Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 728x90

52 Super Series Scarlino Sailing Week - Day 4

by 52 Super Series 2 Jun 20:14 BST 30 May - 3 June 2023

Quantum Racing hold lead into final day as Vayu push hard in second

A three race day in a good nine to 11kts of breeze on Tuscany's scenic Gulf of Follonica brought the 52 SUPER SERIES Scarlino Sailing Week back on schedule after missing one race Thursday due to the threat of thunderstorms. Quantum Racing powered by American Magic now lead into the final Saturday showdown with a slender two points lead.

That the defending champions are on the cusp of their first regatta win in their new American Magic powered iteration is not too much of a surprise, but maybe more so is that their Quantum stablemates, Thai family team Vayu are on course to close out second place. Their regatta so far is already massively impressive for a crew which only joined the 52 SUPER SERIES two years ago and which competes with six family members on board.

Quantum Racing powered by American Magic sailed to 1,5,2 over an intense, long day on the water when there was always great pressure and activity on the start line.

There was often a gain to be made to the right of the upwinds, but good risk management across the piece was essential. The defending champions, winners here last September, Quantum accomplished that best today, whilst Platoon rode the emotional rollercoaster. They got second in the first race but then landed a penalty at the first windward mark of the second race which saw them ninth before going on to win the third race. Similarly Sled, regatta leaders on Friday morning, aggregated 26 points for the day.

With Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, Platoon actually led the first race but lost out to Quantum Racing down the first run, Vayu were one of the best on the right of the first upwind and went on to finish third through the line.

Race 7 saw Provezza win off the start line by getting a well timed opening at the committee boat end of the line allowing them to jump clear of the fleet. The Plattners' Phoenix were second at the windward mark but lost out to the Interlodge which came through on the first run to chase Provezza through the line. Retaining their high level consistency Vayu crossed fourth. Quantum Racing were seventh at the first windward mark but sailed a good run to get up to fifth which they held through the line.

And the eighth race saw Platoon clear ahead with good speed up the first beat to prove uncatchable by Quantum Racing. Vayu made a very useful gain at the second top mark, passing Alpha + and Gladiator to rise to fourth. Their fortunes were also improved when Provezza - their nearest challengers for second - lost two places at the finish line.

So Doug DeVos' champions lead Vayu by two points going into the final day, the Whitcraft family team which has double Olympic silver medallist Nick Rogers calling tactics, have a seven points cushion over the Saint Tropez winners Provezza who amassed 17 points today including their race win.

Vayu 's helm Don Whitcraft concluded, "It was a big day but we sailed well, we went quick and it was all going well. We are moving forwards in the fleet right now instead of backwards which we were at times before. We are stoked. It is great to have the support of Quantum and getting the data and the debriefs. We got away from the third start which was very nerve wracking, it was full on, as there were four boats basically stationary below us and we just managed to roll over them and get away. It feels good, we have one day to go, two races left and let's see how it goes."

And Quantum Racing's young tactician Victor Diaz-de-Leon explains, "We try to keep it low risk, right now it is do you go into a congested area to go right or being more low density and getting more chance of a good start. We try to be low risk because we know we have a good boat and a good crew."

Provisional Standings after Day 4:

1- QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos, 5+1+3+10+1+1+5+2 = 28pts
2- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 3+6+7+1+2+3+4+4 = 30pts
3- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 6+2+6+2+4+6+1+10 = 37pts
4- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 1+5+1+4+5+8+7+11 = 42pts
5- PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 7+4+8+7+7+2+8+1 = 44pts
6- INTERLODGE (USA), Austin and Gwen Fragomen, 8+8+9+6+3+4+2+7 = 47pts
7- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 10+7+4+3+8+5+10(+2)+3 = 52pts
8- PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 4+3+11+9+6+7+3+9 = 52pts
9- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 9+9+2+5(+1)+9+9+11+6 = 61pts
10- PAPREC (FRA), Jean Luc Petithuguenin, 2+10+10+11+10+10+6+8 = 67pts
11- ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn and Tina Kang, 11+11+5+8+11+11+9+5 = 71pts

Related Articles

52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week Day 2
Phoenix steer clear to lead, Platoon & Sled damaged in Race 2 collision The Plattner family's Phoenix lead the 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week regatta after three excellent races on the Bay of Palma which were marred by a collision at the start of the second race when Sled and Platoon were hit by Gladiator. Posted today at 5:48 am
Race Yachts Premium Brokerage – September Edition
Some of the best from Race Yachts Brokerage Some of the best from Race Yachts Brokerage... Posted on 19 Sep
52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week Day 1
Thunder, lightning and very light winds prevent racing Thunderstorms, heavy rain and a consequent lack of wind on the Bay of Palma meant the first races of the 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week, the Grand Finale of the 2023 season, had to be postponed. Posted on 19 Sep
Closing the deal
Puerto Portals and Bay of Palma ready for 52 SUPER SERIES title decider The final, showdown regatta of the season, the 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week, starts points racing Tuesday with Ergin Imré's Turkish flagged Provezza carrying an 18 points lead over Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon. Posted on 18 Sep
52 Super Series at Puerto Portals preview
Provezza versus Platoon in title shoot out Next week the Bay of Palma will be the scene for one of the most exciting title showdowns in the history of the 52 Super Series, the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit. Posted on 13 Sep
Rolex TP52 Worlds: A prize for perseverance
One of the most sought after prizes in sailing The 2023 edition of the Rolex TP52 World Championship brought together 10 teams from seven nations and four continents in Barcelona, Spain, to compete for the one of the most sought after prizes in sailing. Posted on 28 Aug
Rolex TP52 World Championship overall
Platoon clinch 2023 TP52 World Championship title on the last leg of final race Harm Müller Spreer's German flagged Platoon team clinched the 2023 Rolex TP52 World Championship title with a thrilling comeback in the final minutes of the final race off Barcelona. Posted on 26 Aug
Rolex TP52 World Championship day 4
Provezza lead into Saturday showdown for the title The leaders of the 2023 52 SUPER SERIES circuit, Ergin Imré's Provezza, carry a slender three points lead into the final day of the Rolex TP52 World Championship, Saturday. Posted on 25 Aug
Rolex TP52 World Championship day 3
Provezza lay down the early marker Winners of two of the season's three regattas so far, 2023's circuit leaders Ergin Imré's Turkish flagged Provezza made the strongest start to the Rolex TP52 World Championship today in Barcelona. Posted on 24 Aug
Rolex TP52 World Championship day 2
No racing on Wednesday due to lack of wind Light winds persisted through the afternoon today at the Rolex TP52 Worlds in Barcelona meaning racing remained on hold until the race officer Maria Torrijo decided there was no option other than to display the AP over A flags and cancel for the day. Posted on 23 Aug