Battle for third at the EGNOS 52 SUPER SERIES Cascais Cup

EGNOS 52 SUPER SERIES Cascais Cup © Nico Martinez / www.MartinezStudio.es

The race for third place on the 2015 52 SUPER SERIES podium provided some of the most exciting moments at the end of last season and it looks as if the finale to this year will be no different. On the last racing day of last year in Cascais, Ergin Imre's Provezza suffered a five place swing and ended up seventh overall after being one of the five challengers for third. This year, the Turkish-flagged team that has Tony Rey (USA) as tactician is covering all the bases, seeking to learn from their disappointing outcome a year ago.

They have recruited Portugal's five-time Olympian Gustavo Lima, Cascais' past Dragon European champion, to provide local input. But Rey notes sagely:

"The podium is achievable. Make no mistake that is what we are here for. We have improved through the season at a nice rate, despite some frustrations and some triumphs, along the way we have improved in all the areas where we have tried to. Now it is down to a few points here and there, between third and sixth. Last year we had that five place swing on the last day and were on the wrong end of it. And we expect the same thing this year. It would not be the 52 SUPER SERIES finale if we did not have three or four teams fighting over third place. It is like we say at all the regattas though, 'don't be afraid of a close race' and so here we are saying 'don't be afraid of a close regatta to close out the series'. But we are happy to be just in a place where we are challenging. We look at the points each day and go from there."

Last year the final standings showed just ten points between Sled in third and Provezza in seventh. As the EGNOS 52 SUPER SERIES Cascais Cup starts Tuesday Provezza hold fourth place five points behind Rán Racing, Niklas and Catherine Zennström's crew, with Platoon a further eleven points back. Sled are in eighth overall but proved they are a force to be reckoned with when they won today's practice race.

"We need to feel like we are improving this week. We need to feel we have a good handle on our speed and getting off the start line. If we can get these things right then we have a good chance. We seem to be able to get around the race track otherwise" comments Sled's Ross MacDonald. "It has been the mode changes and gear changes where we have struggled a bit this year and the whole level of the fleet has definitely moved up."

Four boats were judged to be over the start line for Monday's practice race, Azzurra, Quantum Racing (who had Terry Hutchinson steering), Platoon and Provezza. Sled found extra pressure offshore on the first run, holding starboard gybe offshore and led Rán Racing at the finish. Azzurra recovered to third.

Programme:

• Monday 10th October – Official practice race(s) from 13.00hrs
• Tuesday 11th October – WL Races between 12:30 – 16:30 (approx).
• Wednesday 12th October – WL Race / Coastal Race between 13:00 – 17:00 (approx).
• Thursday 13th October – WL Races 13:00 – 17:00 (approx).
• Friday 14th October – Coastal Race between 13:00 – 17:00 (approx).
• Saturday 15th October – WL Races from 13:00 and prize-giving ceremony at 17.30hrs (approx).

Entry List:

• Alegre (Andy Soriano GBR/USA)
• Azzurra (Roemmers family, ITA/ARG)
• Bronenosec (Vladimir Liubomirov, RUS)
• Gladiator (Tony Langley, GBR)
• Phoenix (Richard Cohen, USA)
• Platoon (Harm Müller-Spreer, GER)
• Provezza (Ergin Imre, TUR)
• Quantum Racing (Doug DeVos, USA)
• Rán Racing (Niklas and Catherine Zennström, SWE)
• Sled (Takashi Okura, USA)

The EGNOS 52 SUPER SERIES Cascais Cup will take place from 11-15 October, with races starting on Tuesday at 12:30 UTC+1hrs (13:30 CEST). Track the boats via state-of-the-art Virtual Eye at www.52SUPERSERIES.com/LIVE or via the app.