Everything is set for an exciting finale to the 52 Super Series at the end of October in the future America's Cup venue of Barcelona. At the Royal Cup off Scarlino, the best in class in the TP 52 set the course for this season's decisions. Everything now points to another victory for the Americans in the leading monohull professional series. However, with Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix", the newcomer of the season is still within striking distance.
Doug DeVos' Quantum Racing team won the test of strength in the Tuscan territory off Scarlino with a commanding performance in the last two of the ten races, but "Phoenix stayed on ...
Here are the highlights from the final day
In the final sprint, the US crew, which had been victorious in Italy, overtook Takashi Okura's "Sled", which had also been in the lead previously. Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" secured third place on the podium in front of Scarlino after a few ups and downs with new tactician Vasco Vascotto. The Italian had joined the team to replace "Platoon's" long-serving tactician John Kostecki after the team had fallen short of its own expectations several times this year.
Decided in the tiebreaker before Scarlino: "Platoon" ahead of "Phoenix"
Owner and helmsman Harm Müller-Spreer and his international team put in a brilliant final day with a win on the day and a second place, taking third place on the podium. With equal points, the tiebreaker in the direct comparison with the also strongly sailed "Phoenix" had to be decided. With one more win on the day on the Scarlino account, "Platoon" ultimately came out on top. "Platoon's" newTactician Vasco Vascotto was relieved and happy after the final:
"We have seen huge improvements since the start of the week in terms of communication and satisfaction on board. The best moment was really after the bad result the day before. That's when I felt we were a real team because we got through that bad moment as a team in a good atmosphere. The good results today followed with the ability to cope with the bad results as a team."
Vasco Vascotto: "I first had to wake up to be good enough"
Commenting on his own performance in and with the new team, Vascotto said: "At the start of the week I was so rusty that I had to wake up to be good enough. The fact is that I communicated very well with Jordi Calafat, who was already one of my heroes when I was only twelve years old. That was important and we enjoyed sailing together. I think our results can always get better. Harm is so good at steering the boat. As communication improved, everyone became calmer. And we got better."
The equal status of the majority of the teams in the 52 Super Series continues to provide excitement. Seven of the new teams won at least one of the ten races in Italy. Scarlino winners Quantum Racing (USA, 130 points) now lead the season standings ahead of "Phoenix" (135 points) and "Platoon" (158 points). Click here for the Results from the Royal Cup of the 52 Super Series. Click here to go to the Season ranking after four of five regattas. The season rankings will be decided at Barcelona Sailing Week from 24 to 29 October.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
