52 Super Series News, Rán Runs with the Cup
Rán Racing claim Royal Cup
”.Rán Racing claimed the Royal Cup and their first overall victory in the inaugural 52 Super Series in a testing day’s racing at Palma, Mallorca on Saturday that victorious skipper Niklas Zennström described as being “as good as it gets
Zennstroms’s team surged to victory in a 30-plus northeaster at speeds in excess of 24 knots, finishing second across the line in the final race of the day to clinch the overall win.
World champions Quantum Racing finished second in the cup after they were forced to retire from the first of two races on Saturday, when they broke their headstay ram, headfoil and jib in the near gale force conditions.
The team’s shore crew sent an urgent dispatch of supplies to effect on water repairs between the two races. The crew successfully raced the clock and returned Quantum to the second race, but it just wasn’t their day.
Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One rounded out the Royal Cup’s podium, a result that pleased four-time Olympic medallist and twice America’s Cup winner skipper Jochen Schümann despite having entered the final race with a one-point lead.
Having won the first race today, All4One entered the final race at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 20 points, while both Quantum and Rán were just one point behind on 21.
Each team had crunched the numbers and knew exactly where they needed to place to clinch the coveted Royal Cup Challenge Trophy, but only Rán were able to execute their plan with success.
Zennström said the conditions in Palma Bay were challenging but very rewarding.
“These conditions are fantastic, you’re going downwind doing 24 knots, you’re doing nine knots upwind and still you’re doing boat on boat racing,” he said.
“Crossing the finish line and seeing Quantum ahead of All4One was just awesome, it’s as good as it gets. Quantum are really the class act, beating them today was really, really awesome. They’re hard to beat and that makes winning even sweeter.”
It was more a bittersweet day for Quantum’s crew, having entered the final day’s racing with a six point buffer and a lead they had held since the four day regatta started on Wednesday.
Tactician Andy Horton said the crew knew that their chances of clinging to their lead was compromised the minute they heard a massive “bang” when their headstay ram broke and they saw their jib tear in the opening nine minutes of the day’s first race.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,’’ Horton said. “But this is a great group of guys, there wasn’t anything said, it was just a freak accident. This is tight racing. You have to be good enough to win despite something like this happening.”
There was a surprise of a different kind for the crew on board Audi All4One, who exceeded even their own expectations to score third in the Royal Cup.
Schümann said being the “underdogs” helped his crew race under the radar, uninfluenced by the other teams’ intentions.
“We’re quite happy, finishing third is more than we expected coming here, but that’s what we dreamed of,’’ he said. “This is our first regatta together as a team. We really enjoy racing together and I think when you see the results getting better and better that reflects it.”
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team finished fourth in the Royal Cup, followed by PowerPlay, Gladiator, Provezza and Aquila.
In the overall 52 Super Series Quantum Racing leads with 53.5 points, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 59.5, Rán Racing, 69.5, Gladiator, 93, Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One, 111.5, PowerPlay, 121.2, Provezza, 131.5, Aquila, 140.5 and Paprec, 150.5.The teams are now turning their sights on 31st Copa del Rey where eight 52 teams will have a chance to race their grand prix yachts in a highly competitive event that won’t count towards the 52 Super Series points.
The next 52 Super Series point scoring event is the Valencia Cup, from September 19-22.
Ranking- Rán Racing 23pts
- Quantum Racing 24pts
- Audi All4One 24pts
- Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 27pts
- PowerPlay 41.4pts
- Gladiator 44pts
- Provezza 47pts
- Aquila 56ptsAll photos provided by 52 Super series . all right are reserved
52 Super Series News:leaders get company today
Gladiator and Audi All4One upset the leaders
Gladiator pulled off a major comeback to win their first race at the Royal Cup on Friday less than 24-hours after a collision forced their retirement, while world champions Quantum Racing are primed for the final day’s racing on Saturday with a six point lead.
Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One posted the best results of the day, finishing second in race one and claiming their first victory in race two to edge into third place overall.
Despite Quantum finishing third in both races they remain leaders in the Royal Cup on 12 points, followed by Rán Racing on 18, All4One, 19, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 24, Gladiator, 30, PowerPlay 31.4, Provezza, 35 and Aquila, 40.
Gladiator’s crew were hopeful that the worst of their luck was behind them as they hit the water to race on the superstitious Friday the 13th, having been forced to retire from racing on Thursday after a damaging collision and suffering a costly spinnaker fumble on the first day of racing on Wednesday.
The team proved that that the third time can be a charm when they crossed the finish of race one in first place, 18 seconds ahead of All4One followed by Quantum Racing, Rán Racing, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, PowerPlay, Provezza and Aquila.
Owner/skipper Tony Langley said scoring the win was a testament to his shore crew’s repair effort and his sailing team’s skills.
But the British businessman said there was still work to do.
“It’s always nice to get a bullet, but to be happy with the results we’ve got to be consistently in the top half of the fleet, we’re not there yet,’’ he said.
The sea breeze in Palma Bay was proving challenging as it swung 30 degrees, making conditions difficult for even the sharpest of tacticians in the second and final race of the day.
Local Palma sailor and Olympic gold medallist Jordi Calafat rose to the challenge, chartering a victorious path for his All4One crew to claim their first win at the Royal Cup.
PowerPlay posted their best result of the regatta to finish second, Quantum Racing finished third, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, Rán Racing, Provezza, Gladiator and Aquila.
Calafat played down having any assistance from a home-ground advantage. It was more a case of patience and improved teamwork, he said.
“I’ve sailed with (skipper) Jochen Schuemann a lot, and now we’re just starting to get our communication back, it’s improving day by day,’’ Calafat said.
The win bumped All4One to third place overall in the Royal Cup, pushing Audi Azzurra to fourth position.
Looking ahead to the final day’s racing, Quantum navigator Andy Horton said his team would approach it like any other; conservatively.
“Consistency is always the goal, we’re pretty conservative as a group,’’ he said.
“On a day like today it’s really difficult to do, it’s shifty and puffy so a lot of times you’ll find us playing the standard average, unless something is really obvious, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Horton commended substitute crewman Australian Chris Hosking, who stepped in last minute to replace trimmer Brett Jones after he injured his hand during a maneuver yesterday and was transferred mid-race to hospital.
The final day’s racing of the Royal Cup at Palma, Mallorca will start at 1100 local, 0900 UTC. The Royal Cup is the third of four regattas that make up the inaugural 52 Super Series.
Quantum lead the 52 Super Series, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, Rán Racing and Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One. Gladiator, PowerPlay, Provezza and Aquila are also competing, but their points are yet to be confirmed.
- Quantum Racing 12pts
- Rán Racing 18pts
- Audi All4One 19pts
- Audi Azzurra Sailing Team 24pts
- Gladiator 30pts
- PowerPlay 31.4pts
- Provezza 35pts
- Aquila 40ptsAll photos provided By 52 super series all rights are reserved any use should include the Photographers name a long side .Watch live tomorrow @http://www.52superseries.com/home/live-race/follow on twitter and share on facebook @52superseries our
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