Race 8: Azzurra win, Ran claim cup

Rán Racing have won the Royal Cup, their first overall victory in the 52 Super series, after finishing second in the final race of the four-day regatta where wind gusts in excess of 30 knots forced two teams to retire.

Audi Azzurra claimed line honours and 52 seconds later Rán finished in second place, followed by Quantum, Audi Sailing Team powered by All4One, PowerPlay and Provezza.

It was a tough finish for Quantum Racing who led the Royal Cup from day one, but dropped to second in the opening race of the final day when they damaged their forestay and were forced to retire.

The team raced the clock to repair the damage and return to the start for the final race, but it wasn’t their day.

In an intense start to the final race of the Royal Cup the eight teams started clear in a choppy sea state with wind gusts in excess of 25 knots.

Azzurra battled the big breeze with the greatest success to reach to top mark first, followed nine seconds later by Quantum, All4One, Rán, Provezza, Gladiator, PowerPlay and Aquila, who retired shortly after.

The northeasty breeze built to excess of 28 knots as the teams raced against it to the second top mark rounding. Gladiator retired along the way. Azzurra rounded the final mark first, followed by Rán and Quantum.

The team’s reveled in the power-run to the finish with plenty of water awash over the deck as they played the swell. Azzurra crossed first, but the true victory was Ran’s.