It goes without saying that when one of the world’s most prestigious newspapers, The Sunday Times, uses one of your photos on the front page of the Business Section to illustrate an article you can only be happy. As a result, we were delighted to see our photo of Tony Langley’s TP52 Gladiator having a prominent placement on the British newspaper two weeks ago. For any sailor or sailing fan, the photo per se has nothing extraordinary. It was shot the moment the British crew was preparing to tack in one of the beats of a race at the 2012 AUDI Valencia Cup. We were lucky enough on the photo boat to be right next to Gladiator’s layline and shot the sequence of the tack. The newspaper’s photo editor found one of the photos to be front page material, especially since Langley’s name and national flag were more than visible on the boom right over his head.

Our photo of Tony Langley’s TP52 Gladiator made it to the front page of the Business Section of The Sunday times two weeks ago. Long term is this association of the sport with billionaires a positive or negative factor?

However, the scope of this piece isn’t to brag about our photos but to wonder what long-term effect this association of sailing with billionaires might have for the development of the sport. Does it reinforce the long-held view that sailing is an elitist sport? On the other hand, how could a sailing photo have such a prominent position in the business section otherwise? Not only that, Langley is a successful self-made businessman whose group employs 4,000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of close to one billion euros. Will his photo entice other successful entrepreneurs to join the ranks of TP52 owners or of other similar classes?

Since its inception in 2007, the RC44 class has been about and for its boat owners. The TP52′s had a similar start and then went through a, disastrous, period of trying to be what they weren’t. Under Santa Monica Sport’s leadership, the Medcup pretended to be a popular event with mass appeal, something that couldn’t be further apart from reality. It survived a few years thanks to the easy money Spanish cities had access to and then collapsed when the tap was turned off. Did the monumental race villages and public areas bring more sponsors and teams? None whatsoever! The three founding owners of the 52 Super Series, Niklas Zennström, Alberto Roemmers and Doug DeVos, make it no secret that they want to build a circuit that caters to the owners.

On a smaller scale, the struggling Soto40 class is also composed solely of privately-owned boats, both in Europe and Latin America. At the other end of the sailing spectrum, the America’s Cup has reconfirmed its identity as a battleground for multi-billionaires and even in the Extreme Sailing Series, nearly half of the teams are either backed by a rich owner or bankrolled by a sultan.

So, the question is: Can high-level professional sailing exist without the wealthy owners? Will the sport of sailing in general benefit from the presence of more rich individuals or will it be hurt? If the 15 RC44′s and 10 TP52′s didn’t exist what would have filled the void? Is there really a truly commercially viable alternative? If yes, where is it?

[Source: 52 Super Series] The championships, which return to the Miami for the first time since 2006, are being supported by headline sponsors Gaastra who also enter their own Dutch All-Stars team lead by Gaastra’s Marc Blees.

Entries are confirmed from the USA, Sweden, Great Britain, Holland and Italy and include two teams which have won the world title in the past. As was required at the 52 World Championships till 2007 all boats are for 2013 owner steered.

Defending world champions are Doug deVos’ Quantum Racing, who actually won the title in Porto Cervo, Italy in 2011. The American team have prevailed at three of the last four world championship showdowns, winning in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

The only other team which has won the world title in the past which will line up in Miami is Alberto Roemmers’ Azzurra, which won as Matador in Palma, Mallorca in 2009. Azzurra hold the initiative this season already after having already won the first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta, Quantum Key West 2013.

“We are happy with the entries for the Gaastra 52 World Championships. On the one hand it completely satisfies all the criteria for a world championships including representing two continents and five countries, but also the standard of the teams is very high across the board.” Says Rob Weiland, the 52 Class Manager. Having Gaastra join the championships as sponsor is great news, according to Weiland:

“Gaastra and Gaastra Pro have been involved with the TP52 Class in one way or the other since 2008. As the Official clothing sponsor of the class and its world championships, as clothing sponsor of individual teams and now as official clothing sponsor of the 52 Super Series, co-sponsor of the 52 Worlds, as well as an actual participant at the Gaastra 52 Worlds.” Continues Weiland, “This is based on the owner of Gaastra Pro, Marc Blees, a keen sailor himself and a big fan of the TP52 and the 52 Super Series, being attracted by proper racing combined with good social scene onshore as well as the possible synergies between the high profile status of both brands.”

Typical wind conditions for March on the Miami coast are anywhere between 10 and 20kts, usually with relatively flat water but peppered with some strong localised currents. The plan is to run racing on at least two days in front of South Beach, in front of the cityscape which should allow some exciting images to be captured. Racing runs from Tuesday 5th March through to Saturday 9th March with windward-leeward racing scheduled each day.

“We are very happy to be able to support the Gaastra 2 World Championship as a sponsor but it is an event which we would just not miss as fans and sailors. We love the class, the excitement and the racing and so we have taken the chance to come along and race as well.” Explains Gaastra Pro’s Marc Blees.

The Gaastra 52 World Championships will be run alongside the HPR Midwinter Championship for HPR 40 footers.

Entries:
Quantum Racing (USA) Doug DeVos (USA)
Rán (SWE), Niklas Zennström (SWE)
Azzurra (ITA), Alberto Roemmers Jr (ARG)
Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley (GBR)
Gaastra Pro (NED), March Blees (NED)
Interlodge (USA) Austin and Gwen Fragomen (USA)
Rio (USA) Manouch Moshayedi (USA)
Vesper (USA) Jim Swartz (USA)

[Source: 52 Super Series] On the strength of a first place and a second on Tuesday at Quantum Key West 2013, Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing team stepped clear of the 52 SUPER SERIES pack with a lead of two points over defending 2012 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra. Ironically neither of the top two boats sailed an error free day, both making penalty turns in successive races.

Racing conditions were close to perfect. The assembled 52 SUPER SERIES teams would always like more breeze – and look set to get have that wish satisfied Wednesday – but the 12-16kts of northerly winds for Races 3 and 4 of the ten race regatta carried plenty of shifts in direction and changes in pressure to challenge the afterguard members and ensure there were always options for gains and losses.

With Adrian Stead calling tactics for owner-helm Zennström, Rán Racing proved to be most consistent in the quest to use the shifts and changes to best effect. Azzurra’s coach Rod Davis summarised the challenge: “There were some reasonably big shifts, especially going back and forth in the first race. So the quest was to try and stay in phase with the shifts and still keep tabs on the whole fleet. It was a little bit complicated that way.”

Nikklas Zennström takes the lead on day two. Key West, 22 January 2013. Photo copyright Xaume Olleros / 52 Super Series

In the first race of the day Rán Racing took the lead at the bottom end of the first run, whilst early leaders Azzurra had to take a two turns penalty as they left the leeward gate for fouling Rán on the approach to the gate. Azzurra’s resulting 720 proved a high tariff initially as they dropped to sixth, but the Italian flagged series champions managed to recover to fourth by the finish.

After a modest start to the second race, during which the breeze built to 16kts in the puffs, Rán Racing were first to push to the right side of the course and were able to very quickly build a strong lead ahead of Azzurra, nearly 60 metres clear half way up the second beat. But Vasco Vascotto hooked into a 30 degree shift with Azzurra which came in so quickly that Rán Racing could not get across to it and the blue hulled boat was able to lead at the second top mark. On a tight approach to the final windward mark Rán Racing judged themselves to have fouled Azzurra and, being safe, they chose to take a penalty. But, holding on to second, their results 3 points aggregate – sets them up as overall regatta leaders.

Rán’s tactician Adrian Stead is loving the 52 SUPER SERIES racing at Quantum Key West:
“ There is nothing in it right through the fleet. All credit to the guys on Rio. We know Synergy was always a very good boat and the guys are doing a good job in getting the boat up to speed and are sailing well, and the Interlodge guys have had a year in their boat and definitely have some pace. And Gladiator much stronger, stuff with the extra righting moment and so good for them, and Doug DeVos is doing a great job jumping into Quantum Racing and driving the boat. It is lovely. It is great racing. All six biats are in it, and you make a mistake and are suddenly sixth.”

Azzurra’s fourth in the first race could so easily have been better. Tactician Vasco Vascotto was less concerned about the big errors they have made than the fact he feels they have just not been sailing as well as they can as a team:
“We are lucky to be in the position we are because we have not sailed very well. So we are happy to be where we are. It gives us the opportunity to go out tomorrow and fight for something important. We can sail better, we made mistakes around the course and we need to sail a better level if we want to win. There are plenty of mistakes. The result is about how you sail the boat and if we carry on sailing the way we have been then we will not win the event.”

A disappointing sixth place in the second race of the day saw Tony Langley’s Gladiator slide from second overall to lie fourth, but still only four points separate the top five boats after four races.

Azzurra are sitting on second place overall. Key West, 22 January 2013. Photo copyright Xaume Olleros / 52 Super Series

Results, 52 SUPER SERIES at Quantum Key West 2013

Race 3: 1 Rán Racing (SWE), 2 Interlodge (USA), 3 Gladiator (GBR), 4 Azzurra (ITA), 5 Quantum Racing (USA), 6 Rio (USA)

Race 4: 1 Azzurra, 2 Rán Racing, 3 Quantum Racing, 4 Rio, 5 Interlodge, 6 Gladiator (GBR)

Standings after 4 races, no discards:
1 Rán Racing 10pts, 2 Azzurra 12pts, 3 Quantum Racing 13pts, 4 Gladiator 14pts, 5 Interlodge 14pts, 6 Rio 22pts

[Source: 52 Super Series] With five days of windward-leeward racing planned, the six 52’s from both sides of the Atlantic, should enjoy a good range of wind conditions. Naturally the teams would choose to dial up the best Key West conditions, sunshine with 15-18kts of breeze and a useful sea state each and every day, but forecasters anticipate light airs to provide a gentle opening to a 52 fleet season which spans nine months and six regattas, two in the USA and four in Europe. And although the training days have seen overcast skies, and humid daytime weather, sunshine is promised.

Reigning 52 SUPER SERIES champions Azzurra have made a key change to their afterguard, bringing in Croatian Tomislav Basic. That his big strength is match racing does not directly indicate that the team which represents the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda are anticipating regular duels with Quantum Racing – such as characterised so much of last season – insists fiery tactician Vasco Vascotto (ITA) but having his skills in their armoury is just another component in their drive to cover every base:

“We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience.” Vascotto emphasises, “ We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready.”

Quantum Racing (USA), who won their class here last year, have owner Doug DeVos steering here and at the World Championships in early March in Miami. Their long term goal is to win the 52 SuperSeries titles, but making sure DeVos – owner of the team and enthusiastic principal sponsor of the regatta – enjoys maximum satisfaction is part of the focus this week for skipper Ed Baird and the team:

“ The objective is to have a week which we can look back on and say: ‘ that was really good, that was fun’.” Baird leads, “ That is number one priority. If we won the event than that would be fabulous. But more importantly it is about just trying to get better every day and see where we end up.”

For each of the teams the drive is to maintain a high level of consistency from the very start of the season. Niklas Zennström’s RÁN, which finished third overall in 2012 and Tony Langley’s Gladiator have both taken different steps to enhance their challenge to the top two teams this season. Zennström says they are looking to simply cut down on the occasional but costly bad races, whilst Langley has made a fundamental change to the configuration of Gladiator. A new, deeper keel fin should get them on terms with the newest generation boats.

The American boats Interlodge (Austin Gwen Fragomen) and Rio (ex Synergy, Manouch Moshayedi) have already proven competitive in the tune up racing and both will be looking to repeat that when racing starts in earnest Monday:

Phip Halowell (USA), the upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA), reports: “We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”

Main trimmer and boat captain Keith Kilpatrick says the Rio team is working hard to learn the boat, which was just delivered to them in November as ex-Synergy.

“We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”

Weather for the week will be a good Key West mixture: everything from light to fresh to challenge the teams assembled here. The regatta will likely start out very light and patchy Monday but then things improve for the rest of the week. Conditions will become fresh on Tuesday and into early Wednesday. During the day on Wednesday, moderating winds are expected, but still could be fresh in strength up to 20 knots on Thursday. Easing winds are expected for the finale Friday when the wind veers more into a trade wind pattern, but still moderate in strength.

Ed Reynolds (USA) project manager Quantum Racing (USA): “ Ed Baird will do tactics and Andy Horton will do strategy and just integrate Doug (DeVos, owner). For all the commitments he makes, everything he has done for this event and for 52 SuperSeries this is our chance to make sure he has some fun. That is a major priority, but of course we always want to win. Also we are working on a lot of new technology with the sails. We have some new fibres we are testing here, a number of new films and that is also a big focus for us, making sure the next evolution is validated.”

Vasco Vascotto, ITA, tactician Azzurra (ITA/ARG): “ It is great to have a couple of new boats here and we hope they will join us on the rest of the 52 SUPER SERIES. I feel like the class is going forwards again and I think that is important for the class.

I have sailed here for 15 years which means I am getting old, but I have never won here. I think I have been second four times. Let us see how we sail here. We are really happy with how we are sailing. The crew work is going very well and what we have done in this last period we are very happy with. We have lost Francesco Bruni to the America’s Cup, which is a shame for him really, but we have Tomislav who has joined the team. I am from Trieste and he is from Croatia, very close together. He is a very smart guy and learns very quickly. He brings us his match racing experience. He did the Olympic Games in the 470 and is a very good match racer. We have a good relationship and with this crew it is easy for him to come in. We trained together for the Louis Vuitton in New Zealand and he coached Francesco and I at that event. We were looking for someone who could bring us that match racing experience. We want to be relaxed and know we can do what we need to if we get into that match race situation. We have that strength in our pocket. It is about being prepared but not necessarily a signal we are going in that direction. We are ready to ensure we are not weak on that side. We don’t want to be fighting like we did at the end of last season in Valencia, but we are ready. We should see the breeze building through the week from the North, NNE, it will be a little shifty.

We have learned that everybody can win here. Interlodge won one of the training races here. So we know that we are all mostly at the same level so anyone can win races here. And that is what is nice about this class. Pressure is about someone who has to go and work at 5 am, who makes €1000 a month and have three children to feed.”

Niklas Zennström (SWE) skipper-helm RÁN (SWE): “ We have had some good practice racing here. We have had a first and third in today’s training races, so we are in good shape and this is a lovely place to sail. This is the third time we have been here. We were here last year with the Mini-Maxi and in 2008 with the Ran 1 (original TP52). We like it here, it is a good place to sail and a nice regatta.
Last season we were third and now we are going to be doing everything we can to beat Quantum Racing and Azzurra, that is our target over the season. We can win but everyone has been getting better. Looking back at last year for us we are going to be about minimising mistakes. Last year we had a few really bad races which set us back. So for us, consistency is what we need to be better at.

It is great to be having six regattas this season. And it is nice to be starting here and it is great to have Interlodge and Rio here on the starting line. It also great to have mostly owner drivers competing here.”

Chris Larson (USA) tactician, Gladiator (USA): “ We have had four days of good practice, lots of starts, picking up where we left off last year. Having good consistent scores here, making sure you are not last or next to last here and can stay in the top half of the fleet, that is what I am looking for here. I have been here about 20 or 22 times. On the big boat course here, versus the other two, the current in the shipping channel goes out and so there is some tidal effect.

We have made some changes to the boat and it is pretty impressive. We feel good, even if we have not had a lot of stability sailing yet. We feel like we can put the bow down a little more than we could before and sail a tenth of a knot or two faster for speed without losing VMG, which we could not do before with the old configuration. The newer boats can sail at a tenth or two faster and not lose VMG and we had to sail a high, slow VMG mode now we can put the bow down and compete and that’s exciting for us.”

Phip Halowell (USA): Upwind trimmer on Interlodge (USA): “We’ve been racing together for a year now, and I think we are fast and our corners will be fine. But the starts will be tough, so we worked on that today to learn to shift gears for positioning off the line. These other teams are really good, they won’t make mistakes, so we have to make sure we can be at the same level.”

Keith Kilpatrick (USA) main trimmer and boat captain Rio (USA): “We felt we had reached a performance peak with the last boat, so getting this new boat that is a sistership to Quantum will give us the chance to be on the same level as the others. But we have to learn this boat, so this will be important for us this week.”

52 SUPER SERIES 2013 Regatta Calendar:
▪ Quantum Key West Race Week, Key West, Florida, January 20 – 25, 5 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ 52 World Championship, Miami, Florida, March 5 – 9, 5 day WL racing, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona, May 23 – 26, 4 day WL racing, IRC52s invited.
▪ Royal Cup, Ibiza, July 2 – 6, 4 day WL & 1 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.
▪ Copa del Rey, Palma, July 29 – August 3, 6 day WL racing, dual scoring IRC & 52 Super Series.
▪ Audi Week Of The Straits, Porto Cervo, September 10 – 14, 3 day WL & 2 day Coastal, TP52s and IRC52s.

[Source: Azzurra] The Azzurra team is in Key West where the 52 Super Series, won last year by the yacht of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, starts on January 20th.

The winners never rest on their laurels and immediately after the victory in Valencia during the final stage of the 52 Super Series 2012 – the top professional TP52 circuit and heir to the successful MedCup – the yacht was shipped to the USA in view of the demanding 2013 season. The 52 Super Series has grown in the 2013 edition with the addition of two US stages in its beginning: Key West in January and Miami in March, that also counts as World Championship. The fleet will then return to the Mediterranean for an additional four regattas, with the conclusion in Porto Cervo, at the Week of the Straits, a regatta with long tradition, hosted by Azzurra’s “home”, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

“The YCCS – states Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo – is proud of the results achieved by Azzurra last year but also aware of the responsibility that lies with the defense of the title in the 2013 season, which also marks the 30th anniversary from the debut in Newport of the first Italian challenge at the America’s Cup. Thanking Audi Italia for having accompanied Azzurra in the last two seasons in the TP52 class, my “Fair Winds!” goes to our club member and owner Alberto Roemmers who, together with his international crew, holds high our burgee.”

Azzurra, flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda burgee, will try to defend their 2012 title. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

From Key West, where the crew is currently training, skipper Guillermo Parada and tactician Vasco Vascotto comment: “Thanks to a beautiful coincidence, the TP52 Azzurra makes her US debut exactly 30 years after the first Azzurra, on American waters, sparked the passion Italians have for the America’s Cup. It seems as if history wants to repeat itself and continue. As for the upcoming season, we know that winning is difficult, but keeping the top spot is even harder, so we have prepared ourselves properly, working really hard on improving all areas, with small details here and there, but also putting a lot of effort in our physical condition. We made two crew changes, but we have already practiced with them last December, when we really started our season, with a sail test and crew training in Palm Beach. We feel ready and look forward to the challenge!”

Racing for the 52 Super Series 2013 will kick off on Monday, January 21st at 11:30am local time (5:30pm Italian time). We will be posting live updates from the race course on Azzurra’s Facebook page and Twitter account.

52 Super Series – 2013 Racing Schedule
20 – 25 January – Quantum Key West Race Week
5 – 9 March – 52 World Championship, Miami
23- 26 May – 40th Trofeo Conde de Godo, RCNB, Barcelona
3 – 6 July – Royal Cup, Ibiza
29 July – 3 August – Copa del Rey, RCNP, Palma de Mallorca
10-14 September – Week of the Straits, YCCS, Porto Cervo

The legendary Italian sailor talks about the 2013 season on the TP52 Azzurra, the RC44 class, the Melges 32 and the Farr 40 and reminds us he had warned us about the pitfalls the “new” America’s Cup would encounter. More than two years ago he had predicted there would be no more than 4-6 teams and that it would turn out to be a very expensive America’s Cup. Unfortunately, Vascotto was right and now feels there is widening gap between the base of the sport, the hundreds of monohull yachts in his local yacht club in Trieste, and its pinnacle, the America’s Cup.

It was a simple formality but it had to be done. The eighth and final race of the 2012 AUDI Valencia Cup took place on Saturday afternoon under very light conditions and put the official seal of approval to the well-deserved results Azzurra’s crew obtained yesterday. The TP52 yacht flying the burgee of Yacht Club Costa Semeralda is now officially the winner of the AUDI Valencia Cup and, more importantly, the champion of the inaugural 52 Super Series.

The second place in today’s race was the culmination of one week of hard work, nearly perfect sailing and extremely good boat speed in all type of conditions. After a weak start in the 2012 season, Azzurra’s performance made a decisive turn at the Royal Cup. On the other hand this was the worst event this season for Quantum Racing as they failed to win even one single race. Not only that, by finishing third in the last race, they will even not make it to the event podium, another first this season. There is no doubt lots of soul searching and debriefings will take place within the American team.

The TP52′s will now take a winter break but unlike the previous years it will be much shorter. The opening event of the 2013 season will be the Quantum Key West Race Week, held from January 20th to 25th. From there, the fleet will move a bit further north to Miami for the TP52 World Championship from March 5th to 9th. Once US racing is done, the yachts will head back to the Mediterranean for the traditional summer season that starts on May 25th in Barcelona.

52 SUPER SERIES, Final Overall Ranking
1. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 74.5 points
2. Quantum Racing 79.5 points
3. Rán Racing 94.5 points
4. Gladiator 125 points
5. Audi ALL4ONE 132.5 points

Race 1
PRO Maria Torrijo had to delay racing for a bit more than one hour, waiting for the sea breeze to build up, and significantly shorten the legs to 1.5 miles. The breeze did come but it was very week, around 8 knots, with a few very brief gusts of 10-11 knots. Ràn won it thanks to a brilliant call in the first beat by Andrew Stead that saw better breeze on the right side of the course and went for it. Niklas Zennström’s TP52 then led the race to the finish line, always followed by Azzurra. Quantum had a bad first beat, rounding the first weather mark dead last but managed to claw back to third. Still that wasn’t enough and for the first time in 2012 they will not be on the podium of an event.

Start of the 2012 season’s last race. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Ràn tacks to the right side of the course for better breeze, a brilliant call. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Tough first beat for Quantum. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Ràn rounds the first weather mark in the lead. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra rounds the first weather mark in second place. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra, All4One and Gladiator in the first run. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra at the approach to the leeward gate. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra and Quantum in the second beat. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Quantum climbed to third place in the second run. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Niklas Zennström helms his TP52 boat to victory in the final race of the 2012 AUDI Valencia Cup. Valencia, 21 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

The second day of competition at the 2012 AUDI Valencia Cup was again spectacular and even if there are only five TP52′s, racing was always exciting and close. What else would you call it if the two leading teams, Azzurra and Quantum Racing, now find themselves on equal points for the season championship after 27 races?

Two races were held on Thursday under very good conditions, although slightly lighter than Wednesday. The cold front was retreating, giving way to the late summer sunny skies, smoother seas and 14 to 18 knots of wind that veered towards the usual sea breeze direction in Valencia.

Azzurra continued its domination with a bullet and third, bringing its number of wins to three in just five races. On the other hand Quantum continued its poor performance with an OCS in the day’s first race. Azzurra’s six-point deficit on Wednesday morning has now disappeared, leaving the season championship wide open. In case of tie in the overall season leaderboard, the team with the best performance in the AUDI Valencia Cup will be crowned 52 Super Series champion.

With three more races scheduled for the AUDI Valencia Cup, two on Friday and one on Saturday, and the two favorites on equal points, there is no doubt it will be a weekend start full of excitement and close racing. Conditions are expected to be lighter as the front over eastern Spain has now moved, giving way to the late summer sunny skies.The forecast calls for a moderate to light sea breeze.

Standings Audi Valencia Cup after 5 races
1 Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA) 11 pts (1,1,5,1,3)
2 Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One (FRA/GER) 13pts (2,2,4,3,2)
3 Rán (SWE) 16pts (4,5,1,5,1)
4 Quantum Racing (USA) 17pts (5,3,2,2,5)
5 Gladiator 18pts (3,4,3,4,4)

Race 1
Quantum Racing started the day by shooting themselves on the foot with a completely unforced error. As expected, Ed Baird showed his aggressiveness from early on and Quantum Racing was on full match racing mode so early that according to Vasco Vascotto started before they had even switched off the engine of their yacht, 8 minutes before the gun. Having won the America’s Cup right on these waters one would have expected Ed Baird to skillfully outmaneuver Francesco Bruni, helmsman onboard Azzurra in the prestart, but a beginner’s error in timing meant Quantum Racing found herself on the wrong side of the line when the gun was fired and had to recross.

Without any doubt Ed Baird must have stated the reasons of the mistake in the official press releases but onboard the photo boat we were unable to understand how the Americans managed to find themselves in that situation. Parada, Bruni, Vascotto and the rest of the crew immediately took advantage of the blunder and comfortably led from start to finish. Still, Quantum managed to claw back and finish second, limiting the damage to their overall championship score to just one point.

Start of the day’s first race. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Quantum Racing was early over the line and had to recross the starting line! Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Ran and Gladiator in the first beat. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra leads at the first weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

RAN rounds the first weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Quantum Racing rounds the first weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

All4One rounds the first weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra, RAN and Quantum Racing approaching the bottom mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra rounds the bottom mark ahead of Quantum Racing. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra rounds the second weather mark in the lead. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Gladiator rounds the second weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Quantum Racing manages to take second place behind Azzurra. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Race 2
With two points now separating Azzurra from Quantum Racing all the Italians needed to do was to put another boat between themselves and Quantum Racing and that’s exactly what happened, right on the finish line. After an even start, the fleet sailed to the left side of the course but Azzurra was slightly below Quantum Racing, Bruni and Vascotto took the decision to split and opt for the right side of the course. The move paid off and at the first weather mark the Italian boat was ahead. Despite Quantum Racing’s attacks, Azzurra held on while Gladiator sneaked ahead of Quantum Racing right at the finish line. The two teams are now on equal points for the championship but Azzurra comes on top as she leads the AUDI Valencia Cup.

Start of the day’s second race. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Having no possibility of marking Quantum Racing on the left side of the course, Azzurra takes the right, resulting in an enormous lateral separation. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

All4One rounds the first weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra rounds the first weather mark ahead of Quantum. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra in the first run, ahead of Quantum. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Gybing onboard Quantum racing in the first run. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

All4One in the first beat. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra hold on to their lead over Quantum in the second beat of the race. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Azzurra hold on to their lead over Quantum in the second weather mark. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Last gybes onboard Azzurra on the way to third place in the race and a tie with Quantum for the championship. Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info

Gladiator sneaks in between Azzurra and Quantum Racing right on the finish line! Valencia, 20 September 2012. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / VSail.info