Pure Performance at the 52 SUPER SERIES Audi Settimana delle Bocche
by Louay Habib 2 Jul 2016 04:40 NZST
27 June - 2 July 2016
The 52 Super Series tag line "Pure Performance" could not be more appropriate. Followers of the class will notice that it is no longer called the TransPac 52 and that is because none of the eleven boats, racing in the 52 Super Series, would make it from L.A. To Honolulu. The cutting edge yacht design with the latest rig and appendage packages are designed purely for inshore racing.
The class has a mixture of coastal and windward leeward racing at five events in Europe and the USA. Since the America's Cup went multihull, the teams are bristling with Triple AAA professional sailors, ask Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper, Ian Walker, who calls tactics on Tony Langley's Gladiator: "The level of competition is extremely high, arguably the benchmark for keel boat sailing anywhere in the world."
Watching the races first hand, it becomes pretty obvious that all the teams are nailing the starts and manoeuvres, the infinitesimal differences in speed gives the biggest advantage and that is achieved by attention to detail in boat and rig set up and extra-ordinary trimming and driving ability. Tactically going the right way, and getting the right side of every shift, is compulsory if a team wants to make the top three. The class does allow professional drivers but of the eleven teams racing in Porto Cervo, the majority are owner driven. The opening event, The Scarlino Cup, was won by Quantum Racing, winning just one of the eight race series.
Peter Harrison is the owner-driver of Sorcha, which is new to the 52 Super Series this year. Peter is not be confused with his namesake, the computer entrepreneur and former syndicate head of the GBR Challenge AC team. This Peter Harrison is the CEO of Richard Mille Europe, Middle East and Africa. The 52 Super Series has strong similarities and values with the luxury watch brand that produces bespoke time pieces. Richard Mille and the 52 Super Series are both innovative and have a fascination for head turning, cutting edge, technology.
"I was a windsurfer when I was younger but not really into sailing and for many years I was dedicated to my work, so racing was never an option." commented Peter Harrison. " I recently bought a house on the Isle of Wight and a neighbour introduced me to the Tofinou yacht, a classic day sailer and I now have two, which I keep on the island and in France."
Peter Harrison acquired a Botin designed TP52, built in 2011, and raced Sorcha during the winter and spring of 2015, taking second overall in the RORC Caribbean 600. Earlier this year, Sorcha was back racing in the Caribbean, winning class in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and placing third in class at Les Voiles de St-Barth, which is sponsored by Richard Mille.
Sorcha was shipped back to Europe to compete in the Super Series, which is a big step up from the newly formed team, which is one of the few older generation boats on the circuit. Nine of the teams for the 2016 season are racing in new boats and the rigs,in most cases, have pure carbon shrouds. These are extremely fragile but give a massive advantage in weight aloft, approximately 30kg, over boats that are just a few years old.
"We are here to learn and have fun." commented Sorcha project manager and navigator, Campbell Field. "This is a massive step up for the team and we all get on well, which will be important as we can not expect to get good results at this stage. We all enjoy going sailing at events like Les Voiles de St-Barths, but the Super Series gives us the opportunity of racing against the world's best and we are fully focused on racing at that level - You have to be to even compete. We are up against teams that have better equipment and have been racing in the circuit for several seasons. The event is Porto Cervo will let us know where we are, and how we can improve. Racing in the Super Series is the ambition of any serious inshore sailor."
www.52superseries.com