Quantum Racing Claim Royal Cup in Ibiza

Quantum Racing have won the 52 Super Series regatta in Ibiza after crossing the last finish line in second place behind Azzura in the second race of the day. Together with their win in the day's first race they claimed the Royal Cup by seven points ahead of Gladiator.

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

In Ibiza’s predominantly light and challenging conditions the Quantum Racing afterguard of Terry Hutchinson and Spain’s Olympic gold medallist Jordi Calafat did an outstanding job of staying in the strongest wind pressure. Their assured tactics and good all round boat speed helped them prevail in what were the lightest conditions experienced in a 52 event for several years.

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

Quantum Racing won four races from nine starts and of their two second places, it was when they slid quietly past Provezza on the finish line of the second race today that they could finally breath out.

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

Tactician Terry Hutchinson paid tribute to the hard work of the Quantum team, endorsing the always improving relationship and understanding with Jordi Calafat, a partnership which must worry the opposition considering that it only started in Barcelona in May.

Gladiator Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

“Overall it was a really challenging and tricky week. It was very similar to the conditions that we had in Barcelona, only lighter and streakier. Most of the time the left hand side of the race course would work but sometimes the right would come in big and so it was always just balancing knowing that was out there versus what you could see,” Hutchison said.

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

Tony Langley’s team, with Chris Larson calling tactics, completed their best result in a 52 Super Series regatta when they took second on the podium, one point up on the third placed Azzurra. Gladiator could not defend Quantum Racing in the first race today and finished second. They ended up on the wrong side of Quantum Racing when a favourable shift came during the second race to cross fourth.

Azzurra Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

Azzurra, the Italian team which sails for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda had an uncharacteristically up and down week, but finished with a victory in the last race today.

Provezza Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

The lighter conditions presented opportunities for all of the teams throughout the eight boat fleet to excel at different times. Ergin Imre’s Turkish flagged crew on Provezza finished on a high note. They lead the fleet round the course in the second race to score a third and finished fifth overall, just four points behind the world champions Rán Racing.

Final standings after nine races:

1 Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos 21 pts (1,5,4,1,4,1,2,1,2)
2 Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley 28pts (2,4,1,3,5,6,1,2,4)
3 Azzurra, ITA, Alberto Roemmers, 29pts (5,2,5,2,1,3,5,5,1)
4 Rán Racing, SWE, Niklas Zennström 43pts (3,3,6,4,2,4,6,8,7)
5 Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 47pts, (6,8,3,5,6,2,8,6,3)
6 Interlodge, USA, Austin and Gwen Fraogmen, 51 pts (4,1,8,7,8,7,3,7,6)
7 Rio, USA Manouch Moshayedi, 52pts, (8,7,2,8,3,8,7,4,5)
8 Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin 53pts, (7,6,7,6,7,5,4,3,8)

Terry Hutchinson, USA, Tactician Quantum Racing:

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

"I think one of our strengths is we sail the boat, from a trim perspective and with Ed driving, we sail the boat really well in the hard spots and that is a strength. We are going well. Jordi and my developing relationship is getting better. He is cutting me some slack in certain situations and that is becoming a strength which is really good.

"He is strong minded, has a gold medal and is no slouch. He is very very good and could be doing my job equally well so it is a case of developing that relationship with each other. His instinct was really really good this week. Part of the developing relationship is trusting him with those calls. And trust each other. And when it hasn’t worked out we have had a thorough enough discussion that we know why.”

Chris Larson, USA, Tactician Gladiator:

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

“Quite honestly we had a pretty good day and they did what they had to do. We were second in the first race and second at the weather mark in the second race, we got off the line and gave them a bit of a run, we can’t complain it was a good day for us, solid.

"A few new changes on the boat have helped things out and Tony is getting better and better with each event. And the lighter weather helps a little bit so we have a small advantage there. But its a team effort and its getting better as a package and our performance is showing."

Guillermo Parada, ARG, Skipper: Azzurra: 

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

“We had a great victory in the last race, we were focused on what we had to do. We obviously didn’t have the best week here in Ibiza while Quantum had an almost perfect week. But there are still two events to go and the game is wide open for the season. We’ll take a couple of days to relax, analyze the regattas and come up with a plan and we’ll be even stronger for Palma.”

Jonny Goldsberry, USA, Strategist, Interlodge: 

Photo:  Xaume Olleros/52 Super Series

“It is pretty much just like the last event in that everyday we worked better as a team, got tighter and stronger and today we pulled off a couple of top fives which we are all pretty proud of and kind of kept the wheels on the bus as we call it. Everything is getting better for us and Manouch has got a lot stronger and confident at driving and the sails, crew work were all better. Its challenging with all the ups and downs on the racecourse, lefts and rights and pressure changes. Once the jib trimmer and the main trimmer and the runners were all in timing everything worked really well, we finally locked it in today.”

52 Super Series Media