| Owner: | Alberto / Pablo Roemmers |
| Sail Number: | ITA 280 |
| Bownumber: | 01 |
| Yacht Club: | Yacht Club Costa Smeralda |
| Design: | Botin Partners (2018) |
| Builder: | King Marine |
About
The Italian-Argentine team is, in essence, a family team for the Roemmers, father Alberto and sons Alberto Jr and Pablo. The core team started out as Matador and have been racing TP52s since 2007. The team are past TP52 World Champions, winning in 2009 in Palma before their success in 2015. And Azzurra, of course, represent the emblematic colours of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.
Azzurra won the 52 SUPER SERIES in 2015. That title was built on early season successes, bolstered by a points bounty at the 52 World Championship where they were head and shoulders better than their out of form rivals. Quantum Racing were winning from the Copa del Rey, but Azzurra had done their best work earlier in the season.
In contrast, early season in 2016, Azzurra were unable to impose themselves as they did before. They were a click off the pace and so were forced to take risks. But they worked hard and smart, burning midnight oil through the mid-season and reaping the rewards later – winning nine races in the final two regattas but it was too little too late and Quantum won the championship.
In 2017, they took a leaf from Quantum Racing’s book and made sure they were simply better from the get-go. The fiery Latino temperament mixed with Vasco Vascotto’s Italian flair and charisma worked hand in hand this season. Once more, the solid, largely unchanged, settled crew line-up pays a dividend. Some of the core Argentinian crew members started with skipper-helm Guillermo Parada and the Roemmers family some 30 years ago. They made sure they had improved on any speed deficit they felt they had last year. Regatta title winners in Miami and Mahón, they held their nerve to win the circuit title.
