Super stars
Fronting the Real Club Náutico de Palma, Majorca, there’s a convivial buzz as the pontoons are a hive of activity, much like the opening morning of any other regatta. But here there’s a difference. The sailors filling the pontoons make up an awe-inspiring who’s who of racing: Olympians, America's Cup sailors, and offshore legends.
It’s day one of the Rolex TP52 World Championship and the concluding event in 52 Super Series. 10 teams are about to take to the start line, and all are anxious to get going.
A postponement is keeping the fleet on shore while the fickle wind settles. It’s early November and the fleet is unused to sailing here at this time of year; there will be no easy-to-read sea breezes as in the summer months. There’s plenty of chat about the shifty forecast, lumpy sea state and how that might affect the results. The racing is predicted to be so close that even the most experienced observers are finding it impossible to predict the likely winner.
This season’s 52 Super Series has so far comprised just two events – a 20th anniversary invitational in Puerto Portals, and a week-long regatta in Menorca – after a third was cancelled. With the Worlds making up the third and final event of the series, five teams are starting the event within four points of each other. Defending champion Harm Müller-Spreer’s Platoon is tied for the lead with Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing on 46
