ESP), Interlodge bow (USA):

“The southern part of the field was very calm today and calm was coming towards us, we saw it coming. Today we have had 8-9 knots, even a little more. From 7 knots we can sail. Each wind has its story: with more than 20 knots you have your problems and with less than ten you have your other problems. But we can adapt the boat to each condition: we have high and low wind mainsails, specific sails for each type of wind. The regatta field has been very complicated every day, the issue is to get out well and see the pressure quickly, before anyone else. Then there is the luck factor, that sometimes you go behind, you play it to one side and it hits you, and sometimes it doesn’t. The key is to always start well and ride in the top three.”

 

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Quantum Racing, new leader at Baiona Sailing Week

 

· The American team rose to the top of the provisional classification of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week after chaining a new day with the best results in the fleet

· The Quantum Racing crew will face the last two stages of the competition, scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, with a two-point advantage over the German Platoon and six over the South African Phoenix

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week crossed its equator this Thursday with a day in which two new tests were held in a regatta field located in front of the Cíes Islands. The American team Quantum Racing was the clear winner of the day after taking both heats and moving to the top of the provisional standings.

After completing three days and six races, and with the last two stages of the competition organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates remaining, the American Quantum Racing will face the second part of the regatta with two points ahead of the German Platoon and six over the South African Phoenix, who are second and third respectively.

The TP52 fleet off the coast of Vigo – Photo Nico Martínez

In the third phase played this Wednesday, the wind was slow to establish itself in the Vigo estuary and the fleet had to wait until almost three in the afternoon to take to the pitch. El Alegre crossed the line early and was forced to repeat the start while his rivals began to spread out on the field.

The Gladiator owned by the British owner Tony Langley, who this week has the Spaniard Xabi Fernández on board, soon showed the bow by betting on the right of the field, but it was the Thai Vayu who came in first at the first buoy pass, and the Gladiator who finally finished first. They were followed at the finish line by the Americans Interlodge and Quantum Racing.

Gladiator winner of the first round – Photo Nico Martinez

For the second leg of the day, the wind rose above 15 knots. The Gladiator attempted to repeat the choreography of the previous test, but was kicked off the start line by the Interlodge and had to return to start the course from the tail of the pack.

The best on the climb to the first buoy was Quantum Racing and the rest of the race ended up being a recital by the American boat, skippered in Baiona by its owner Doug DeVos and with the tactics of the America’s Cup expert, Terry Hutchinson.

A change of route in the middle of the test did not affect the performance of the quadruple champion of the 52 SUPER SERIES, who signed a resounding victory to consolidate a well-deserved leadership. They were followed on arrival by the Platoon and the Alegre.

Quantum Race leader of the Baiona Sailing Week – Photo Nico Martinez

Looking ahead to the fourth day of competition of the 52 SUPER SERIES in the waters of Galicia, Quantum Racing leads the provisional with two points ahead of the German Platoon and six over Phoenix, which lost two positions in the most discreet day of the week (8+6).

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week is held at the Monte Real Club de Yates with the sponsorship of ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through the Xacobeo until Saturday. Before the awards ceremony scheduled for that final day, the crews will be able to enjoy a dinner offered by the organizing club in the regatta village, where Terras Gauda, Martin Miller’s Gin, Estrella Galicia and Coren tents are set up. among other.

 

Provisional classification ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

1- QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+5+1+2+3+1 = 16
2- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller Spreer, 5+1+2+4+4+2= 18
3- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 1+3+3+1+8+6 = 22
4- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 2+2+8+5+5+7 = 29
5- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 6+4+4+6+2+9 = 31
6- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 3+6+5+7+7+4 = 32
7- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 9+7+6+3+9+3 = 37
8- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 7+8+7+8+1+8 = 39
9- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10 (DNF)+10 (DNS)+10 (DNS)+6+5 =49

 

Statements of the day

Xabi Fernández (ESP), Gladiator crew member (USA):

“The day has been much better. We know that no two days are the same, and although we haven’t made any changes, the truth is that the boat has been better today. We make the training of the week profitable, I think that the owners sail so little that they improve day by day. Today was a slightly easier day. Paul (Goodison, tactician) wanted to fight a little more on the right than we had in the previous days, and we made a great start on the good side. When you go ahead, everything is much easier. In the second round we wanted to do the same but we couldn’t, because Interlodge closed the place for us and we left late, but without going to a comfortable place we managed to go with the fleet and fight. We have made an eighth, which is not a good result, but the positive part is that we have been in the fight “

Luca Calabrese (USA), Quantum Racing (USA) strategist:

“A difficult day, with little wind. Luckily we were able to read the conditions well before the first regatta and know what we had to do, so we’re happy to get to the top of the standings. But this bay is very difficult. In the second we had the discussion on board about which side of the line to exit from, and in the end we decided to try to jump over the pin, over the fleet, and it ended up working. But nervous all the way to the right side of the field. The route was quite flawed until reaching the right side of the field, because everyone wanted to do the same “

Santiago Lange (ARG), helmsman of Provezza (TUR):

“The ship is a barge, very nice to steer, to feel and coordinate with the crew. The regattas are super entertaining, as I always experienced as a tactician and in any position. The fact of having broken the boat and today running without being able to reach the maximum gross tension is not easy. With my new job as helmsman I have adapted very easily: I don’t feel that we are making bad starts, we are doing well. It is not easy, because we have a tension limit, but we will continue working on the trim of the mast and the mainsail to be able to navigate better in these conditions”

 

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The Phoenix strikes again at the Baiona Sailing Week

 

· The second day of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week allowed the TP52 fleet to unleash its full potential and offer a magnificent sailing show of the highest level in the Vigo estuary

Two fast and exciting tests were held in ideal weather conditions and the South African Phoenix returned to the Monte Real Club de Yates with a reaffirmed leadership and a four-point lead over the second

· A growing fleet of spectator boats enjoyed live the magic of the best international monohull circuit, which throughout the week turns the Rías Baixas into the world center of sailing

Second and intense day in the waters of the Vigo estuary for the spectacular TP52. The fleet of the ABANCA 52 Super Series · Baiona Sailing Week, organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates, completed two new tests this Wednesday at the regatta course located in front of the Cíes Islands, and it did so quickly as it had some unbeatable wind conditions.

With a total of four tests accumulated in the pigeonholes, Phoenix continues to lead the standings, now followed by Quantum Racing, which has significantly improved its results from the first day, and Platoon, which occupies the third place on the provisional podium.

The new ration of two races held this Wednesday allowed the crews to enjoy a wind that at times exceeded 20 knots of intensity, combined with little waves and a sun that cut out the silhouette of the boats on the magnificent background of the islands Cies.

The Turkish Provezza, who suffered a broken stay on the first day of racing, was unable to recover from her injuries and reduced the fleet to eight boats.

The crew of the Phoenix gave it their all on the water today – Photo © Rosana Calvo

After two days and four disputed races, the provisional of the first event of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2022 is still headed by the South African Phoenix of Hasso Plattner, with four points ahead of the tie between the American Quantum Racing of Doug DeVos and the German Platoon by Harm Muller Spreer.

A growing fleet of spectator boats enjoyed live the magic of the best international monohull circuit, which throughout the week turns the Rías Baixas into the world center of sailing.

The dispute is maximum between the crews – Photo Nico Martínez

Hard-fought victory for Quantum Racing

The third scoring test of the week, the first this Wednesday, began with 16-17 knots of northwest wind and a wind direction that varied up to 20 degrees in its little more than 50 minutes of duration. An unstable environment that put the skill of the crews to the test and allowed interesting changes of position throughout the test.

The best at the start was the American Interlodge, who managed to lead the fleet in the first half of the course. But in the second section against the wind, Quantum Racing took advantage of a role of the wind to take the lead and did not give up the lead until achieving its first partial victory of the season. Second on the finish line was Platoon, followed by a Phoenix that staged a spectacular comeback from the last position with which he mounted the first buoy on the course.

The Phoenix passing the buoy first – Photo © Rosana Calvo

New Phoenix Demo

The second test of the day started with winds well above 20 knots. On this occasion, the Briton Alegre made the best start from the far left of the line, staying in the lead until Quantum Racing came from the right to take the lead at the first mark. The fast stern was taken advantage of by Phoenix to overtake the American boat and take the lead in passing through the equator of the course, a position that it would not abandon until signing its second partial victory of the week. The South African boat has earned the status of rival to beat in Galician waters, and seems to have extra speed in all kinds of conditions. They were followed at the finish line by Quantum Racing and Alegre.

ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Quantum Racing, the best of the day

A first and a second allowed Quantum Racing to return to Baiona with the best card of the day and rise from fifth to second place in the provisional standings. In his debut in Galician waters, the quadruple champion of the 52 SUPER SERIES could not get past the middle of the table on the opening day (4+5), but the rise in wind intensity seemed to suit the armed and helmed boat by Doug DeVos, who is assisted on board by tactician Terry Huchinson, skipper of the American America’s Cup team. Hutchinson is recognized as a lover of the environment that hosts this week the 52 SUPER SERIES: “This race course is impressive. I came here many, many years ago to train with the illbruck round-the-world program and I remember how beautiful it was. It’s an awesome place to haggle.”.

The most controversial moment of the day with extremely tight maneuvers in close proximity – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The village of Monte Real enlivens the afternoons of the Baiona Sailing Week

Every afternoon the village of Monte Real brings together participants, shipowners, sponsors and collaborators in the nerve center of the social activity of the regatta, where attendees can enjoy music and tastings by Coren, Estrella Galicia, Terras Gauda and Martin Miller .

This Wednesday, in addition, the Board of Directors of the Baiona club invited the owners of the nine participating teams to a dinner with typical products of the land, while on Friday, at the end of the penultimate day of regatta, the long-awaited crew dinner will be held .

The final touch of the social agenda of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week, organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates with the sponsorship of ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through the Xacobeo, will be the delivery of trophies, scheduled for this next Saturday afternoon.

Spectators by boat and from the nearby mountains enjoyed the beauty of the competition – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Provisional classification ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

1- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 1+3+3+1 = 8
2- QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+5+1+2 = 12
3- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller Spreer, 5+1+2+4= 12
4- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 2+2+8+5 = 17
5- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 6+4+4+6 = 20
6- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 3+6+5+7 = 21
7- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 9+7+6+3 = 25
8- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 7+8+7+8 = 30
9- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10 (DNF)+10 (DNS)+10 (DNS) = 38

The fleet on the last leg of the day – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Statements of the day

Cameron Dunn (NZL), Phoenix (RSA) Tactician:

“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half of the first race, but then we got it right in the second and that’s how it all worked out. The second race was really impressive: the boat was going really fast, and once we got into the lead we managed to break away. We have confidence in ourselves, our crew work is good, and we know that three very difficult days await us, with little wind, and in this fleet that can be very hard”

Javier Plaza (ESP), Platoon trimmer (GER):

“It was a good day for us, with a second and a fourth: I think that if we finish in the top four in all the races, we have a good chance of winning the championship. Today we had a bit of luck on the second beat of the first regatta, with a left hand roll. In the second we did not go very well, we rode the first passage through the buoy sixth, but in the end we were fourth. I hope we get a few days with a little less wind, because I think the boat goes a little better with less intensity. But this is a long-distance race: we are scoring points for the end of the season, to try to win the league and the world championship”

Joan Vila (ESP), Interlodge navigator (USA):

“It was a day of typical north wind from the bay of Vigo, excellent conditions, very beautiful. In the second regatta we had about 20 knots on average, with gusts of 22, sometimes going down to 17. Perfect conditions for sailing. The key is to do the little things well, not to fail at anything, and the most important thing is consistency in the results; It seems that at the moment Phoenix has it, it is going very fast and they are doing things very well. In the first two days of the regatta, the field has not had a clear side, and that is very good because it gives you opportunities, it gives you possibilities to pass other boats at any stern and upwind. It is not a place where a caravan is formed and everyone goes to the same place because there is a geographical role”

Francesco Bruni (ITA), Sled tactician (USA):

“Today’s conditions have served as training for Cascais. For our team the most important thing is to learn what works for you in Cascais in strong winds. An interesting route, it does not have a clearly favored side. It is also interesting to see how Phoenix have stepped up this week and understand what they have done again, because they have impressive performance.

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The Thai Vayu surprises at the premiere of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

 

· The last team to join the circuit of the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES gave a surprise this Tuesday by placing second tied with the leader

Hasso Platner’s South African Phoenix is first in the provisional classification thanks to some risky decisions that led him to take different paths from the rest of the fleet

Despite the fact that the start of the tests had to be delayed for an hour due to lack of wind, the Rías Baixas finally offered the fleet splendid conditions for sailing

Spectacular start of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week. The Galician Rías Baixas lived this afternoon with great expectation the first tests of the competition that arrived in Galicia at the hands of the Monte Real Club de Yates and thanks to the sponsorship of ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through the Xacobeo.

Start of the first test of the day in the Rías Baixas – Photo © Rosana Calvo

After the official practices on Monday, the appointment with the TP52 took a more serious turn this Tuesday with the entry into play of the first scores and the surprise of the day was given by the Thai boat Vayu, debutant on the circuit. The Thais had an exceptional performance in Galician waters and left much more experienced teams behind.

Led by Don Whitcraft and with the tactics of the British Olympic medalist Nick Rogers, the team reinforced its crew in Baiona with the incorporation of Antonio “Ñeti” Cuervas-Mons, who lives in Vigo.

“The key today has been that we have had a couple of very good starts that have allowed us to be in the leading group at the first mark, and from then on it is easier to maintain that position. The tactician has read the course very well, especially in the first sterns, always going to the right, but above all it should be noted that Don, the helmsman, has handled the boat like a true professional. Today he has had nothing to envy the other skippers, he has taken the boat that gives pleasure”, explained Cuervas-Mons at the end of the regatta.

The TP52s fought hard for victory – Photo Nico Martínez

The debut of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Galician waters was a complete success. The regatta area located at the entrance to the Vigo estuary presented very good northwesterly wind conditions that made it possible to hold the first two races of the ten that make up the program in Baiona. The contest began with winds of 8-9 knots at the start of the first heat of the day and increased to 13-14 at the start of the second, always with practically flat seas, ideal conditions for the TP52 competition.

Despite Vayu’s surprise, the first test of the season was quite a show of strength for Hasso Platner’s Phoenix. Olympic champion Tom Slingsby, tactician for the South African boat, knew how to read a race course unprecedented on the circuit better than his rivals when he pointed to the right side of the course against the decision of the rest of the fleet to go to the left.

The TP52 fleet sailing past the Cíes Islands – Photo © Rosana Calvo

After an initial few minutes led by Interlodge at the head of the bulk of the field, Phoenix emerged from the opposite end of the field and took the lead midway through the first stage to start a rare breakout in the 52 SUPER SERIES arena. More than two minutes of advantage in the finish line confirmed the candidacy of the Phoenix to the group of favorites in this start of the season.

Second came the Vayu of the Whitcraft family, the great surprise in Baiona. The Thai boat was at the head of the chasing group from the first pass through the buoy and knew how to defend itself from the attacks of rivals with more experience in the circuit, signing a solid second ahead of the winner of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2021 and current world champion of TP52, the American Sled, who today recovered his owner Takashi Okura at the helm.

Despite having to postpone the start of the competition for an hour, the conditions were finally very good – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The second round of the day went to Harm Müller-Spreer’s Platoon, who opted for the right side of the field, an area that was once again the winning bet of the day, although not as decisive as in the previous test. The tandem formed by the American tactician John Kostecki and the Mallorcan strategist Jordi Calafat managed to make up for the discreet fifth of the first assault with a valuable victory that allowed him to rise to third place in the provisional standings.

Behind the German boat, Phoenix and Vayu staged an exciting duel for second place, which opted for the Thai boat by only three seconds at the finish line. The sum of the two partials of the day allowed Phoenix (1+3) to return to Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona (MRCYB) as the first leader of the season, tied on points with Vayu (2+2).

The action of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week returns tomorrow, Wednesday, Wednesday, starting at one in the afternoon, with the first tests. Prior to the competition, moments of relaxation in the village of Monte Real, with breakfasts and meetings of the crews and technical teams; and in the afternoon, at the end of the tests, the village opens again for tastings of Terras Gauda, Martin Miller’s Gin, Estrella Galicia and Coren, among others.

The boats that opted for the right side of the field, such as the Platoon, benefited most – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Provisional classification ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

1- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 1+3=4
2- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 2+2 = 4
3- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller Spreer, 5+1= 6
4- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 3+6=9
5- QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+5=9
6- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 6+4=10
7- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 7+8=15
8- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 9+7=16
9- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10=18

Statements of the day

Antonio Cuervas Mons (ESP), Vayu grinder (THA):

“It is a complex course that does not usually host regattas, but it is really spectacular: With conditions like those of today’s second regatta, it is a regatta course that is difficult to improve, with about 15 knots, flat sea, and above all in an environment as incredible as the Cíes Islands and the Vigo estuary. On days like today, there are few places in the world that can beat it.”

Víctor Mariño (ESP), Platoon trimmer (GER):

“The first one didn’t go well, they squashed us quickly, in the first two decisions we weren’t right and we had to come back. It is a difficult course, in all these races the first quarter of the race is everything, you have to make the decision where to go, the course is very open and even for the locals it is not easy. It all depends on that first room. In the first one we were a little scared because it was the beginning of the day, and sometimes the right doesn’t pay that much, but by the time we wanted to change to the right it was too late. In the second, with the wind already established, we had a very clear right and we were right, but we had to fight a lot. A little strange days, but that’s the beauty of this place.

Paul Wilcox (RSA), Phoenix (RSA) mainsail trimmer:

“I think we’re picking up where we left off last year, which is good. The boat is running well and this new keel fin seems to be doing what it is supposed to. And we have some new candles, which always helps. Today was all about linking up the roles, there was a very gusty breeze and Tom (Slingsby, tactician) did a good job. I think we have a little confidence. We know that we can do well, that we have good boat speed. We have been practicing maneuvers, penalties, spinnaker changes. We have confidence in him (Slingsby) and he has confidence in us. This is very important, people make an effort and do their job very well”.

Terry Hutchinson (USA), tactician for Quantum Racing (USA):

“It has been quite a challenge. Today we did a fourth and a fifth. It is a difficult place to navigate. At the first mark of the second regatta we were third, halfway through the course we were last and we were fifth again. The disappointing thing about the second race is that we started pretty well and failed on the first stern, but we weren’t the only ones so you feel better about that. But you want to be perfect in all your decisions. In that sense, it is a very complicated course, with many challenges and we were not aggressive enough. Our room is representative that we play it too safe. Phoenix has played well, they bet on the right and that’s where they left. We didn’t come out of the water with a good feeling, but we probably didn’t lose the race today and there is a lot to play for on that race course. It’s complicated and very subtle.”

 

 

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“With the arrival of the SUPER SERIES, Monte Real returns to the path of international circuits”

“We will see who wins the competition. The best will win, for sure. But those of us who have already won with the arrival of the 52 SUPER SERIES are the club, Baiona and Galicia”

“Bringing Baiona to the TP52s means fulfilling one of the most important commitments I made to the partners I represent. It is a dream come true”

“We are a club with small facilities but we have a very good human team, with long and proven experience in organizing events”

 

Alejandro Retolaza (left), vice president; and José Luis Álvarez (right), president of the MRCYB – Photo © Rosana Calvo

 

One of José Luis Álvarez’s commitments to the members of the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona when he assumed the presidency of the club was to once again organize an international regatta at the highest level. The Baionese club, one of the most prolific in terms of sports on the Spanish nautical scene, had been organizing all kinds of competitions practically since its creation, but international events had been significantly reduced in its program of events.

This changed in 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic, when in a press conference with masks and safety distances, the club announced that it had managed to become the venue for the 52 SUPER SERIES. After months of negotiations and hard work to meet all the requirements demanded by the organization, Monte Real finally achieved the goal of bringing Baiona to the prestigious TP52.

The date of the event was set for the summer of 2021, but the complications derived from the coronavirus forced it to be postponed for a year, a period that the club took advantage of to seek financial support. He found them in two regular collaborators of Monte Real, the financial entity ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through Xacobeo, who decided to join the adventure.

 

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – BAIONA SAILING WEEK will be held from May 23 to 28 – Photo © Rosana Calvo

 

Thus, the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – BAIONA SAILING WEEK was born, destined to put Galicia back in the spotlight of world attention, in which it had not stood out since the start of the Sailing Tour of the World from Vigo, in 2005.

Today, 17 years after that milestone, Galicia once again writes a new page in the history of sailing with the celebration of the Super Series, something that fills the president of Monte Real with pride, with whom we spoke a few hours after the start the competition.

 

What does the arrival of the 52 SUPER SERIES mean for the club in general and for you in particular?

For the Club it represents returning to the path of the great international circuits. For me in particular, fulfilling one of the most important commitments with the partners I represent. Of course, with the invaluable work of my colleagues on the Board of Directors.

The club has been organizing multiple regattas throughout its history, its calendar is today one of the most complete of the Spanish clubs, but the truth is that it has been a long time since they organized a competition at this level. How do you take on this challenge?

With great enthusiasm and optimism. Organizing an event of these characteristics is complex. And it also requires significant resources. We must not forget that we have gone through a series of years of economic crisis and that the priorities were different.

What do you expect from Baiona Sailing Week? What are we going to find at the event?

I expect a great event for the world of sailing. The fact of having among us the best sailors in the world with the best boats in their category, will make all fans and non-fans of this sport enjoy a few unparalleled days.

The president of the Monte Real Yacht Club of Baiona, José Luis Álvarez, together with the TP52 – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Organizing a competition of this type involves great organizational, economic, logistical, personnel complications… Was Monte Real prepared for the arrival of the SUPER SERIES or did they have to make a special effort? What have been the biggest difficulties?

That’s right, I’m sure we all understand how complex it is to organize this type of competition. It is also true that the MRCYB human team has a long and accredited experience in organizing events of the highest level. As you know, we are a Club with small facilities. Space is a handicap that we find ourselves with, but we use everything we have to the millimeter. Regarding the economic section, we have the collaboration of the sponsors. They make these events possible. From here, my thanks on behalf of all the members of the Club.

It is not the first time that ABANCA and the Xunta de Galicia support them in their initiatives. They have been collaborating hand in hand for years, in a period in which getting sponsorships is not as easy as it used to be. What does the club offer its collaborators so that they continue betting on it?

Both ABANCA and the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Tourism through Xacobeo), as well as the Pontevedra Provincial Council and the Baiona City Council have been and are a very important support throughout these years. When the MRCYB organizes events of these characteristics, we think of the enormous repercussion that projecting our companies abroad has. There is no doubt that putting our Galician community and the Rias Baixas in particular in the international spotlight has a very direct impact on tourism with high purchasing power. This benefits us all.

Along with you, one of the key figures in the organization of the event has been, without a doubt, the club’s vice president, Alejandro Retolaza, who has been involved from the greatest to the smallest details. Tell us, how does the Álvarez-Retolaza tandem work?

I would not have enough space to express what the figure of Vice President Retolaza represents not only for me, but for the Club. The communication and communion of ideas with him is so fluid that sometimes we are surprised. It seems that we think the same things at the same moment. He knows the Club down to the last corner and in matters of logistics, he is always ahead of all of us. Every day I learn something new with him. In this sense, I also want to highlight the sincere commitment that the Board of Directors has with the Club. A team that dedicates many hours and many days of the year to develop the different areas as much as possible. I think I have people by my side who give their best and I always say that they make everything flow with great professionalism. For me a gift.

In recent days there has been a lot of talk about the astronomical figures on which the event revolves, in which boats of 2.5 million euros participate with sports campaigns that exceed one million euros… but we are more interested in knowing the economic impact that going to have in Baiona and its region. There is talk of more than 2 million euros. Is it a realistic figure?

So is. From my point of view and knowing the figures that we usually manage for each person who in one way or another participates in the event, that figure will probably be exceeded.

To finish, we would like you to “get wet” and tell us which team or teams are your favorites and who you think will win in Baiona. Do you dare?

I, like everyone else, have my favourites, but the level of the sailors is so high that I don’t dare to make a prediction. Any of them could be, but in the world of sailing nothing is predictable. The sea, the wind etc… gives many surprises. I’m sure the best will win.

The TP52s that will compete in the Baiona Sailing Week on the pontoons of Monte Real – Photo © Rosana Calvo

 

It is an interview with Rosana Calvo, head of communication at the MRCYB

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The 52 SUPER SERIES hoist the sails of their tenth anniversary in Baiona

 

· The Monte Real Club de Yates hosted this Friday the official presentation of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · BAIONA SAILING WEEK that will be held in the Rías Baixas for a whole week starting this Saturday

· Three American teams, two English, one German, one Turkish, one South African and a ninth Thai will compete in the first round of the season of the most important monohull circuit in the world

· The nine sailboats valued at more than 22 million euros are waiting in the waters of the bay of Baiona for the crews to take them out this weekend to carry out the first training sessions prior to the regattas

· Some of the teams have recruited the most outstanding strategists of the Galician nautical scene to help them better understand the navigation area, the winds and conditions that can be found

· The economic impact that this sporting event sponsored by ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through the Xacobeo will have in the Val Miñor region is valued at more than two million euros

Two years after the announcement that Galicia would be the new venue for the circuit and after having overcome the worst moments of the COVID pandemic, which forced its celebration to be postponed for a year, the most important monohull circuit in the world, the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES , hoists its sails in Baiona.

Starting tomorrow, Saturday and for a whole week, the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week, organized and officially presented this Friday by the Monte Real Club de Yates, will bring together nine international teams : three North Americans (Sled, Quantum Racing and Interlodge), two English (Alegre and Gladiator), one German (Platoon), one Turkish (Provezza) and one Thai (Team Vayu).

The nine sailboats that will enter the competition, each valued at more than two and a half million euros, will be led by their millionaire owners, businessmen from different sectors united by their love for sailing and top competition. They are Doug DeVos, Austin and Gwen Fragomen, Takashi Okura, Andy Soriano, Tom Langley, Ergin Imre, Hasso Platner, and Tom and Kevin Whitcraft.

In each of the SUPER SERIES campaigns in which they participate, these owners They invest close to two million euros , which they allocate to research and development of technologies for their boats and to hire the best sailors, including Olympic medalists, world champions and America’s Cup winners.

Among this select group of athletes there is a small but outstanding number of Spanish sailors . People like Xabi Fernández (Gladiator), Joan Vila and Pedro Mas (Interlodge), Juan Meseguer, Joan Fullana and Nacho Postigo (Provezza), and Jordi Calafat, Javier Plaza, Víctor Mariño and Pablo Torrado (Platoon). These last two, Mariño and Torrado, will act as ambassadors in their land, since they are both Galician.

Galicia will be present in the competition through them and also thanks to the signing, by certain teams, of some of the best regatta strategists in the Galician estuaries , such as Pablo Iglesias, Gonzalo Araujo or Antonio Otero, among others. They will be in charge of giving the teams that have hired them the keys to better understand the navigation area, the winds and the conditions that can be found in the Cíes Islands anchorage.

The Atlantic Islands National Park will be the main venue for the tests, which will last from next Tuesday the 24th to Saturday the 28th, after the free practice sessions on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd; and the official training on Monday 23.

The nine boats in competition will compete in windward-leeward tasks between buoys , with four sections (two upwind and two downwind), and a total distance that will move between one and a half miles and two nautical miles.

There is also the possibility that one day the windward-leeward will be changed for a coastal regatta through the Rías Baixas, with a route yet to be determined. Both in one type of test and in the other, the boat that completes them first wins, without any type of time compensation.

This real-time competition , without any type of final adjustment, is the one that most attracts the crews and the one that will make the regattas more attractive and exciting for the public. With practically identical boats, which follow fixed measurement rules (sail area, length, beam, displacement, draft, mast height and weight), the innovations that have been applied to the boats and the expertise of the crews will be the ones that mark the differences, although these will be practically minimal and the victories will be very disputed.

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · Baiona Sailing Week, presented this Friday at the Monte Real Club de Yates, will be theThe first of the five TP52 events in 2022 : Baiona in May, Cascais (Portugal) in June, Puerto Portals in July, Scarlino (Italy) in September and Barcelona in October. It will also be the first time that the competition has landed in Galician waters, and it will do so in a very special year, a decade after its creation, in 2012.

The sporting event, sponsored by ABANCA and Turismo de Galicia through Xacobeo , and supported by the Pontevedra Provincial Council and the Baiona City Council, will leave an economic impact on the Val Miñor region valued at 2 million euros. Accommodation, restaurants, facilities, transport, logistics, nautical or design companies are some of the sectors that have benefited from the arrival of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Galicia.

“When I was chosen to preside over Monte Real, I assumed with our partners the commitment to rewrite a new chapter in the history of Spanish sailing, and that is precisely what we are doing here today, bringing to Galicia one of the most important circuits of the world. Organizing the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES · BAIONA SAILING WEEK has been a challenge for the club. Our people have been doing their best for months so that everything turns out perfect, and we have no doubt that it will. The responsibility and commitment that characterize Monte Real, and the unique environment that Baiona, the Rías Baixas and Galicia will offer are, without a doubt, guarantees of success. We’ll see it in a few days and I’m sure we’ll remember it for years to come.”

José Luis Álvarez President of the Monte Real Yacht Club

“Baiona is a very attractive place for the owners of the SUPER SERIES because it is a new place in which they have not competed and because the area is spectacularly beautiful. Those were two of the main reasons why we chose the Monte Real proposal to celebrate one of the circuit’s phases here, the inaugural stage of our tenth anniversary. The logistics have not been easy, but we are sure that it will be a great show. Sailing conditions at this time of year are good and the crews are ready to give everything on the water”

“From ABANCA we have been collaborating with the Monte Real Yacht Club for years and this time, with this great event, it was not going to be less. The tenacity, professionalism and rigor with which they always do things in this club will allow us to transmit the best image of Galicia to the whole world. We understand the sport in a transversal way, from the grassroots to top-level competitions like this one, and we are proud of them. This occasion is even more special, if possible, because we will not only spread the sporting potential of our country, but also the rest of the wonders of our land”

Gabriel González Eiroa Executive Director ABANCA Commercial Network

“Sailors from all over the world, from the five continents, participate in this event and will be great ambassadors of the Xacobeo, of the Camino de Santiago and of our land in their countries of origin and in the ports where they sail. Many visit us for the first time and I have no doubt that they will soon return to Galicia accompanied by their family and friends”

Marta Fernández-Tapias Delegate in Vigo of the XUNTA DE GALICIA

“The Monte Real is now a benchmark not only at a national level but also worldwide and the Pontevedra Provincial Council could not fail to support it, as we have always done. Our commitment to sport is constant and with this type of event we not only position ourselves at the world epicenter of sailing, but we also project the best image of Galicia”

Gorka Gómez Deputy for Sports of the PONTEVEDRA COUNCIL

“Thanks to the 52 SUPER SERIES for having trusted the Monte Real Club de Yates and for having opted for Baiona, the most beautiful town in the world. This competition is a great challenge for the club and also for Baiona and we will be up to it. The future is up to us to write it ourselves, and we will do it together”

Carlos Gómez · Mayor of the CITY COUNCIL OF BAIONA

“Anyone who wants to can enjoy the competition because there will be a large screen installed in the area of La Palma to see the end of the SUPER SERIES in virtual reality and a shipping company that will offer the possibility of going out to sea to watch the regattas . What we want is everyone to have the opportunity to see this event that is unique in the world”

Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui Commodore of the MRCYB

((( Photos: Antía Martínez )))

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How to follow the 52 SUPER SERIES?

(Photo: Nico Martinez)

All those who wish to follow the development of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – BAIONA SAILING WEEK , from May 23 to 28, know that you will have several options.

FROM THE MOBILE, TABLET OR COMPUTER: VIRTUAL REALITY

Through the website of the 52 SUPER SERIES ( www.52superseries.com ) and thanks to a virtual reality system, you will be able to follow each and every one of the tests live, every day of competition from the start of the same (scheduled for 12:30)

FROM GROUND: GIANT SCREEN

As of Friday 27 there will be a village installed in the area of La Palma, in Baiona, so that anyone who wishes can see the outcome of the competition through a large screen that will reproduce the latest tests in virtual reality.

FROM THE SEA: CATAMARAN

A Naviera Nabia catamaran will follow the test from the sea on May 26, 27 and 28. The boat will leave from the Baiona maritime station and will approach the regatta area. It will be in the water for approximately 4 hours and passengers will be able to follow the tests with live comments. The price of the tickets is 15 euros for adults and 10 euros for children.

FROM THE SEA: PRIVATE BOATS

People who have their own boat and want to approach the regatta area must meet a series of requirements. It must be located more than 200 meters from the starting line or more than 100 meters from the windward buoy. Those who want to position themselves between one point and another must always stand outside the lay line, at least 200 meters away.

 

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The container unloading operation of the 52 SUPER SERIES begins

 

This afternoon began in Baiona the operation of unloading and placing the 18 containers of the crews and organization of the 52 SUPER SERIES that arrived in Vigo last week aboard the same freighter that brought the TP52.

The logistics operation, led by the international company Peters & May, will last throughout the day and tomorrow, Tuesday, all the containers are expected to be perfectly installed in the parking lot of the Monte Real Yacht Club.

Operation of unloading and placement of the containers of the Super Series in the MRCYB – Photo © Jacobo Bastos

It is a complicated operation due to the limited space and because it is an area of special heritage interest. Also due to the need to avoid disturbances in traffic flow in Baiona.

“The difficulty of this logistics operation for the 52 SUPER SERIES is to regulate the traffic of the trucks so that the town is not blocked. We have a truck inside the Parador and another outside working, and on the outskirts of Baiona there will also be a filtering area for trucks so that they enter little by little and their circulation has the least impact. Inside the Monte Real, where the containers are being unloaded and placed, is the critical point of the operation, since the space is very small and everything is calculated to the millimeter” , Justo Gosalbes, manager of Peters & May for Spain and Portugal and responsible for this operation, told us.

Each crew has a container and the organization has several – Photo © Jacobo Bastos

With the placement of the containers and the installation of the village tents in the Monte Real gardens, the club will be practically ready to host the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week.

Aerial view of the Monte Real Yacht Club with the Super Series container unloading operation – Photo © Jacobo Bastos
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Countdown to Baiona Sailing Week

 

The ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week will premiere the 2022 season of the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES from May 23 to 28

· The Monte Real Club de Yates will host the nine teams of the circuit that will make their debut in the surroundings of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia

Víctor Mariño, from Vigo, crew member aboard the double world champion Platoon, is eager to compete in the waters in which he learned to navigate

· The president of the MRCYB assures that the arrival of the SUPER SERIES in Baiona will be a milestone in the history of sport in Galicia

· The event will be officially presented next Friday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Monte Real Club de Yates facilities

The TP52 in action – Photo © Nico Martínez

The countdown begins for the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week. The popular Galician fishing village will host the first round of the 52 SUPER SERIES season from May 23 to 28, and will bring together the nine candidates for the 2022 title.

In Baiona, the German Platoon owned by Harm Müller-Spreer will compete; the Americans Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos), Interlodge (Austin and Gwen Fragomen) and Sled (Takashi Okura); the British Alegre (Andy Soriano) and Gladiator (Tom Langley); Turkish Provezza (Ergin Imre); the South African Phoenix 11 (Hasso Platner); and the Thai Team Vayu (Tom and Kevin Whitcraft).

It will be the first regatta in which they will face each other since the Rolex TP52 World Championship, with which the 2021 season closed last November with the Sled as TP52 world champion, champion of the 52 SUPER SERIES and team to beat in 2022.

The Sled will defend both crowns this year against the likes of Quantum Racing (four-time circuit champion and three-time world champion, who finished just one point behind Sled in 2021) or Platoon (two-time world champion and third in 2021, two points behind the winner), although given the quality of the crews on board each of the TP52s and the fine-tuning of the boats during the winter, it is early to speak of clear favorites.

For the Baiona event, the TP52s arrived at the port of Vigo aboard a Peters & May freighter and are now resting on the pontoons of the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona (MRCYB) finalizing preparations to start training next weekend (Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 have free training).

The TP52 ready to go into play in less than a week – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The competition program will begin with the traditional official training regatta on Monday, May 23. This non-scoring test will act as a dress rehearsal for the organization and participants for the five days of competition that will complete the sports program of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week between Tuesday 24 and Saturday 28 May.

An impressive regatta field and an excited Galician

The Regatta Committee led by the Spanish María Torrijo will establish the battlefield in front of the majestic archipelago of the Cíes Islands, turning the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia into a spectacular backdrop for the action of the TP52.

Víctor Mariño in regatta – Photo © Max Ranchi

Víctor Mariño, from Vigo, a crew member aboard the double world champion Platoon, is excited to compete in the waters in which he learned to navigate: “I’m looking forward to the 52 SUPER SERIES being held in my home waters, it’s kind of a dream come true. The weather is quite unstable at this time of year depending on the systems, one week can be bad and another good. At the end of May, the usual wind is from the northwest with an average of around 15-16 knots. It’s a very even race course, so there’s no real advantage I can give from my local knowledge. I don’t feel the pressure of having to perform well in my waters with the Platoon, but we are aware that if we sail at our best we can achieve a good result. What I feel is pressure for us to have good weather.”.

Baiona, looking forward to 52 SUPER SERIES and for everything to be perfect

Among the actions devised by the organizers of the event, the initiative to take the business out into the street and summon its people to a village installed in the park of La Palma, a few meters from the MRCYB, the operations center of the 52 SUPER SERIES, stands out. The village will be open to the public the weekend of May 26 to 28, and will have a giant screen where you can enjoy the best images of the competition and a wide range of entertainment and gastronomy.

José Luis Álvarez president of the Monte Real Yacht Club – Photo © Rosana Calvo

In the opinion of José Luis Álvarez, president of the MRCYB: “Having been chosen by the SUPER SERIES to open the 2022 season is a source of pride for the club, but also a huge responsibility. Monte Real is used to organizing big events, but this competition is a new challenge for us, at all levels. The club’s staff has spent months making every effort to ensure that everything goes perfectly and we are sure that it will be what we want it to be: a milestone in the history of sport in Galicia, an unforgettable date for sailing lovers, a new opportunity to demonstrate how we do things at Monte Real and a unique opportunity to promote Baiona, the Rías Baixas and Galicia beyond our borders”.

The official presentation of the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week will be next Friday, May 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the Monte Real Club de Yates facilities.

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The TP52 of the Super Series arrive in Baiona

 

· This morning the sailboats that will compete in the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES will arrive at the Monte Real Yacht Club throughout the day · Baiona Sailing Week

· They are TP52-type boats, monohulls built in carbon fiber, light and high performance, considered authentic “flying machines”

· The logistics company Peters & May was in charge of bringing them to Galicia from the port of Sagunto (Valencia), unloading them in the port of Vigo and will also be in charge of the logistics of moving the containers to Baiona

The TP52s this morning in Vigo before starting the unloading operation – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The port of Vigo hosted this morning one of the most peculiar unloading and unloading operations so far this year, that of the sailboats that at the end of this month will compete in the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week, organized by Monte Royal Yacht Club.

These spectacular boats, Transpac 52 or TP52, are carbon fiber monohulls, 15.85 meters long, with a large sail area and long, thin keels. Light and high-performance sailboats, considered authentic “flying machines” over the sea, the authentic “Formula One” of current cruising sailing.

The spectacular TP52 waiting to be unloaded in the Vigo estuary – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Under the supervision of the logistics company Peters & May, in charge of bringing them to Galicia from the port of Sagunto (Valencia) aboard a freighter, the sailboats were unloaded one by one until they touched the waters of the Rías Baixas.

“More than a complicated operation, it is a delicate operation due to the type of boats, which although they are easy to load and unload, are very delicate due to the carbon fiber with which the sailboats are built,” says the manager of Peters & May for Spain and Portugal, Justo Gosalbes.

Unloading operation of the TP52 in the port of Vigo – Photo © Rosana Calvo

“The greatest difficulty in this type of operation -says Gosalbes- is customs, because all the teams are foreign, many of them are not European, and there is a lot of customs and port paperwork that is also very laborious”.

The first unloaded TP52 about to hit the water – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Today’s was the first contact of the TP52 with the Vigo estuary, in which in less than two weeks one of the most important nautical competitions on the planet will be held, an event that will bring to Galicia some of the most prestigious, including world champions and Olympic medalists.

In addition to the sailboats, which once unloaded continue their journey by sea to Baiona, this Wednesday the 18 containers of each of the crews and the organization are also unloaded in Vigo, which later, on the 16th, will be transferred by land to the Monte Real Yacht Club.

The 8 TP52s that arrived this Tuesday from Valencia to Galicia – Photo © Rosana Calvo

Its entry into Baiona will be another of the complicated phases of the logistics operation. “Here the difficulty -explains Justo Gosalbes, from Peters & May- It is in regulating the traffic of trucks so that the town is not blocked. We will have a truck inside the Parador and another outside working, and on the outskirts of Baiona there will also be another filtering area for trucks so that they enter little by little and their circulation has the least impact. Inside the Monte Real, where the containers will be unloaded and placed, will be another of the key points of the operation, since the space is reduced and everything is calculated to the centimeter”.

In Baiona they have been clearing and preparing the entire entrance surface of the Parador Nacional and the Monte Real Club de Yates for days to be able to place the containers there. In addition, the club’s marina has had to carry out a major restructuring of the boats in order to reserve an entire pontoon for the TP52s.

The freighter that brought the TP52s to Galicia this morning in the port of Vigo – Photo © Rosana Calvo

A great organizational and logistical display for what will undoubtedly be one of the sporting events of the year in Galicia. In the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES – Baiona Sailing Week, the teams Allegre (UK), Gladiator (UK), Interlodge (USA), Phoenix (South Africa), Platoon (Germany), Provezza (Turkey) will compete from May 23 to 28. , Quantum Racing (USA), Sled (USA) and Team Vayu (Thailand).

8 of the 9 TP52s that will compete in the Baiona Sailing Week aboard the freighter in Vigo – Photo © Rosana Calvo
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Everything ready in Baiona to receive the 52 SUPER SERIES

 

· The countdown begins for the arrival in Galicia of the most important monohull circuit in the world that will open its season at the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona

· From May 23 to 28, the Galician Rías Baixas will host the initial tests of a competition in which some of the best sailors from the 5 continents participate

· ABANCA and the Xacobeo 21-22 sponsor what will undoubtedly be the nautical event of the year in Galicia, for which everything is already prepared.

The countdown begins for the arrival in Galicia of the 52 SUPER SERIES, the most important monohull circuit in the world, which will open its regatta season at the Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona.

From May 23 to 28, the Galician Rías Baixas will host the initial tests of a competition in which some of the best sailors from the 5 continents participate. Allegre (UK), Gladiator (UK), Interlodge (USA), Phoenix (South Africa), Platoon (Germany), Provezza (Turkey), Quantum Racing (USA) and Sled (USA) are the teams that will compete in Galicia.

The 52 SUPER SERIES will arrive in Baiona from May 23 to 28 – Photo © Nico Martínez

To make their arrival in Baiona possible, the Monte Real Yacht Club has been working tirelessly for months. The organization of the event alone moves about 500 people, including crews and support staff, and at the club, despite being used to hosting massive events, they have had to deal with very complicated logistics.

In addition to the necessary restructuring of the mooring points in the club’s marina to be able to place these large sailboats, Monte Real has had to plan in detail the location of the large containers with which each team will arrive in Baiona.

The monohulls will sail in the vicinity of the Cíes Islands – Photo © Nico Martínez

They will all be located inside a historic site such as the Parador Nacional de Baiona, where the club is located, and to the technical and usability requirements of the organization and the different crews, the need to guarantee the protection of the place is added. , of high heritage value.

Aerial view of Baiona, one of the most spectacular fishing villages in Spain

The great technical and technological deployment of the event also implies the coordination of operations, the movement of trailers and cranes, the restructuring of spaces, the management of supplies, the preparation of the staging and an infinity of other tasks that Monte Real is carrying out, in addition, without paralyzing or altering its sports and social programming.

“If bringing SUPER SERIES to Baiona was a challenge, organizing the event while maintaining our usual activity is proving to be quite a challenge”, says the vice president of Monte Real, Alejandro Retolaza. “The organizational and logistical demands are enormous, but we will be up to the task of such an important event -assures-, and not only for all that it means for the club, but also because Baiona and Galicia will be the focus of international attention during those days. The responsibility is very great.”

The arrival of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Baiona thanks to the efforts of the Monte Real Yacht Club and the sponsorship of ABANCA and the Xacobeo 21-22 will undoubtedly be the nautical event of the year in Galicia. And in the small Galician fishing village they already have everything ready for the Baiona Sailing Week to cast off.

Aerial view of the Monte Real Yacht Club of Baiona

 

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The Monte Real Yacht Club will fill 2022 with competition, fun and spectacle

 

· The club from Baiona is preparing to launch a sports season with competition, fun and entertainment as the main ingredients

· The arrival next May in Baiona of the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES will undoubtedly be the nautical event of the year in Galicia

· Monte Real will also organize the J80 Spanish Championship and the Galician Two-Handed Championship in 2022

· The club’s four classics also return: the Príncipe de Asturias Trophy, the Conde de Gondomar Trophy, the Repsol Trophy and the Comunica Trophy

Monte Real is the first club to bring the 52SS to Galicia – Photo © Nico Martínez

The Monte Real Club de Yates de Baiona is finalizing the details to start, in just a few days, its 2022 sports season, in which competition, fun and entertainment will be the main ingredients.

The most outstanding event on its calendar is, without a doubt, the celebration, next May, of the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES , one of the most important nautical events in the world, considered the “Formula 1 of the sea” . From May 23 to 28, between 10 and 12 teams of more than 8 nationalities with sailors from 5 continents will compete in the Rías Baixas aboard unique boats with the most cutting-edge technology.

Another of the events that will focus the attention of sailing lovers in Galicia will be the Spanish Championship of the J80 class , which will be held in Baiona from September 15 to 18. The most important event of the 8 meters at a national level returns to Baiona four years after having been organized by the Monte Real Club de Yates, which owns the most important fleet of these monotypes in the northwest of the peninsula.

Baiona organized the Spanish J80 Championship in 2018 and will repeat it in 2022 – Photo © Rosana Calvo

The club chaired by José Luis Álvarez also repeats, in this case for the eleventh consecutive year, in the organization of the Galician A Two Championship , which on June 11 will bring together some of the most intrepid sailors in the community to prove their worth with crews reduced to the maximum.

In 2022, the club’s four great classics will also return: the Prince of Asturias Trophy , which will once again include the delivery of the Terras Gauda National Sailing Awards ; the Conde de Gondomar Trophy , with the legendary climb of almost 100 miles to Carrumeiro Chico; the Repsol Trophy , during the first weekend of May; and the Comunica Trophy , at the end of April.

The MRCYB sports calendar for 2022 includes 12 major events – Photo Lalo R Villar

There will also be 11 exclusive competition days for the J80, which will be divided into two leagues: the Baitra Winter League , from January to April; and the Fall League , from October to December.

After the successful participation of the previous edition, Monte Real will repeat the Route through the Rías Baixas , a non-competitive journey destined to travel the Camino de Santiago by sea and win the Jubilee. And this year, as a novelty, Monte Real will also organize a Laser class qualifier.

It will clearly be an intense year for the club from Baiona, in which, in addition to competition, fun and spectacle, there will also be a place for solidarity and social responsibility actions, most of them promoted through its School Sailing Adapted .

Monte Real will reaffirm, once again, its social commitment to people with disabilities, offering, throughout the year, courses and activities aimed at promoting their inclusion and allowing them to navigate under equal conditions. Since it was launched a decade ago, this section of the club has only grown, and what was initially limited to people with different disabilities (physical, sensory, intellectual or mental) has been extended to people elderly, children in care, children with behavior problems and women victims of gender violence.

The commitment to women will be another of the axes of the 2022 season of Monte Real, with various proposals to promote their participation in competitions and events. In addition, the club will once again organize the Final of the National Women’s Sailing League , which will be held next fall.

Light sailing and cruising courses within the framework of the MRCYB Sailing School , coaching and team building activities for groups and companies, and talks and clinics for sailors are other proposals offered by the Monte Real Yacht Club in what will be its first year as a member of the International Council of Yacht Clubs (ICOYC) , of which it has been a member since last December along with the 44 most prestigious clubs in the world.

 

January 22, February 5 and 19, March 5 and 19, April 2
BAITRA J80 WINTER LEAGUE

April 23rd
COMMUNICATE TROPHY

April 29 and 30, May 1
REPSOL TROPHY

May 23 to 28
52 SUPER SERIES – BAIONA SAILING WEEK

11th of June
GALICIAN CHAMPIONSHIP OF TWO

July 5 to 10
RÍAS BAIXAS ROUTE

July 22 to 25
COUNT OF GONDOMAR TROPHY

September 2 to 4
PRINCE OF ASTURIAS TROPHY

September 15 to 18
J80 SPANISH CHAMPIONSHIP

October 8 and 22, November 12 and 26, December 17
J80 FALL LEAGUE

November 5 and 6
LASER QUALIFYING RACE

Date yet to be determined
FINAL OF THE NATIONAL FEMALE SAILING LEAGUE

 

>>> DOWNLOAD THE MRCYB 2022 CALENDAR FROM HERE

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Galicia will open the 2022 season of the 52 SUPER SERIES with the “Baiona Sailing Week”

 

· After suffering the cancellation of the event in 2021 due to COVID19, the Monte Real Club de Yates already has a date to host the most important one-design circuit in the world in 2022

· From May 23 to 28, coinciding with the celebration of the Xacobeo Year, Galicia will be in charge of opening the 52 SUPER SERIES season with the “Baiona Sailing Week”

· The considered “Formula 1 of the sea” will bring to the Rías Baixas between 10 and 12 teams of more than 8 nationalities with sailors from the 5 continents to compete in boats with cutting-edge technology

 

 

Galicia will be in charge of opening the 52 SUPER SERIES circuit season in 2022 with the “Baiona Sailing Week”. After suffering the cancellation of the event in 2021 due to COVID19, the Monte Real Club de Yates already has a date to host, next year, the most important one-design circuit in the world.From May 23 to 28, coinciding with the celebration of the Xacobeo Year, the so-called “Formula 1 of the sea” , in which between 10 and 12 teams of more than 8 nationalities compete with sailors from the 5 continents aboard boats with cutting-edge technology.

In the first two days, the crews will compete in training regattas in the area set aside for the competition, a place very close to the Atlantic Islands National Park, just in front of the Cíes Islands. In the program for the third day there is a training session in a regatta that is already official, although not scoring; and the last dates are reserved for the competition itself, with the regattas that will define the final classification from which the winners will emerge.

 

The Rías Baixas will be the scene of the spectacular competition – Photo © Nico Martínez

 

With high performance and great international prestige, the 52 SUPER SERIES are one of the three most important nautical events in the world, along with the America’s Cup and the World Sailing Tour. In 2022 they will launch tests in 5 ports on the planet: Baiona, Cascais, Puerto Portals, Scarlino and Barcelona.

Only the organization of the event moves about 500 people, up to 12 megayachts and support boats. A logistics that, along with flight reservations, accommodation and restaurants; service companies and teams; they represent an expense that reaches more than 3 million euros, of which about two million stay in local companies and services in the place where they compete.

 

The Baiona Sailing Week will be held in 2022 coinciding with the Xacobeo Holy Year – Photo © Nico Martínez

 

From the Monte Real Club de Yates they speak of a historic milestone for the club, Baiona, the Rías Baixas and Galicia in general, not only for entering the international circuit of high competition, but also for the world projection that it will mean for the community, both sports and tourism.

“It is about -says the president of the MRCYB, José Luis Álvarez- of one of the most important events in the world and we are very proud to have managed to bring it to Galicia. For several days we will be the focus of international attention and that will have a very positive impact on the club and on everything around us. People from all over the world will see the spectacular nature of Baiona and Rías Baixas, they will discover everything that Galicia can offer them in terms of tourism, gastronomy, culture and sports”.

And it is that the extensive media coverage of the 52 SUPER SERIES, both nationally and internationally, reaches figures that, according to data from the organization, are around one billion impacts in different media, with more than one million views in the live broadcasts of the competition and close to 10 million impressions on social networks.

 

The Monte Real Club de Yates will host one of the most important nautical events in the world – Photo © Nico Martínez

 

For the president of the historic club in Baiona, the “Baiona Sailing Week” will also allow “tourism to be adjusted seasonally, give a boost to the economy, and create a hobby and youth pool in the world of sailing” . It is, in short, Álvarez concludes, “an event that will go down in the history of Galicia and in one as special as the Xacobeo Holy Year” .

In addition to hosting the different sporting events, the Monte Real Club de Yates will organize multiple social events, such as meetings with the sailors, visits to the participating boats, conferences and talks about the competition or parties with the crews.

 

 

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Discounting for the 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week

 

Sixteen years after the milestone that marked the start of the Sailing Tour of the World from Vigo in 2005, Galicia will once again focus the world nautical scene with the celebration in Baiona, by the Monte Real Yacht Club, of the Baiona Sailing Week 2021 , a stop on the circuit of the prestigious 52 SUPERSERIES .

With high performance and great international prestige, the 52 SUPER SERIES are one of the three most important nautical events in the world , along with the America’s Cup and the Sailing Tour of the World, and next June they will stop in Baiona. We start discounting!

 

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Monte Real manages to bring the 52 SUPER SERIES to Baiona in 2021

 

· After months of negotiations and hard work to meet all the requirements demanded by the organization, the Monte Real Club de Yates manages to make the 52 SUPER SERIES land in Galicia in 2021, coinciding with the Xacobeo Year

· For 8 days in June, the 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week will bring together in the Rías Baixas some of the best sailors in the world aboard boats with cutting-edge technology, competing in the so-called “Formula 1 of the sea”.

With high performance and great international prestige, the 52 SUPER SERIES are one of the three most important nautical events in the world, along with the America’s Cup and the Sailing Tour of the World

Its impact reaches figures of up to two million euros of investment in local companies and services in each of the nautical events and one billion impacts in different media and online channels

 

Fifteen years after the milestone that the departure of the Sailing Tour of the World from Vigo in 2005 meant for Galicia, the Monte Real Club de Yates once again puts the Galician community in the spotlight of the world nautical scene by including Baiona in the circuit of the prestigious 52 SUPER SERIES.

After months of negotiations and hard work to meet all the requirements demanded by the organization, the historic club from Baiona has just confirmed that the considered “Fórmula 1 del mar” has agreed to compete in one of its events in the Galician Rías Baixas in June 2021, coinciding with the celebration of the Xacobeo Holy Year.

The MRCYB will host one of the world’s great sailing competitions in 2021 – Photo © Nico Martínez

With high performance and great international prestige, the 52 SUPER SERIES are one of the three most important nautical events in the world, along with the America’s Cup and the World Sailing Tour. Between 10 and 12 teams of more than 8 nationalities of sailors from the 5 continents compete aboard boats with cutting-edge technology in tests that are held for months in different ports around the world.

The Baiona Sailing Week will be held in the unique setting of the Galician Rías Baixas – Photo © Baiona Tourism

Next year, one of those stages will be the 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week , which will be held for 8 days, between June 3 and 10, both inclusive. The first two days, on days 3 and 4, the crews will compete in training regattas in the area set aside for the competition, a place very close to the Atlantic Islands National Park, just in front of the Cíes Islands. The third day, June 5, is reserved for training in an already official regatta, although not scoring; and in the last 5 days, from 6 to 10, the competition itself will be held, with the regattas that will define the final classification from which the winners will emerge.

Jose Luis Alvarez, President MRCYB – Photo © MRCYB

In addition to the sporting events, the Monte Real Club de Yates will organize multiple social events, such as meetings with the sailors, visits to the participating boats, conferences and talks about the competition or parties with the crews, among many others. It will also be a unique opportunity to rediscover Monte Real, one of the oldest clubs in Spain, with a long and prolific journey on the international nautical scene.

What was once the first Spanish club to present a challenge to the Copa América de Vela currently organizes some of the most outstanding regattas in Spain, such as the Príncipe de Asturias Trophy or the Conde de Gondomar Trophy. Recently, Monte Real has also announced the celebration in Baiona, in 2023, of the J80 Class World Cup, which will become the eighth World Cup event that the club has organized throughout its more than 50-year history.

The TP52s are guaranteed action and spectacle – Photo © Nico Martínez

A prestigious circuit considered the “Formula 1 of the sea”

The 52 SUPER SERIES were born from the hands of three businessmen in love with the sea and enthusiastic sailors: the American Doug DeVos (co-president of the prestigious marketing company Amway and owner of the Orlando Magic NBA basketball team), the Swedish Niklas Zennström (creator of numerous companies such as Skype or Kazaa) and the Argentine Alberto Roemmers (founder of Laboratorios Roemmers, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Argentina).

In 2012 they created a circuit that each year goes through five or six of the best places on the planet to haggle in tests in which an unparalleled fleet competes, made up of the best sailors in the world. On board the TP52, a type of 52-foot (15.85 m.) boat that is almost identical in its performance, the crews must make a difference with the technological innovations that they apply to sailboats and the expertise and skills of their teams. .

The organization of each of the stages of the 52 SUPER SERIES involves the movement of some 500 people, up to 12 megayachts and support boats. All that logistics, along with flight reservations, accommodation and restaurants; service companies and teams; they represent an expense that reaches more than 3 million euros, of which about two million stay in local companies and services in the place where they compete.

Monte Real is the first club to bring the 52SS to Galicia – Photo © Nico Martínez

The extensive media coverage, both national and international, of the nautical event, reaches figures that, according to data from the organization, are around one billion hits in different media, with more than one million views on live television in the competition and close to 10 million impressions on the online channels of social networks. The regatta is also followed all over the world, with live images or through virtual reality systems from the website www.52superseries.com.

Another aspect to highlight of the 52 SUPER SERIES and the MRCYB will be their firm commitment to sustainability. The competition and its collaborating organization in this matter, 11th Hour Racing, will promote a series of actions in each of the regattas aimed at promoting environmental awareness through education and action. The commitment is to achieve a zero footprint of ecological impact, an effort that will be redoubled in the waters of the Ría de Vigo as it is of a very high environmental value.

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND STATEMENTS

Authorities attending the presentation at the MRCYB of the 52 Super Series Baiona Sailing Week – Photo © MRCYB

The official announcement of the achievement of the 52 SUPER SERIES for Galicia by the Monte Real Yacht Club was made this morning at a press conference held in Baiona, which was attended by the General Director of the competition, the Spanish Agustín Zulueta, who signed the contract for the 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week together with the president of Monte Real, José Luis Álvarez.

“Just a month ago we revealed that we had been chosen to organize the 2023 J80 World Championship and today’s news is undoubtedly another of the great announcements that will mark 2020 for Monte Real. That the 52 Super Series land in Baiona is great news only for us as a club, or for Baiona as a town, but for all of Galicia, which for weeks will become the focus of the world nautical scene. Many years have passed since we presented, for the first time in the history of Spain, that Challenge to the America’s Sailing Cup, and those of you who follow us closely know that we have never abandoned our desire to write new chapters in the history of sailing. Today, in front of a blank page, we begin to write a new one”

José Luis Álvarez President of the Monte Real Yacht Club

Agustin Zulueta CEO 52 Super Series – Photo © MRCYB

“For us, announcing the Baiona regatta in 2021 is something that excites us. We have been looking for a location that joins the one in Cascais for some time to take advantage of the movement of ships to the Atlantic from our usual headquarters in the Mediterranean. It is the first time in the ten seasons of the 52 SUPER SERIES that we go to Galicia and it was like a debt that we had as organizers. Baiona is the ideal place. June is the best time to sail, it is an exceptional town with great infrastructures and services, with incredible scenery and ideal sailing conditions. We are facing a completely new destination for our shipowners who like to discover new places and we are convinced that Baiona and Galicia are going to love it. The Monte Real Club de Yates has been very receptive to the proposal from the first moment and we want to thank its president, José Luis Álvarez, and its board of directors for the facilities they have shown to bring the 52 SUPER SERIES to Baiona”

Agustín Zulueta General Director of the 52 Super Series

Diego Torrado from Vigo also took part in the press conference, a regular in the 52 SUPER SERIES who has been on the circuit for years as boat captain, previously with the Russian Bronenosec Gazprom and currently with the South African Phoenix 12. As the voice of the experience, Torrado explained to those attending the presentation the main characteristics of a competition that he described as unique and spectacular.

“For me it is a ‘luxury’ that the 52 SUPER SERIES come to Baiona. It is one of the most nautical places in Spain with a history linked to the sea for many centuries. That a class like ours comes to the MRCYB, which was the first port where the announcement of the discovery of America arrived in 1492, shows that it is a place with an excellent seafaring tradition and culture. Baiona’s life is focused on the sea and a competition like this deserves. The 52 SUPER SERIES is the largest annual circuit format regatta in the world. It is the top in the world of sailing where the best sailors in the world are. Due to the quality of the sailors and the event, there is no similar circuit. I think that for all the boats sailing on the Galician coast is going to be a challenge when leaving the Mediterranean due to the different conditions. The Vigo estuary area, being protected, provides wonderful sailing conditions, but we must not forget that we are in the Atlantic”

Diego Torrado Sailor of the 52 Super Series

“From this moment we acquired an important commitment hosting one of the tests of the 52 Super Series, and we do it with tremendous enthusiasm, passion and dedication. We are not only committed to making this event a success in the organization, but also to leave the deepest mark possible on this club, in Galicia and in sport. We want the promotion of the practice of sailing to be marked by the 52 Super Series. It is an exceptional opportunity for the projection of Baiona and Galicia, but also to create a quarry and fans and we are going to work hard to achieve it”

Ignacio Sánchez Otaegui Commodore of the MRCYB

The Xunta de Galicia (autonomous administration), the Diputación de Pontevedra (provincial administration) and the Baiona City Council (local administration), regular supporters of the competitions and initiatives of the Monte Real Yacht Club, also did not want to miss the official presentation of the event . Everyone praised the magnificent qualities of the Monte Real Club de Yates for organizing great events like this one and predicted the greatest success for the 52 SUPER SERIES Baiona Sailing Week.

“What nature has given us has helped us to carry out all these types of events, but we must also highlight the capacity and human quality of the MRCYB. Baiona is proud of this club for its commitment to our people, and I am especially proud to co-participate in all these events in which we demonstrate that, when all the administrations are united, we can do very important things for our people. In my name and in the name of all the men and women of Baiones, welcome to all and congratulations”

Carlos Gómez Mayor of Baiona

“I love the passion with which everyone talks about these water sports because, as you well know, one of our goals is to promote the sport and every time Monte Real asks us for help, we are there. Be grateful that there are clubs like this one that carry out the organization of these activities. We hope that this activity has the welcome it should have and thank Monte Real again for having summoned us”

Raquel Giraldez Deputy of the Pontevedra Provincial Council

“The link between Baiona and this club to the sea is evident, and this regatta is important because it will surely be in the top three in the world along with the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race. It is good for Galicia because it once again puts the world focus here and on sailing at an extraordinary moment for Galicia and for the world, coinciding with Xacobeo 2021, and having been able to stop the pandemic and be the first Autonomous Community to leave of the State of Alarm. Congratulations to the club, this magnificent club, and to all the sailors for this event. The departure of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005 marked a before and after and I am sure that this event will allow us to take another step to continue making a real commitment to the sport of sailing, which is strategic for the Xunta de Galicia”

José Ramón Lete Lasa General Secretary for Sport of the Xunta de Galicia

 

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