Day 5 Highlights – Puerto Sherry 52 Super Series Sailing Week, Spain

But they were pushed to the wire during one of the most exciting final day showdowns in the history of the 52 SUPER SERIES. The day started with three boats in contention to win the trophy, which dates back to 1995 and the IMS class, Bronenosec – the newest boat in the fleet steered by the young Croatian Olympic gold medal winning hero Sime Fantela – one point ahead of 2017 champions Azzurra. Going into today’s racing, Provezza were four points adrift, but the runners up to Platoon in Mahón last month are sailing with supreme confidence and big smiles. It was only on the last downwind of the last race, when Platoon passed Azzurra, that the regatta title was secured by the Turkish-flagged team – only the second time they have secured an event win after their popular 2017 victory in Puerto Portals, Mallorca. Changes to their Vrolijk-designed boat appear to have helped, but bringing Cutler – whose experience spans Olympic racing and national team coaching as well as America’s Cup and grand prix racing – in to the central role as helm, and a hungry-for-success Hamish Pepper as tactician has been key; the duo supported by unflappable Spanish navigator Nacho Postigo. They finish one point ahead of Azzurra who take second but only on countback against their third placed rivals Bronenosec. The Russian-flagged team put themselves on the back foot when they finished eighth in the first race. Provezza leave Andalucia with the Royal Cup and the circuit lead by two points ahead of Mahón winners, Platoon. Seven of the eight different boats won at least one of the ten races sailed. Only Quantum Racing and Provezza did not finish eighth at all. Puerto Sherry 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup Final regatta standings: 1. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (1,4,7,7,2,2,3,6,2,4) 38 p. 2. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto Roemmers) (5,1,2,5,5,1,2,8,4,6) 39 p. 3. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) (4,3,4,3,1,5,5,3,8,3) 39 p. 4. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (3,6,5,1,3,8,7,2,1,1,5) 41 p. 5. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (8,2,3,4,4,4,8,4,3,7) 47 p. 6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (2,8,6,2,8,6,1,7,7,1) 48 p. 7. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (7,7,1,6,6,7,4,5,5,5,2) 50 p. 8. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) (6,5,8,8,7,3,6,1,6,8) 58 p. Overall season standings after two events 1. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) 67 p. 2. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) 69 p. 3. Azzurra (ARG/ITA) (Alberto/Pablo Roemmers) 77 p. 4. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) 84 p. 5. Bronenosec (RUS) (Vladimir Liubomirov) 86 p. 6. Alegre (USA/GBR) (Andrés Soriano) 95 p. 7. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) 101 p. 8. Phoenix 11 (RSA) (Tina Plattner) 123 p. Please visit the links below to find out more. YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/52SuperSeries Facebook: www.facebook.com/52SuperSeries Twitter: www.twitter.com/52SuperSeries Now available to watch and share online.