Tag: monohulls

 

· 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

· 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

 

 

· 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.

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.

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.

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”

 

 

· 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.