Quantum Racing Prove To Be The Comeback Kids - 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Day 4

While Niklas Zennström’s crew of Rán Racing continued a rich vein of form, winning the second race of the day at the Audi Settimana delle Bocche on the Costa Smeralda, the regatta leaders Quantum Racing staged a big comeback to stay on track for their second regatta win of the season.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

After poking their bow over the start line too early Quantum Racing restarted smartly and fought back from their tenth at the top mark to fourth and so maintain a two points lead going into Saturday’s finale.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

From the last four starts Rán Racing have sailed to a 2,2,4,1 and were it not for Quantum’s typical, never-lie-down-and-die recovery, would surely have been leading into the last day of the event. Their performance on the Costa Smeralda is a significant improvement on the first regatta of the season, Scarlino, where they finished seventh, 23 points behind the winners, Quantum Racing.
It was a difficult day of racing.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

The light SE’ly breeze was uneven up the course, often pulsing in with new pressure from the left but the right showing promise and dividend at times. Quantum Racing’s Terry Hutchinson and Ed Baird conspired together to read the first beat beautifully in the first race.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

They reaped a good reward on the high left, the final third of the beat, coming in on port with Alegre to steal away round the first mark with a good lead. Doug DeVos’ team won the first race while Alegre in second were well rewarded for their late night endeavours, pulling their rig out and replacing some of their standing rigging after their D2 shroud snapped early in Race 5.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

With their win, Rán fourth and Azzurra seventh, Quantum Racing had built a five point lead which it looked like they would carry into the last day. But in the final seconds before the start gun Quantum Racing’s bow came up only a second or two early and as the gun went they were OCS. Rán Racing started well and led Platoon and Sorcha at the top mark while Quantum Racing were 10th.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

But the second beat offered opportunities on the left again. Cameron Dunn took Sorcha left and they passed Platoon to take second, their best finish yet at their first ever 52 SUPER SERIES regatta. And the left worked well for Doug DeVos’s crew who got themselves right back into contention.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

“We made it hard for ourselves. We certainly did. We just keep at it. Don’t give up. Don’t get frustrated. Each and every person onboard is working. Every wave downwind we are working. We just never give up,” smiled DeVos back at the dock, and, on the secret of their comeback.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

Meanwhile Sorcha owner-driver Peter Harrison was delighted with his second and is loving his first regatta on the Circuit.

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

“We really came with no expectations at all. In our heads we thought we could maybe beat a boat or two, to be penultimate rather than last, so we have exceeded that and I am really enjoying it.”

Photo: © Nico Martinez / Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series

Audi Settimana delle Bocche standings after seven races:

1. Quantum Racing, USA (Doug DeVos USA) (9,1,3,6,1,1,4) 25 pts
2. Rán Racing, SWE (Niklas Zennström SWE) (2,6,10,2,2,4,1) 27 pts
3. Azzurra, ITA (Pablo/Alberto Roemmers ARG) (8,4,1,4,6,7,5) 35 pts
4. Platoon, GER (Harm Müller-Spreer GER) (7,2,7,9,9,3,3) 40 pts
5. Provezza, TUR (Ergin Imre TUR) (3,3,11,1,8,6,11) 43 pts
6. Bronenosec, RUS (Vladimir Liubomirov RUS) (1,11,8,3,4,10,12) 49 pts
7. Alegre, GBR (Andrés Soriano USA) (10,5,9,5,DNF/13,2,6) 50 pts
8. Xio/Hurakan, ITA (Guiseppe Parodi ITA) (6 DNS/13,2,7,5,8,9) 50 pts
9. Sled, USA (Takashi Okura USA) (11,7,6,10,3,5,8) 50 pts
10. Gladiator, GBR (Tony Langley GBR) (5,8,4,8,11,9,7) 52 pts
11. Sorcha GBR (Peter Harrison GBR) (4,9,12,11,7,11,2) 56 pts

52 Super Series Media