‘A spanking good day?’

Barcelona is expected to turn on a day of great conditions for the second day of the 52 SUPER SERIES at Barcelona’s Trofeo de Vela Conde del Godo. According to morning predictions around the dock at the Real Club Nautico de Barcelona, the seabreeze should hit 20kts by mid to late afternoon.

With three good race in the bag from Day 1, the question which will be answered soon is whether the race officer chooses to wait for the stronger breeze or goes on time at midday.
Among the 52’s opinions might be divided, but certainly for the 52 Super Series leaders Audi Azzurra Sailing Team, they are open minded.

There will be a good breeze today, up to 20kts, and so we should get two good races away, maybe the stronger breeze is later. But for us we are happy to go at 12 o’clock when it is 12 or 13kts, whatever.
Bruno Zirilli (ITA) the Azzurra navigator

I think it should be a spanking good Barcelona day. We are ahead of schedule in having three races yesterday and so it would be good if Maria puts up the red and white ‘coffee time’ flag!
Trimmer Simon Fry

In terms of our performance profile we have pretty much exactly what Marcelino Botin said we would get. We are fast upwind and have to work very hard downwind in 12-14kts, but we can improve that. Our execution at the top mark was poor in the third race, we did not do ourselves any favours. We have a couple of little teaks to make.
I think these little match race outbreaks will be the flavour of this season. You wil;l see boats going in all different directions, shouting, flags, and you have to accept that. It will be good to watch. If you get the chance to put your foot on someone’s throat then you do.
Trimmer Simon Fry

Audi Sailing Team Powered by ALL4ONE join the fleet today after the repair they needed after a tough delivery passage.
All through this season the 52’s will race carrying a memorial tribute to John Cook, the popular owner-skipper of Cristabella who passed away in late April. Each boat will have a small sticker ‘John Cook, Cristabella’ placed adjacent to the guest’s position at the back of the boat.