Up for the challenge

Azzurra is in South Africa to defend its 52 Super Series title.

02 March 2020

A fleet of ten TP52s will gather in South Africa ready to begin the 2020 52 Super Series, in the waters off Cape Town. Scheduled for Monday 2 March, the Odzala Discovery Camps 52 Super Series is predicted to sail in fresh “Cape Doctor” breeze from the southeast.

The boat flying the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s burgee is in Cape Town ready to defend her title as 52 Super Series champions won last season for the fourth time in eight editions. Azzurra edged out Platoon and Quantum to win the 2019 52 Super Series in Porto Cervo.

The team began working right after the win in the 2019 season so that they could test the improvements in the training sessions held in Valencia in December before shipping Azzurra and her equipment off to Cape Town.

Guillermo Parada, skipper: “Finally it’s here, we can’t wait to begin the 2020 season and see if the modifications we have done to our sails and rigging over the winter and tested in Valencia before Christmas work the way we’re hoping they will.

“You never change a winning team, but we do have one new addition this season: our tactician Michele Paoletti. A warm welcome goes out to him on the part of the entire Azzurra family. Michele is a friend and a world class sailor and is taking over Santi Lange’s role while he trains for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.”

Racing starts tomorrow, Monday 2 March at 12:30. The event will end on 6 March, but the 52 Super Series fleet will stay in Cape Town for the Rolex TP52 World Championship that will be held from 31 March to 4 April, 2020.

Historic battle

Rivalries reignite

Historic battle

Rivalries reignite