After three days of excellent trade winds around 20 knots in the debut event of the 52 SUPER SERIES in the Canary Islands, the fourth session could not be held due to excessive wind. The Race Committee, led by María Torrijo from Alicante, tried, but could not find an area of navigable conditions off the southern coast of Lanzarote. After a postponement ashore, the fleet left Marina Rubicón heading for the race course, but the situation did not improve, the boats returned to shore and at 13:45h the day was declared cancelled.
Gustavo Martínez Doreste from the Canary Islands, local expert for Andy Soriano's Alegre, shared the decision: “The forecast already indicated slightly stronger winds than yesterday. The truth is that the Committee made a good attempt to be in a place where there might be less wind, with the bad luck that the forecast strengthened a bit and the conditions were very tough. We were where we needed to be, but with the heat and the strong gradient, it was a bit over the limit. We saw 26-28 knots for long periods, with gusts above 30 knots. There is usually wind, but such strong gradients are not so common”.
Adam Beashel, helmsman of Sled, also agreed with the call: “You have to set a limit. It could have been too risky, and many things could have gone wrong. It can be exciting, but it can also be frustrating if it goes wrong. I don't think I've ever been in a place where, for seven days in a row, every time you step out the door, the wind never blows less than 15 knots”.
Everything will be decided on Saturday
After four days and five races sailed, Takashi Okura's Sled leads the provisional standings with 13 points. The circuit leader and newly crowned TP52 world champion enjoys a four-point lead over Jean-Luc Petithuguenin's French Paprec and five over Andrea Lacorte's Italian Alkedo Vitamina.
The Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week will be decided on Saturday from 11:30h (12:30h in mainland Spain). The Committee will try to complete as many races as possible before the 15:30h deadline.
According to Doreste, we will have to wait and see how the day dawns to know how the championship will be resolved: “Tomorrow looks similar, but it will depend on the heat, how the day starts with the cloud cover… There will surely be a lot of wind, we just need to know if it will be in the desirable range”.
The competition will be broadcast live on the official 52 SUPER SERIES platforms in English and Spanish.
Provisional Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week
1. Sled, Takashi Okura, 1+2+6+1+3 = 13
2. Paprec (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 2+1+1+4+9 = 17
3. Alkedo Vitamina (ITA), Andrea Lacorte, 7+3+3+3+2 = 18
4. Alpha + (HKG), Shawn and Tina Kang, 3+8+2+2+8 = 23
5. Platoon Aviation (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 6+5+9+6+5 = 31
6. No Way Back (NED), Pieter Heerema, 5+7+5+9+7 = 33
7. Trinity Racing (SWE), Joakim Sundberg, 12+4+10+8+1 = 35
8. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 4+9+8+10+4 = 35
9. Vayu (THA), Whitcraft family, 9+6+11+5+12 = 43
10. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 11+12+4+7+10 = 44
11. Teasing Machine (FRA), Eric de Turckheim, 10+10+14(DNF)+12+6 = 52
12. Crioula (BRA), Eduardo and Renato Plass, 14(DNS)+11+7+11+11 = 54
13. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 8+13+14(DNS)+14(DNS)+14(DNS) = 63
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
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