Two brand new venues feature on the 2016 calendar for the 52 SUPER SERIES and the world’s leading performance monohull circuit enters a successful fifth year.
In May the 52 SUPER SERIES will open in Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy and in September the circuit’s penultimate event will be raced from Mahon, Menorca.
The planned schedule for the 2016 52 SUPER SERIES is
24 – 29 May, Scarlino, Tuscany, Italy
27 June – 2 July, Porto Cervo, Sardinia
24 – 29 July, Puerto Portals, Mallorca
13 – 18 September, Mahon, Menorca
10 – 15 October, Cascais, Portugal
Agustin Zulueta, the CEO of the 52 SUPER SERIES commented on the 2016 dates and venues:
Each year our objective for the 52 SUPER SERIES is to visit at least a couple of new venues. For 2016 we will go to Scarlino in Tuscany, Italy for the first time where there is excellent, modern infrastructure and good winds, and Menorca which is one of the most beautiful locations to sail in the whole Mediterranean. We return to the proven, popular venues of Porto Cervo and of Puerto Portals, Mallorca. And we return to Cascais, Portugal meaning that we will race in three different European countries in 2016. And overall we continue to choose venues which have a strong guarantee of reliable winds.
Agustin Zulueta, CEO, 52 SUPER SERIES
Speaking about the plans to return to North America in 2017, Zulueta continued:
The target for 2017 is to start the season back in the United States, opening at Quantum Key West Race Week and possibly a second race, maybe in Miami. The return to the United States corresponds with the international status of the class, returning to compete as a grand prix unit as we did successfully in 2013 and 2014.
Agustin Zulueta, CEO, 52 SUPER SERIES
Rob Weiland, Class Manager of the TP52 Class commented on the strength of the competition:
I expect an average of eleven or twelve teams to race the 2016 season and 2017 in the US. Already we have the commitment from nine teams now for a 2017 start in Quantum Key West Race Week, which is the first time ever, in my experience, to see owners planning that far ahead. The majority of the fleet continues to be owner driver, but it will not get any easier as the teams will have learned from the 2015 season where they can improve and I have no doubt they will.
Rob Weiland, class manager, TP52