Azzurra had a difficult day at Menorca 52 Super Series Sailing Week - Day 4

Azzurra - 52 Super Series Menorca © Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

Azzurra recovered positions after receiving a penalty in today's only race managing to place seventh after a wait for breeze that stretched to the late afternoon. Quantum is in the lead followed by Platoon.

It was a long day of waiting today in Mahon, waiting for wind to kick in from the north along with a front of clouds. The AP flag was hoisted ashore and Maria Torrijo, the Principal Race Officer said that the first warning signal would be at 3 PM, but as the day progressed the starting time was moved further and further back. Breeze was at nine knots that built to twelve and at 4:30 PM a start was finally called then called off because the wind turned 15 degrees. There were three more attempts at getting a race started, the final one with a black flag hoisted, which means any team jumping the start would be disqualified. This because the long wait was wearing on the entire fleet's nerves and there was jostling and aggressive behavior.

Azzurra got a fairly good start on the left, responding to Quantum's attack and starting the first beat in a good position. But she got a penalty during a crossing with Alegre that sent her to the back of the fleet. "It was my mistake," said skipper Guillermo Parada. "I'm sorry to have put the team in this situation and I thank Santi (Lange), Cole (Parada) and everyone else because they did a great job recovering. We managed to pass three boats on the second beat and one on the run."

Azzurra began recovering right away, sailing in clean air on the left side of the course. But she arrived on port tack at the mark and couldn't find an opening in the tightly packed fleet lead by Platoon. At the end of the first run she rounded the gate side by side with Bronenosec but on opposite tacks. At first she chose the right, then she tacked at just the right time to get the best advantage of a wind shift on the left. Eighth at the end of the second beat, she was the first to gybe and passed Gladiator to finish seventh after some excellent sailing.

The race was won by Quantum followed by Platoon who was having a very hard time holding off Provezza, Sled and the two Phoenix teams. In fact, the finish was almost as chaotic as the start on this long and difficult day. Azzurra is currently in fourth place in an event that will end tomorrow. Two races are scheduled and will be decisive for the fight for the podium. The first Warning Signal should be at 12:30 CEST and conditions are predicted to be similar to this afternoon's. As per sailing instructions, the final warning signal can be no later than 3 PM.

Menorca 52 Super Series Sailing Week after Day 4: (six races)

1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (8,5,4,2,1,1) 21pts
2. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (6,3,3,1,8,3) 24pts
3. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,2,6,3,7,2) 25pts
4. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) (2,1,1,7,10,7) 28pts
5. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (4,11,2,5,6,8) 36pts
6. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (1,7,8,10,2,10) 38pts
7. Phoenix 12 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (7,4,7,8,9,4) 39pts
8. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (9,8,5,9,4,5) 40pts
9. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso Plattner) (3,10,11,6,5,6) 41pts
10. Team Vision Future (FRA) (Jean Jacques Chaubard) (10,6,9,4,11,11) 51pts
11. Gladiator (GBR) (Tony Langley) (11,9,10,11,3,9) 53pts