Azzurra, the reigning 52 SUPER SERIES champions of 2012, have started the 2013 season in great form, winning 4 of 10 races sailed here, overcoming their early adversities on Day One to take and hold the lead in the final phase of this first 52 SUPER SERIES event at Quantum Key West.
Azzurra’s victory in Race 9 was the fourth of the ten races sailed here, but was earned in part by the attrition among their rivals, as this race featured some uncharacteristic failures and errors among two otherwise seasoned teams. First there was a headsail failure on Quantum that occurred within the first few minutes of the race, and took that sail out of play for not only the remainder of Race 9 but Race 10 as well.
Then at the bottom gate it was Rán Racing’s turn for bad luck, as their gennaker fell over the side, stopping the boat dead in the water. Unable to retrieve it, it was abandoned for the chase boat. Having had a share of the regatta lead this morning, the resulting sixth place effectively stalled Niklas Zennstrom’s crew in their quest to win the first regatta of the season.
But in the second race it was Interlodge, one of the two new US teams entered in the 52 SUPER SERIES, who led from start to finish to get their second well-earned race win at Quantum Key West 2013. Their impressive 2-1 finishes on the day have given them an invitation to the second step on the podium for tonight’s awards, with Rán finishing in third overall.
