The new Audi Azzurra Sailing Team TP52 yacht has achieved victorious debut in the PalmaVela 2012, the opening regatta of the 2012 season, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team celebrating their victory Credit: AZZURRA/JESUS RENEDO
The curtain-raising event of the new Azzurra TP52 by Audi couldn’t be any better. In her racing debut she conquered the top spot of the podium by winning the last five races in a row. Not only that, after her victory in the first race earlier in the morning, with a northeasterly breeze starting at 12 knots and dropping to 8, Azzurra would go into the last race already being mathematically the overall winner over Quantum, only fourth today, and Ran. The race committee had to finally cancel the final race after waiting, in vain, for the new, southerly breeze to kick in.
Today it was the turn of Gladiator to try and upset Azzurra that finally prevailed after an exciting duel, thanks to the impeccable maneuvers of the crew and perfect tactical decisions.
“It has been a fantastic regatta – stated the owner Alberto Roemmers – that started with a few mishaps but went on flawlessly and culminated in five consecutive bullets. We know that the 52 Super Series will be challenging but we certainly intend to continue like this!”
Guillermo Parada and Vasco Vascotto, skipper and strategist, after the traditional post-victory champagne battle, wanted to thank everybody that made possible today’s victory as well as the participation in the 52 Super Series 2012: starting with the owner, then the YCCS and Audi, paying a special tribute to the shore team, that gave them the possibility to achieve this result by building a splendid yacht during last winter and by rapidly repairing the damage caused by the strong winds on the opening day.
This is the analysis Checco Bruni, tactician, made: “We have improved day by day, both as a crew as well as in the development of the new boat, with a steady growth that will continue in the coming days. We will in fact remain in Palma to go on with our training and fine-tuning of the yacht. I am particularly pleased with the harmony I have with Vasco, it’s an affinity rarely found between tactician and strategist and one that has visibly bore its fruit. Big congratulations also to Alberto Roemmers who steered skillfully in the starts and the beats, despite having spent very little time at the helm of the newly-built yacht.”
Mapfre PalmaVela 2012 – Final overall results
1. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team p.12
2. Quantum Racing p.17
3. Ran p.20
4. Gladiator p.26
