The Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES launches with a collision and “Phoenix” as first leader

A full program of three races launched their classification board at Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, the last event of the season of 2023 of the 52 SUPER SERIES. The day ended with a costly collision between the German "Platoon" and the American "Sled", the historic first partial victory of the Hong Kong "Alpha+" and the provisional lead of the South African "Phoenix".

Following the absence of competition due to lack of wind and the subsequent arrival of a storm on the first day of racing, the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week began with a magnificent journey of wind and action at the Bay of Palma. The fleet set sail with a program of three races and returned to Puerto Portals with their homework done. The wind blew with intensities of southwest components and intensities of 12-14 knots, sufficient to confirm the reputation of the mallorquin race course.

In the first race of the week, the “Gladiator” of Tony Langely made his bet on the right side of the field to pay off with an early lead that he would not relinquish until he scored a convincing victory, the fifth of the season for the British team with Argentine Guillermo Parada at the helm.

Followed by the British “Alegre” and the German “Platoon”. Harm Müller-Spreer's boat managed to cut six points and move to just 12 points behind the leader of the provisional of the circuit, the “Provezza” of the Turkish Ergin Imre, who got the ninth position.

The second outing of the day was dramatic for “Platoon” aspirations. A risky maneuver of the “Gladiator” provoked a collision between the German boat and “Sled” that would leave them out of the competition. Both crews returned to land to look at the damages, losing the rest of the journey. Meanwhile, in the race course the historic first victory of the Hong Konger was forged “Alpha+” of Shawn and tina Kang, the team that was incorporated at the 52 SUPER SERIES  at the beginning of the season and which was reinforced in Puerto Portals with Italian helmsman Alberto Barovier and Australian tactician Tom Burton. They were followed by the finish line “Interlodge” with the senior shipowner and helmsman of the fleet, the american Austin Fragomen, and the “Phoenix”  helmed by the Southafrican Tony Norris. “Alpha+”  was positioned as the provisional leader, an unprecedented image in the history of the circuit.

The third and last race of the journey had nine boats lined up for the exit. On this occasion the protagonist was “Phoenix”, who knew how to read the battlefield and become leader to the first mark of the course so as not to leave the head of the fleet until the finish line. The reincorporation of the multi-champion of the America’s Cup Ed Baird, the tactician's role seems to have been a catalyst for the South African team, which is now back in the lead after a poor start to the season. "Phoenix" returned to port as provisional leader after a day in which it went from strength to strength (5+3+1). They were followed at the finish by "Provezza" and "Quantum Racing powered by American Magic".

The incident in the second outing resulted in a penalization of four points for “Gladiator” and a reparation of a 5,5 for “Platoon” and “Sled” both in the second and third race. The German team is third in the provisional of this last event of the season. In the battle for the title of the 52 SUPER SERIES 2023, “Provezza”  gave in three points in respect to “Platoon” , who now has 15 points with seven races to dispute to complete in the season.