| Owner: | Hasso Plattner |
| Sail Number: | RSA5211 |
| Bownumber: | 11 |
| Yacht Club: | Royal Cape Yacht Club |
| Design: | Botin Partners 2018 |
| Builder: | Persico |
About
Famous German owner, SAP computer software co-founder Hasso Plattner has a history in grand prix yacht racing dating back to the dizzy heights of IOR and his Maxis named Morning Glory. Putting a toe into the waters of theTP52 class world he bought the 2014 Phoenix and had such fun racing it that he and daughter Tina joined the circuit for the full 2018 52 SUPER SERIES season with a brand new build Botin designed Phoenix 11.
In 2018 they shared the helming at different regattas with Ed Baird in the tactician’s role supported by Tom Burnham also from Quantum Racing. In Zadar, Tina and the Phoenix team came very close to winning the regatta outright but finished an excellent second, just four points shy of the winning tally of Prada Luna Rossa.
In 2019 the Phoenix team ran two boats, but only the newest boat 11, did the full circuit.
The 2020 season may have been shortened by the global pandemic but not until after a truly triumphant first ever 52 SUPER SERIES regatta in the home of the Phoenix teams, Cape Town, South Africa. As local hosts and sponsors the Plattner family laid on a fantastic regatta and on the waters both Phoenix teams performed well, Hasso’s team coming close to winning the event, taking bullets in two of the first three races and finishing second overall.
Travel from South Africa in 2021 remains difficult but the Plattners have pulled out the stops to have Phoenix 11 on the start line with a team which is a mix of sailors who have been based in Europe for the season and a few others. Tony Norris, project manager, will steer in Puerto Portals, Australia’s 2012 Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winner Tom Slingsby is tactician and will be supported by Cameron Dunn as strategist. Shane Elliot is navigator.
