Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week: A Premier Sailing Event in Mallorca
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week – Day 1
28 August – 1 September 2024
Day 1 of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week saw a strong performance from Harm Müller Spreer’s Platoon Aviation team, the reigning overall champions, who finished with a victory in the first race and an impressive second place overall.
Competing in familiar 8-10 knot sea breezes of the Bay of Palma, the German team demonstrated their sailing expertise, managing to outpace Tony Langley’s Gladiator, the recently crowned Rolex TP52 World Champions, by just a single point.
In a competitive fleet featuring 13 boats from nine nations, strategic starting and clean, fast maneuvers were crucial. Tactician Vasco Vascotto and strategist Jordi Calafat skillfully navigated the first upwind, gaining a lead over the Brazilian Crioula Team, which performed admirably by placing second in their first race. Gladiator, encountering an early setback, managed to secure third place.
In the second race, Gladiator’s excellent start led them ahead of Platoon until Platoon made significant gains on the second beat. Rather than risking a penalty, Platoon tactically ducked the leaders on the final approach to the top mark. Ultimately, Gladiator maintained their lead and secured victory in the second race.
The sailing rivalry between Vascotto and Gladiator’s helmsman Guille Parada has been intense yet friendly, with both teams pushing each other to perform at their best. Vascotto expressed satisfaction with their progress, acknowledging the challenges posed by the boat’s new design. He emphasized the importance of sailing well within the competitive fleet and remaining close to the leading contenders.
On the opening day, teams faced mixed fortunes. The Brazilian Crioula Team began with a second but finished 12th in their second race, placing them fifth overall. The French team, Teasing Machine, showed promise early on, achieving a fourth position on the first circuit before dropping to 11th.
Racing will continue on Tuesday, with the first warning signal scheduled for 1300hrs.
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week Standings after Day 1:
1. PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 1+2 = 3
2. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 3+1 = 4
3. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos, 4+6 = 10
4. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 8+3 = 11
5. CRIOULA (BRA), Eduardo & Renato Plass, 2+12 = 14
6. VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 9+5 = 14
7. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 5+9 = 14
8. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Pethuguenin, 6+8 = 14
9. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 12+4 = 16
10. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso y Tina Plattner, 11+7 = 18
11. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 7+13 = 20
12. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 10+10 = 20
13. TEASING MACHINE (FRA), Eric De Turckheim, 13+11 = 24
Alex Tanaka, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Singapore, has a deep passion for the sea that began in childhood. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the National University of Singapore, Alex has built a reputation for insightful and engaging storytelling. Their work captures the excitement of sailing and the intricate details of maritime life, making them a respected voice in the sailing community. When not writing, Alex enjoys exploring new waters and participating in local regattas, always seeking the next adventure on the horizon.