With perfect starts as well as maneuvers, the Day 3 of the 39th Trofeo Conde de Godo, the first event of the 52 Super Series circuit, saw Azzurra sailing better. A second and a third place are very important but perhaps don’t completely reflect the level of today’s competing, which was marked by a bit of bad luck.
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team Credit: Jesus Renedo/Azzurra
“Today we sailed really well – commented strategist Vasco Vascotto – but this time we have to say that Lady Luck was looking the other way. Due to a small wind shift, the race committee canceled at the last minute a start in which we were in absolute control over everybody. They then gave a start when the Wallys were sailing downwind and that compromised the race for us, being ahead of the rest. Unlike yesterday, our two results today were not the result of small errors. If we sail this way, we win.”
The breeze blew at 13-14 knots from the southwest but then dropped down to 10 knots and rotated towards the south in the second race. Quantum had a great comeback, won both races and got tied on points with Azzurra. The American boat claimed first place overall, on countback, thanks to their three bullets. Ran slipped in the first race, finishing fifth, but immediately came back and finished second in the next one. All4One by Audi and Gladiator took turns on the fourth and fifth place but still remain close to top three, a proof of the high and homogeneous level of the TP52 class.
This is how Azzurra‘s skipper, Guillermo Parada, assessed the day: “The breeze blowing on the race course today was quite difficult to read; in the first race we sailed well, always managing to stay very close to Quantum. In the second one, we were a bit unlucky but those things are part of the game. We are tied on points with Quantum and Ran is close behind. The winner will be decided tomorrow. ”
52 Super SeriesTrofeo de Vela Conde de Godo’ after 7 Races:
1 Quantum Racing (USA) 14pts
2 Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA) 14pts
3 Ran (SWE) 16pts
4 Gladiator (GBR) 29pts
5 Audi Sailing Team by ALL4ONE 35pts
