Azzurra ready for the Cascais 52 Super Series Sailing Week

Azzurra in lead at Puerto Sherry 52 Super Series © 52 Super Series / Martinez Studio

The boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's burgee is at the dock, ready for the third event in the 52 Super Series. She knows how stiff the competition will be, but her team is determined to use the conditions that sailing in Portugal will offer to her best advantage.

After two days of training in unusually light conditions for an Atlantic venue, Azzurra, the TP52 owned by the Roemmers family, is ready to fight to the finish of the third event in the 52 Super Series 2019. Cascais has always seen Azzurra perform well, here last year she was runner up in the World Championship thanks also to her team's skill in sailing in stronger winds and rougher seas. And we'll always remember how thrilling last year's sailing was, with teams surfing on a broad reach at 20 knots, the constant changes in position: in other words sailing at its best, both in terms of sport and of show. Even today's Practice race was a good show and a taste of what's in store in the upcoming week of sailing. Conditions are predicted to be excellent and sailing will be spectacular: the forecast calls for breeze from the northwest with gusts at up to 25 knots until Thursday.

Knowing how tough her competitors are and how hard they will fight to win, Azzurra's team still knows that they have what it takes to win. The boat is tuned well and they are determined to get results. There are seven teams including Azzurra in Cascais and Azzurra is currently in third place overall, five points behind Provezza, the Super Series's current leader, who is trailed by just two points by Platoon. Bronenosec, 4th is six points behind Azzurra.

"With a fleet this competitive and a scoreboard this close" said the YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo, "it's important to sail consistently. In the first events Azzurra has shown her consistency, which comes from hard work on the part of the entire team. I want to thank them and, as always, the Roemmers family, our club members."

Skipper Guillermo Parada had these words: "The boat and the team are well prepared for the upcoming week of strong winds. We expect to sail well, Cascais has always seen us get results. We're concentrated and determined to work our way back up the scoreboard even though we are already in the top placed teams and all close in points. At the same time we're focusing on the rest of the season, looking to make a couple of improvements before the World Championship in Puerto Portals".

The first warning signal will be tomorrow, July 16th at 1 PM local time, 2 PM CEST. Fans can follow the action on Virtual Eye on the website 52superseries.com or on azzurra.it.

Updates from the course will be posted on Azzurra's Facebook page, while the best racing shots will be on her Instagram account: instagram.com/azzurrasailing

Entries

Alegre - Andy Soriano (USA/GBR), 2018 Botin
Azzurra - Alberto/Pablo Roemmers (ARG/ITA), 2018 Botin
Bronenosec - Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS), 2019 Botin
Phoenix 11 - Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2018 Botin
Platoon - Harm Müller-Spreer (GER), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Provezza - Ergin Imre (TUR), 2018 Judel/Vrolijk
Quantum Racing - Doug DeVos (USA), 2018 Botin

Overall 52 SUPER SERIES Standings after two regattas

1. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) 66 p.
2. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) 68 puntos.
3. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) 71 p.
4. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) 77 p.
5. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) 80 p.
6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) 88 p.
7. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) 92 p.
8. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Hasso/Tina Plattner) 108 p.