May 27, 2019
"Battleship" became the fifth in Minorca
On the island of Menorca (Spain), the first stage of the 52 Super Series of the 2019 season ended. These competitions were the first for the Russian team "Battleship" after a year break.
According to the results of five racing days, the crew of Vladimir Lyubomirov finished fifth of the 11 participating teams.
The 52 Super Series regatta of Menorca Sailing Week presented many surprises. First, the weather surprised. Throughout all competition days, wind strength rarely exceeded 10 knots, and the second day of racing was completely canceled due to calm. The rhythm of the competition was constantly disrupted by long waits for the wind. But in general, eight races were added to the table, although someone clearly did not have one or two more to correct errors.
Secondly, the fleet favorites were unstable. World vice champions and winners of the 2017 season – Italian Azzurra – confidently opened the stage, but by the end of the competition they dropped out of the troika and could not return there. As a result, the Italians, who previously performed well on Minorca, have only the fourth line.
The winners of last season – American Quantum Racing – dismissed the Italians from the leading position on May 23, and it seemed that the experienced team had a victory in their pocket. But the final day was unsuccessful for the Americans – the team in two races finished outside the top five and struggled to stay on the third line of the overall standings.
On the contrary, the winners of the stage – German Platoon – performed almost flawlessly. The team was in the top five during the regatta, but made a breakthrough on May 24 and 25, finishing 2.2.1. This result helped to bypass the award-winning rivals and win the 52 Super Series Menorca Sailing Week. After the German team won the TP52 World Championship in 2017, this is the first such title for Platoon.
The second place was won by the Turkish-British project Provezza. At the end of the 2018 season, the crew of Irvine Emre was only the eighth, after which it was decided to adjust the composition of the tactical group of the team, and this seems to be bearing fruit.
The St. Petersburg Yacht Club team has also undergone some changes. In conjunction with the titled tactician Morgan Larson, the Croatian Shime Fantel, an Olympic champion in the 470 class, debuted at the position of strategist and helmsman in the series.
"Battleship" broke applause, when on May 21 he won the first race of the season. Further, the crew performed a little unstable. Especially unsuccessful was May 23, when the "Battleship" received two penalties in three races. And yet, after the victory, the team of Vladimir Lyubomirov finished twice in the top three (in eight races), which allowed the commander of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club to positively evaluate his first regatta in the classroom TR52 after a year break.
Vladimir Lyubomirov: “I positively assess the last stage, let us be the tenth yesterday, but we won the first race, which means that we have the potential. I firmly believe that by the end of the season we will be in the first half of the fleet. I always strive to learn, and now to observe the work of the team from the side was very useful. Maybe in Cadiz I'll get behind the wheel. The team has a very good atmosphere, first of all we are friends, and we really want to win. And this is the main thing! "
Shime Fantela: “I didn’t have any special expectations from the new class of yachts, I just tried to make the best decisions in every situation. This is a new class for me, and I try to learn and gain experience. In general, everything went well, the boat responds perfectly, the team has a good atmosphere, and we improved the result during the regatta. ”
Season 52 Super Series will continue in mid-June: the race will take the Spanish Cadiz.
Results of the 52 Super Series Menorca Sailing Week -http: //www.52superseries.com/events/2019/eu/menorca-52-super-series-sailing-week-2/
Alexey Zhirov
PR-director of the Yacht Club of St. Petersburg
86 May 27, 2019 # 9035
Chief Editor
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