A thrilling Thursday title tussle is on the cards after no racing was possible Wednesday at the 52 SUPER SERIES PalmaVela Sailing Week due to very strong winds on Mallorca’s world renowned Bay of Palma.
But while only one point separates joint leaders GBR’s Alegre (Andy Soriano) and the USA’s Quantum Racing powered by American Magic (Doug DeVos) from the USA’s third placed Sled (Takashi Okura), with a potential three races planned Thursday there is nothing to suggest the title battle is confined to these three teams.
Winds are due to be around 14-17kts – according to today’s forecasts – so it will take maximum focus and a day free from errors from whichever team takes the season’s first regatta win.
Even with their brand new boat Alegre might still be considered underdog as they have never yet won a 52 SUPER SERIES regatta regatta title yet.
With Aussie double Olympic medallist Will Ryan and past 470 World Champion Nic Asher of Britain in the afterguard, have never won a. Soriano’s team finished 2023 on a high with their best result of the season, taking third on the Bay of Palma racing out of Puerto Portals. Since 2015 they have been bridesmaids three times, runners up in Valencia in 2015, in Scarlino in 2016 and in Menorca in 2021.
Their nearest rivals have both won the circuit and the world titles. Quantum Racing powered by American Magic have won the circuit title five times, Sled once in 2022 when they clinched the title also racing out the Real Club Nautical de Palma in November.
The wind forecast for the finale tomorrow, Thursday, is promising and the fleet are scheduled to have the warning signal sound at midday with the objective to run the maximum number of races.
“Not racing was the right decision, we have new boats and many changes in the fleet and so racing in these conditions, things are going to break.” Said Jon Gunderson, one of regatta Alegre’s trimmers.
52 SUPER SERIES PalmaVela Sailing Week Provisional Standings at Wednesday after four races
1. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 8+2+1+3 = 14
2. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos, 3+1+5+5 = 14
3. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 2+8+4+1 = 15
4. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 9+3+3+2 = 17
5. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 7+4+2+4 = 17
6. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Pethuguenin, 5+7+6+6 = 24
7. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 1+9+8+8 = 26
8. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 6+5+9+9 = 29
9. PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 4+10+10+7 = 31
10. VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 9+6+7(+3)+10 = 35
