Paprec takes the lead in the debut of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Lanzarote

The opening day of the Marina Rubicón Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, which took place this Tuesday, leaves the French team Paprec. in the lead. The fleet of 13 boats of 11 nationalities flew through the Canary waters at speeds that exceeded 20 knots in the first two races of a championship that will run until next Saturday. 

Lanzarote lived up to its well-deserved reputation as an exceptional race course, the trade winds arrived on time for the appointment, and the program for the opening day could be completed with two assaults in conditions that bordered on the upper limit of the navigable wind range. 

The day began with 20 knots from the north on a race course that was established off the Pechiguera lighthouse, at the southern tip of the island. The debut of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Lanzarote kicked off with another lesson from Sled. Takashi Okura's team, current circuit leader and newly crowned TP52 world champion, replicated their masterful maneuver from Porto Cervo by starting starboard tack and crossing the bow of the entire fleet to take the lead from the first meters. On the first downwind leg, they engaged in a close contest with Paprec, but despite the power of the French boat, Sled recorded the first partial victory. The Hong Kong-based Alpha Plus finished third after an exciting duel with the British Alegre. The Brazilian Crioula did not participate due to an injury to one of its sailors in the minutes before the start, but will rejoin for the next one.

After a brief postponement, the second of the day began with 17 knots of wind. On this occasion, the course initially favored the boats that opted for the right before the arrival of a shift that favored the left. In a tight mark rounding, Platoon Aviation slipped inside Sled with Alkedo Vitamina hot on their heels. The lead changed hands several times and went to Paprec at the halfway point of the course. The French team had to fend off attacks from Sled, Alkedo, and Platoon Aviation, although the German team lost its chances when its spinnaker burst halfway through the leg, an image that several rivals would replicate. With the leaders flying at over 22 knots of speed, the coast of Lanzarote momentarily seemed to become a scene of ocean racing. In this environment, the French crew, reinforced in Lanzarote by offshore navigation expert Yoann Richomme, confirmed their dominance in tough conditions and achieved a well-deserved victory ahead of Sled and Alkedo Vitamina.  

With the first two partial results of the week added up, Paprec is the first leader in the history of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Lanzarote and states that "Starting like this makes everything easier, although I know it will be difficult to maintain this level in the coming days.". The French team is tied on three points with Sled, the project director regrets not being in first place, stating "we probably didn't sail as fast as we could have, especially downwind, but we prefer to keep a little in reserve so as not to break sails”. Likewise, Paprec enjoys a seven-point lead over Alkedo Vitamina, who was satisfied with third place. For Pablo Torrado from Vigo, tactician on Alkedo Vitamina, he believes that with "these conditions it's a bit about surviving, and of course sailing well, it's time to check and reinforce the boat well".

The races will be broadcast live on the official 52 SUPER SERIES platforms in English and Spanish. On Wednesday with a program of two races starting at 12:00.