52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week Day 1
by 52 Super Series 20 Sep 2023 04:07 NZST
18-23 September 2023
Thunder, lightning and very light winds on day 1 at 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week © Martinez Studio / 52 Super Series
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and a consequent lack of wind on the Bay of Palma meant the first races of the 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week, the Grand Finale of the 2023 season, had to be postponed.
Under grey, cloudy skies the 11 boat fleet of TP52s from eight different nations left the dock in the Marina Puerto Portals on schedule, planning to race from 1300hrs. But with less than six knots of wind on the race area, and the breeze shifting around in direction, Race Officer Maria Torrijo sent the fleet back ashore to wait at just after 1500hrs. But the late afternoon only brought heavier rain and some small squalls.
In theory the lack of racing today strengthens the hand of Provezza which leads the circuit with an 18 points margin with only four days of the season left.
"We went on the water with a NE'ly waiting for a forecast change to the SW but it did not come. In the afternoon we just had this very heavy rainstorm coming in from Ibiza that made it impossible. It looks like we will get some more rain tonight and then it should be clear by tomorrow with good wind. I am very hopeful we can still deliver a full ten race programme.", said Torrijo.
The 2023 season has seen the full schedule of 10 races delivered in Scarlino and Menorca. Only in Saint-Tropez in Barcelona did the teams lose two races at each event. So 36 of the scheduled 40 races have been sailed so far this season.
"It is not good for us today but we would rather get good races and as many of them as possible before now and the end of the season. We want to be winning by sailing our best and not having to rely on good luck or bad luck.", said Victor Mariño of the Platoon crew which lies second.