Quantum Racing were comfortably clear by the finish but with Azzurra second only added one point to their lead over the 2015 champions.
The 12-14 knot of sea breeze stayed solid for the second race but with the typical bumpy Palma chop building more. After a lacklustre start to the previous race (a miscommunication between Ado Stead and owner driver Vladimir Liubomirov contributing) the Russian-flagged team debriefed, and had one practice attempt before a winning start to Race 8.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
“We have a foot on the podium at the moment. But with two more races tomorrow we need to keep working away. Our goal tomorrow: two good starts. We need to keep working on the communication, the starts, getting good launches off the line and see if we can end with a really good result,” said Adrian Stead of Bronenosec,
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
Azzurra looked good early on in Race 8 but were one of the left side group forced to overstand by Bronenosec. They had a penalty for infringing Gladiator. When it was completed they were last, ninth, but did manage to recover to seventh. As much as anything that weighty score enhanced Quantum’s regatta. Azzurra will rue their errors but their position merits neither champagne nor tears.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
Quantum Racing remain super-consistent. This is shaping to be the first regatta of the season that they have led every day, even if they were tied on points initially with two different boats on the first two days. But theirs is such a well drilled, well oiled machine at this midpoint of the season.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
“It has been so interesting. At the beginning of the season I have to say we did not really know how it would work out. First of all Doug is doing an amazing job steering the boat. He listens to Terry, concentrates on one thing and does it fantastically well. Ed has really stepped into the role of strategy and makes Terry’s job easier. Terry is helping Doug with the driving and Ed then knows exactly the right input to give to Terry at the right time. The boat is going well and that makes all the difference,” navigator Ian Moore said.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
The drive is always to be top three or four at the first mark. Otherwise life is difficult, as Adam Beashel the Rán Racing strategist explained about their second place today.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
“We managed to get into our own little lane for a change. That worked for us, working clear air rather than being banged all over the race track like we have been these last two days or so. It is very tough in the fourth-to-sixth spots. The front guys are trying to push you back and the back guys are trying to close the gap. So we managed to get forwards of the fourth place that meant bigger gaps and therefore bigger smiles,” Beashel said.
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Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series |
52 Super Series, 2016 Puerto Portals Sailing Week - Standings after Day 4, eight races sailed.
1 Quantum Racing, USA (Doug DeVos USA) (4,1,4,5,1,1,1,3) 20pts
2 Azzurra, ITA (Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG) (6,4,2,2,2,4,2,7) 29pts
3 Bronenosec, RUS (Vladimir Liubomirov RUS) (1,5,1,8,5,3,8,1) 32pts
4 Provezza, TUR (Ergin Imre TUR) (2,7,5,1,3,2,9,6) 35pts
5 Platoon, GER (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) (5,6,3,3,7,5,3,9) 41pts
6 Sled, USA (Takashi Okura USA) (3,2,8,6,4,9,7,5) 44pts
7 Rán Racing, SWE (Niklas Zennström SWE) (7,9,6,7,6,7,4,2) 48pts
8 Alegre, GBR (Andres Soriano USA) (8,8,9,4,8,8,6,4) 55pts
9 Gladiator, GBR (Tony Langley GBR) (9,3,7,9,9,6,5,8) 56pts
10 Xio/Hurakan, ITA (Giuseppe Parodi ITA) (DNS,DNS,DNS, DNS,DNS,DNS,DNS,DNS) 88pts
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