52 Super Series: "Platoon Aviation" almost becomes a season sensation with Valencia gold
Tatjana Pokorny
· 28.09.2024
Hardly anyone would have thought this possible after the first two regattas of this 52 Super Series season: Harm Müller-Spreer's crew has improved so much over the year with the new Botin design "Platoon Aviation" that they were able to win the fifth and final regatta. The three-time world champion and his team won the Royal Cup off Valencia, the fifth and final regatta of the year, with the same confidence as in his best champion days. "Provezza" and Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix" also sailed onto the Valencia podium.
52 Super Series: small dot, big effect
With their victory, the owner of the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and his crew once again made a massive impact in the battle for the 52 Super Series season championship. Because the British world champions on "Gladiator" weakened considerably, the final sprint between the US team Quantum Racing powered by American Magic and the team flying the German flag was a close one. In the end, one point made the difference between first and second place in the season championship.
"That's the ultimate punishment!" said the owner and helmsman from Hamburg after the close result. With a little distance, Harm Müller-Spreer also said: "Last year we won the season championship by one point. We were on the lucky side then. We would probably have won the season with the old boat. But we got to grips with the new boat. Hopefully it will be better again next year. The ambition is definitely there."
A look back at the season shows the impressive increase in performance of "Platoon Aviation" over the year: Harm Müller-Spreer was still annoyed about seventh place at the season opener at the Palmavela. Another seventh place, partly caused by a collision, followed at the first of two Newport regattas in the 52 Super Series.
The strong upward trend of "Platoon Aviation"
After that, things went uphill in the same area: at the World Championship - also held off Newport - "Platoon Aviation" jumped up to third place on the podium. The GER boat finished the sailing week off Puerto Portals in Mallorca in second place. Harm Müller-Spreer's team with tactician Vasco Vascotto, strategist Jordi Calafat, Michael Müller from Kiel and their team-mates were rewarded with a victory for the challenging race to catch up.
The new "Platoon Aviation", which was initially so difficult to get to grips with, not only showed at the season finale in Valencia with the series 8, 1, 2, 4, 7, 4 and 2 that the team will be a force to be reckoned with again in the coming season. For the first time this season, the boat lived up to its bow number at a regatta: 01. "Platoon Aviation" tactician Vasco Vascotto reflected on the narrowly missed season championship: "There were so many points that we lost during the season that are now making a difference."
The Italian explained in detail: "Of course I'm thinking of the collision with the object in Newport, which cost us ten points or so. But it's a long season and everyone in this fleet can look back on points lost everywhere. We are happy! We won this regatta, we won the Royal Cup. We were a bit unlucky in the last race (editor's note: with regard to the fight for the season championship) because Provezza was not in the classification."
"I think we should be proud of what we have achieved." Vasco Vascotto
Vascotto's overall assessment of the season was positive: "We've made up around 30 points in the last few regattas and here, and that's great for our future." Quantum Racing powered by American Magic secured the season championship after 41 races at the five TP summits with 207 points ahead of "Platoon Aviation" (208 points) and the world champions on "Gladiator" (212 points). Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix" ended the season in eighth place with 283 points.
After Louis Vuitton Cup off: "American Magic" wins
The Brits on "Gladiator" were unable to capitalise on their great successes of the year in the Valencia triangular race for the season championship. Tony Langley's team remains delighted with the World Championship title, a total of two regatta victories and a second place. Team Gladiator had started in Valencia with an 18-point lead over the US team and even 28 points ahead of "Platoon Aviation", but only finished the last regatta in twelfth and penultimate place. The shifty offshore winds off Valencia did not seem to suit the boat or the team.
For the best American teams of the year, the season championship after the NYYC American Magic's semi-final exit from the Louis Vuitton Cup in front of Barcelona was probably a small consolation. Doug DeVos is one of the conductors and driving forces behind both teams. Ed Reynolds, manager for Team Quantum American Magic, said: "I can't remember us ever having such a strong season. Every team in the fleet can win races."
Click here for the final season ranking of the 52 Super Series 2024 and the results of all regattas.
