Quantum Racing stars of the ‘stripey’ breeze on Independence Day | 52 Super Series

The Stars & Stripes were flown with pride in the 52 fleet at the Royal Cup Marina Ibiza on American Independence Day, July 4th, but it was Quantum Racing who were the stars of Day 3 of the Ibiza regatta for the 52 SUPER SERIES as the American flagged team rolled out two wins and a fourth place to take the overall event lead by two points ahead of Italy’s Azzurra.

If the day started under a slightly cloudy sky with a fitful light breeze it finished with a more respectable sea breeze of up to 10kts with beautiful warm sunshine to ensure the 52 teams which represent six different nations were able to enjoy a full three race itinerary.

Quantum Racing won two from three although their six points tally for the day was matched by the team which races for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Azzurra won the second race which they complemented with a second and then a third, only just losing out second to Ergin Imre’s Provezza on the last run of the day.

Tony Langley’s Gladiator had started out as regatta leaders but they were not quite able to retain the same level of consistency, dropping to third overall.

The wind pattern on the race area changed from race to race but in each it proved relatively easy for the leading boat to extend to build a flattering margin by the finish gun. Nonetheless after a slow start to the 52 SUPER SERIES’ first visit to the Balearic island, Ibiza delivered a very acceptable trio of races today. Winds were a little stronger through the second and third races, but it is still a difficult, demanding arena.

Azzurra’s trimmer Simon Fry concludes:
“It is very, very streaky. The lanes of pressure are very, very defined. You can’t see them on the water very well and there is no geography which is causing them. I think it is very lane specific. When you get in a lucky lane you are all patting each other on the back. It is hard work, a venue to test the patience.”

Quantum Racing won Race 4 from the left side of the track, holding firm for the stronger pressure and slight rotation of the breeze which gave them a comfortable lead by the first upwind mark. A good recovery to third on the final run left Gladiator still holding the regatta lead, but by only one point.

Azzurra won their first race of the regatta when they started off the left hand end of the line also whilst Gladiator and Quantum Racing engaged from early on. Rán Racing pipped Rio on the start line to take second.

And in the third race Quantum Racing held hard to the committee boat at the gun, coming around it with pace to win the right side of the course. That was enough to ensure they were unchallenged around the track, Provezza making a good gain on the final run to get their second place.

Friday is set to see the first coastal race of the season, likely to be between 25 and 50 miles depending on the wind strength and direction. Among the possible options in an easterly breeze is a course to Vedra island off the SW’ly tip of Ibiza, or to Tagomago on the NE corner. The coastal race is worth the same as a windward leeward in terms of points value, but teams have put considerable time and resources into the specialist reaching sails which are likely to be used, as well as making reconnaissance missions on the possible course extremities.

Royal Cup Marina Ibiza, Ibiza, ESP – Standings after Day 3

1 Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos 16 pts (1,5,4,1,4,1)
2 Azzurra, ITA, Alberto Roemmers, 18pts (5,2,5,2,1,3)
3 Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley 21pts (2,4,1,3,5,6)
4 Rán Racing, SWE, Niklas Zennström 22pts (3,3,6,4,2,4)
5 Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 30pts, (6,8,3,5,6,2)
6 Interlodge, USA, Austin and Gwen Fraogmen, 35 pts (4,1,8,7,8,7)
7 Rio, USA Manouch Moshayedi, 36pts, (8,7,2,8,3,8)
8 Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin 38pts, (7,6,7,6,7,5)