The US racing team Quantum Racing is making history with its fifth season championship in the tenth anniversary season of the 52 Super Series. In the light wind final in Barcelona, the German helmsmen Tina Plattner ("Phoenix") and Harm Müller-Spreer ("Platoon") and their crews did not have enough chances to catch up.
Luck was on their side at the 52 Super Series season finale in Barcelona for the leaders of the US racing team Quantum Racing. In very light winds, only five of ten races could be completed. This was not enough for the Quantum hunters on Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix" and Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" to catch up with the top team this season.
"American Magic" team boss Doug De Vos is co-founder, motor, driver and regatta sailor of the 52 Super Series
The Americans around league co-founder and Quantum team boss Doug De Vos were deservedly crowned season champions in the future America's Cup metropolis of Barcelona after winning four out of five possible regattas in the leading Grand Prix series for monohulls. Quantum Racing also took gold at the 2022 Rolex TP-52 World Championship, which had previously been won twice by the team of Hamburg's Harm Müller-Spreer.
Quantum victories in Baiona, Scarlino and Barcelona also contributed to the season's triumph. Quantum boss Doug De Vos, a passionate regatta sailor and charismatic team boss of the America's Cup team American Magic, is one of the co-founders of the 52 Super Series.
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Coxswain Tina Plattner shone with a race day that all professionals dream of
The fact that Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix" still had a chance of catching the leading team Quantum Racing in the battle for the season championship before the Barcelona finale showed just how close things are in the highly demanding construction class. When helmswoman Tina Plattner managed a race day with her world-class tactician, SailGP king, Olympic champion and Moth world champion Tom Slingsby with the results 3-1-2, things actually got tight again.
In her first regatta since February 2020, Tina Plattner and the "Phoenix" team sailed to within three points of Quantum on this golden day. "Tina has an enormous and rare power of concentration and stamina," said Slingsby, paying tribute to the 44-year-old. However, tenth place in the fifth and already final race in the flat airs meant the knockout blow for "Phoenix" in the battle for the season championship. Despite many attempts by the persistent and experienced professional race management team led by Maria Torrijo, it was no longer possible to sail on the final day.
The who's who of regatta sport celebrated the season finale in Barcelona
Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" team also had to settle for second place behind Quantum Racing in the final Barcelona standings, despite a significant improvement after an initially mixed season. This resulted in third place in the season rankings for the owner and helmsman from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. The new constellation with tactician Vasco Vascotto, who replaced John Kostecki in the current season, is working well. "We have his commitment for next year," said Harm Müller-Spreer in Barcelona, "we want to and can win again."
The large family of the 52 Super Series celebrated its roots in Barcelona this weekend with a lavish party in the imposing Gothic ambience of the historic Llotja de Barcelona building. Half the America's Cup entourage was gathered as the owners, teams, professional sailors, organisers and hosts celebrated their winners, the season and the anniversary. Click here for the results of the 52 Super Series 2022.
America's Cup veteran Terry Hutchinson: "Ten years of the Super Series, here we are!"
"Quantum Racing tactician Terry Hutchinson said: "Ten years of 52 Super Series, here we are! It's an incredible tribute to the owners and drivers of this class. How lucky we are as sailors and as professionals to have the support of Hasso Plattner, Doug De Vos, Harm Müller-Spreer and everyone else." "Phoenix" tactician Tom Slingsby said: "We are happy with second place overall. It's a great result for the Phoenix team. Quantum was the best team. We were lucky to win our first regatta in Puerto Portals under these circumstances. The best team won the series, the best team won the world championship, but we are happy to have finished second in the series."
The end of the 2022 season will conclude the first ten years of the 52 Super Series' history. Since its inception in May 2012, the series has attracted 30 teams from 15 nations and contested 51 events at 17 venues in six countries and three continents (Europe, America and Africa). Quantum Racing and Tony Langley's Gladiator are the only teams to have taken part in all ten seasons. At the Llotja de Barcelona, everyone toasted the next ten years together. The new era begins in 2023 - with "Phoenix" and "Platoon".
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
