Things continue to go uphill for Harm Müller-Spreer's team in the 52 Super Series. After an unloved seventh place at the start of the season off Saint-Tropez and fourth place at the beginning of June in the Italian waters off Scarlino, "Platoon" has now sailed to its first regatta victory of the season off Menorca. The owner and helmsman from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and his crew won the Royal Cup off Menorca.
"Provezza" defends its lead in the season standings, "Platoon" advances
Just one point separated "Platoon" (34 points) and the Turkish "Provezza" (35 points) after ten exciting races in the Balearic Islands. The British "Gladiator" sailed into third place with 41 points. In the overall classification of the eleventh season of the leading international professional league for monohull yachts, Ergin Imre's "Provezza" remains the leader with 111 points after three regattas, ahead of "Platoon" (130 points) and the American team Quantum Racing American Magic (137 points). The US team, which is used to winning, was unable to finish higher than sixth off Menorca.
The team on "Provezza", on the other hand, battled with the "Platoon" crew for victory until the end of the last race. Sailing under the Turkish flag, the Provezza Sailing Team, which had won in both Saint-Tropez and Scarlino, was beaten for the first time this season. Harm Müller-Spreer's team, with Italian tactician Vasco Vascotto, achieved the coup by the narrowest of margins in the final sprint. The decision: In fading winds, "Platoon" finished fourth in the tenth race and "Provezza" fifth.
"Platoon" on course for the World Cup with a win
The victory off Menorca was not only a celebration for helmsman Harm Müller-Spreer from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. For tactician Vasco Vascotto, it was the first regatta success with the team on the German boat since he replaced former "Platoon" tactician John Kostecki last year. Together, Harm Müller-Spreer and Vasco Vascotto would love to win the Rolex 52 World Championship off Barcelona at the end of August. Vasco Vascotto is regarded as one of the most successful players in the world of professional sailing, having won 25 world championship titles in a wide variety of boat classes.
The 53-year-old from Trieste dedicated the victory off Menorca to his father, who died two months ago and was his biggest fan. Vasco Vascotto said: "He always followed all the races of the 52 Super Series, and I'm sure he had a great internet connection from up there and cheered us all on."
It was a good regatta for all of us and a very emotional one for me" (Vasco Vascotto)
Vascotto was also happy for his team: "We sailed well together this week. Today also with a lot of personality. We did make a few bad decisions this week, but today we trusted ourselves. And that the wind would come back. And it did. It was a good regatta for all of us and a very emotional one for me."
