Scarlino Will See Changes Among Top Contenders As 52 SUPER SERIES’ Royal Cup Comes to Tuscany
The fourth regatta of the five event 2022 52 SUPER SERIES season opens Monday in beautiful Tuscany, Italy with the official practice race for the Royal Cup 52 SUPER SERIES Scarlino.
Points scoring starts Tuesday on racing waters that the world’s leading grand prix monohull circuit has visited twice, for the first time in 2016 when Quantum Racing won and then in 2017 when Platoon lifted the Rolex TP52 World Championship title.
But before racing starts the competing teams will be doubly focused on making the very best use of practice time. Several crews have changes – some by choice, others by necessity – which will need as much time and carefully optimised effort to ensure performance is the best it can be come Tuesday and beyond. And even for others with no changes, after exactly two months away from 52 SUPER SERIES racing a few drills and practice starts will surely not go amiss.
After winning in Puerto Portals, Mallorca in late July the Plattner family’s Phoenix hold a narrow circuit lead of just two points, over Doug DeVos’ Quantum Racing which won the first two regattas of the season. The Phoenix team are proud to welcome back owner-driver Hasso Plattner on board to steer Phoenix at his first 52 SUPER SERIES event since Cape Town in 2020.
The Royal Cup
The Royal Cup is one of the TP52 class’s most prestigious trophies, usually raced for annually. The holders are Platoon, winners of the huge trophy in Menorca last year. The Royal Cup, or in full, the Royal Cup Challenge Trophy, was originally donated in 1995 as a challenge trophy for IMS50 racing by King Harald of Norway, Pasquale Landolfi, Willi Illbruck and Yannis Costopoulos as a top award in what was then the world’s premier level rating class. The TP52 has been the natural successor to that class, the Royal Cup being first presented in the first year of the 52 SUPER SERIES, 2012. Only Quantum Racing has won the Royal Cup twice, in 2013 and 2014. Other winners include Rán Racing, Azzurra, Luna Rossa and Provezza. From the IMS 50 days famous boat and owner names inscribed on the massive trophy are: 1995 ,1996 and 2001 Brava Q8, P. Landolfi, in 1996 Mean Machine, P. de Ridder and in 2000, Innovision 7, H. J. Eekhof.
Racing starts Monday with the official practice race and runs Tuesday to Saturday.
52 SUPER SERIES 2022 Overall Ranking after three regattas, Baiona, Cascais, Puerto Portals:
1 PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso & Tina Plattner, 27+42+25 = 94 pts.
2 QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 19+33+44 = 96 pts.
3 PLATOON (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 26+40+51 = 117 pts.
4 SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 43,5+44+36 = 123,5 pts.
5 ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 43+41+52 = 136 pts.
6 PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 61+54+42 = 157 pts.
7 INTERLODGE (USA), Austin & Gwen Fragomen, 39+71+50 = 160 pts.
8 VAYU (THAI), Whitcraft Family, 45+54+79 = 178 pts.
9 GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 60+73+71 = 204 pts
TEASER – Royal Cup 52 SUPER SERIES Scarlino 2022
