TP52- Royal Cup

[Guest]

The third event of the new TP52 series starts tonight/tomorrow morning and if anyone is awake and if the link works the tracker and commentary should appear just below

 

[Guest]

DARN. message to mummyship I think is an order

[Guest]

Cant be done on the forums but well theres also another option and it might pop up on another part of the site.

 

Heres the press release as well

 

Sailing's elite including Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners and world champions are among the crews preparing to compete in the third regatta of the 52 Super Series when the Royal Cup starts at the Real Club Náutico in Palma at 1100 UTC tomorrow.

 

Audi Azzurra Sailing Team are hoping an artillery of new sails will help to reel in the 52 Super Series leaders Quantum Racing when the four-day Royal Cup starts in Palma, Mallorca on July 11.

 

Azzurra skipper Guillermo Parada said there was plenty of pressure on his team to step-up in the third regatta in the world’s premier inshore monohull series, with just three points separating Azzurra and Quantum with two regattas to go.

 

“This could be the turning point in the series,’’ Parada said. “If Quantum manage to get more points on us it’s going to be hard for us to get them back in with only one regatta, come the Valencia Cup in September.”

 

Parada said his team will hit the start line with three new sails tailor made for the moderate conditions in Palma Bay and also a change in the crew, with Mariano Parada replacing tactician Francesco Bruni, who has America’s Cup commitments.

 

“The crew change may look big on paper, but it’s not,’’ Parada said. “As for the sails, we hope they will be give us a boost.”

 

Quantum Racing are no easy target. The defending champions have won seven of the 14 races in the series to date and only failed to finish on the podium twice.

 

Double America’s Cup winner Quantum skipper Ed Baird said his team are aiming to harness their winning momentum heading into Wednesday’s Royal Cup.

 

“The group right now are meshing well, there’s good information flow,” Baird said.

 

“We had our ups and downs in the last event and with one day to go we were behind, but the guys took that in their stride and it worked out. They are really fighting to improve each and every day.”

 

Rán Racing skipper Niklas Zennström said his team, who are third in the overall 52 Super Series, have their work cut out for them to chase down Quantum and Azzurra.

 

But Zennström reckons the predicted consistent winds in Palma Bay will play to his team’s advantage.

 

“We are third place and we have a chance to come from behind and challenge, but I also know when we race against Quantum and Azzurra they don’t cut us any slack,’’ he said.

 

“It will be intense, it’s very close racing. If you miss a shift, if you have a bad tack, a bad gybe, you will fall behind. But this is our second year racing our boat and our training sessions have been going well, things are looking good.”

 

Two new comers will join the fleet, Austrian team Aquila, helmed by Rene Mangold, and Turkish team Provezza, owned by Ergin Imre and steered by double Olympic silver medallist Nick Rogers, from England.

 

Quantum leads the overall 52 Super Series on 29.5 points, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 32.5, Rán Racing, 46.5, Gladiator, 49, Paprec, 78.5, PowerPlay, 80 and Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE, 87.5.

[Mothership 6]

The player doesn't resize well, and also needs a plugin installed, but it's now here: http://crew.org.nz/tp52/

[Guest]

The player doesn't resize well, and also needs a plugin installed, but it's now here: http://crew.org.nz/tp52/

 

I love your work. I just got home in time to watch the first start

[Guest]

Can Anyone stop Quantum Racing?

 

Defending champions Quantum Racing proved why they are the team to beat in the 52 Super Series after winning a dramatic opening day’s racing in the Royal Cup at Palma, Mallorca where costly crew errors proved just how close the competition is.

 

Quantum Racing claimed a commanding victory in the opening race and second place in race two to finish on three points on the first day of the four-day regatta to extend their overall lead in the 52 Super Series from three points to five.

 

Rán Racing are second in the Royal Cup with four points, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team are third with five points, followed by Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One, Gladiator, Aquila, PowerPlay and Provezza.

 

Quantum skipper and double America’s Cup champion Ed Baird said it was a tough day’s racing that was packed with plenty of wind shifts that came out of no where and put his crew’s recent lessons to the test.

 

“It was one of those races where the rich get richer, as soon as you were a little bit ahead everything became a little more obvious,’’ Baird said.

 

“We worked awfully hard all of last year, and this year, at trying to improve every little thing.

 

“It sounds so basic but the tacks, the gybes, they are better than they were three or four months ago. So are the starts, the straight line speed, the sails, the understanding of the mast and the communications, they’re all improving.”

 

It was a much tougher day’s racing for crews on board newcomer Provezza and British boat Gladiator, who suffered at the hands of errors that placed them second last and last respectively in race two.

 

Provezza struggled to come back after being recalled for jumping the start and Gladiator dropped from second to last when they lost their spinnaker overboard halfway through the race.

 

Gladiator skipper Tony Langley said his team’s severe penance for one error was a testament to the caliber of the class.

 

“It was all in the drop, we lost the string-line system and that was it,” he said. “At this level you cannot afford to make any mistakes.

 

“You make a small mistake and you’ll get spat out one place or two places, you make a medium mistake and you get spat out the back, but you make a mistake like this and you’re just completing the course for one point.”

 

Day two of the Royal Cup, hosted by Real Club Náutico de Palma, starts at 1300 local, 1100 UTC. Early predictions have teams expecting between 12 and 18 knots from the south-southwest.

[Guest]

DRAMA ON THE COURSE

 

Damaged boats, a disqualification and an injured crewman marked a dramatic second day’s racing at the 52 Super Series Royal Cup regatta in Palma, Mallorca on Thursday, which was dominated by world champions Quantum Racing.

 

Quantum claimed victory in the opening race of the day and remarkably maintained second place in race two despite offloading trimmer Brett Jones to their chase boat after he injured his hand in a maneuver mid-race.

 

 

Jones was taken ashore where an ambulance awaited and has since been treated for dislocated fingers. Meanwhile, the shorthanded crew held firm in second place to extend their overall lead in the Royal Cup from one point to three.

 

Rán Racing finished second and third in the day’s racing to remain second in the Royal Cup on nine points, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team on 15 points, who were disqualified in race one but claimed their first win of the regatta in race two.

 

In fourth place are Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One, followed by Provezza, Gladiator, Aquila and PowerPlay.

 

The first race of the day set the stage for the dramatics that were to come, with a collision at the second windward mark rounding resulting in damage to Gladiator and PowerPlay.

 

Gladiator were leading the fleet when they failed to make the lay-line and found themselves maneuvering into the chasing pack and on a collision course with PowerPlay.

 

An on water jury found that Azzurra had failed to give Gladiator the appropriate room to avoid the collision and ruled that the Italian/Argentinian team perform a penalty turn.

 

PowerPlay limped to the finish with broken port stanchions and minor hull damage, and later retired from race two. Gladiator were forced to retire from both races with damage to their bow sprit and bob stay.

 

Gladiator and PowerPlay sought redress, which resulted in Azzurra being disqualified and the pair receiving an average points margin for the races they missed.

 

The drama continued in the second race when Quantum’s Brett Jones found himself living every trimmer’s worst nightmare. Quantum tactician Andy Horton said Jones was in the middle of swapping a jib sheet for a spinnaker sheet on a winch when trouble struck.

 

“His hand got caught between the two, it wasn’t a pretty sight, I’ve seen worse but this got about three fingers,’’ Horton said.

 

“It was long enough that we had to get three or four people forward to hold the sail by hand to get the line off of it. We hope Jonesy is OK, but right now we’re looking for someone to replace him for the rest of the regatta.”

 

The Royal Cup is the third regatta of four in the inaugural 52 Super Series. Quantum Racing continue to lead the series on 35.5 points, followed by Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, 47.5, and Rán Racing on 55.5 points.

 

The third day of the four-day Royal Cup continues on Friday at 1300 local, 1100 UTC. Follow all of the action at

 

 

[Guest]

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.

 

 

[Guest]

RAN RACING WIN ROYAL CUP ON THRILLING LAST DAY

 

Rán Racing claimed the Royal Cup and their first overall victory in the inaugural52 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.