Ran navigator Steve Hayles happy with 2012 52 Super Series proceedings – Sailing News
Start of the 2012 52 Super Series regatta was tremendous for the Italian TP52 Audi Azzurra Sailing Team as they clinched the overall lead in the fleet standings from the beginning after hitting two bullets in the first two races on the Barcelona waters followed
by Sweden’s Ran on second podiums in both races.
However, the tables turned in the next three races where the Swedish team clinched a couple of bullets to climb up to the top spot in the fleet standings. First podium place of Ran was indeed a troubling sign for Audi Azzurra Sailing Team and America’s Quantum
Racing.
However, they grabbed their chance on the third day racing as both of them occupied the higher finishes while Ran was not able to make any major breakthrough and slipped down to third position with 16 points.
Ran still can challenge the regatta leaders at anytime in the upcoming races. Ran navigator Steve Hayles is satisfied with the regatta proceedings and is aiming to make it back to the top place.
While speaking to the local media, Hayles said, “Any time you count in the top three you have to be happy, even in a small fleet. It is always very competitive. The first race was just a bad start to be honest and we almost managed to get back into it. It
was interesting.”
He added, “The guys on Gladiator are sailing it really well and it is a quick boat. The second race we nearly managed to lead Quantum around the second mark. We were maybe 10 feet short of them not being able to leebow us, and it would have been a different
story.”
Overall fleet standings at the conclusion of seven races are given below:
1. Quantum Racing (USA) 3, 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1 = 14 Points
2. Audi Azzurra Sailing Team (ITA), 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3 = 14 Points
3. Rán (SWE) 2, 2, 1, 3, 1, 5, 2 = 16 Points
4. Gladiator (GBR) 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4 = 29 Points
5. Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE (GER/FRA) DNC, DNC, DNC, 5, 4, 3, 5 = 35 Points
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