At the Rolex TP52 World Championship, constancy is the key to success after two days: Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" crew was the only team able to achieve top three positions in a total of four races on the first two days. The reward for the good performance: The Hamburg crew leads the championship standings with nine points and three points ahead of Doug DeVos' "Quantum Racing" (twelve points). "Azzurra" was initially in third place.
"Platoon" on the World Championship course in front of Scarlino
"Platoons" mainsail trimmer Dirk de Ridder explained the successful start: "On the second day we had very good starts. Our speed is good enough. So once you can sail freely after a good start, life in the front will be easier. We feel at home The turning winds are quite comfortable. Our boat is a little narrower at the level of the waterline (Ed.: than the Botín designs). So when we are in motion, it runs. With 'Rán' it is the same. I think it is one of those Vrolijk thing, that these boats are so fast ahead of the wind."
Photo art by Nico Martinez at the TP52 World Championship in front of Scarlino
In the meantime also on the wind on the move: the downwind rocket "Platoon"
The "platoon" crew with helmsman Harm Müller-Spreer, tactician and America's Cup winner John Kostecki, his brother-in-law and trimmer Dirk de Ridder as well as other well-known professionals already had a chance for experts in the fight with the dominant TP52 sizes before the start of the World Cup "Quantum Racing", "Azzurra" and "Rán" granted. Müller-Spreer returned to the 52 Super Series in 2015 after a seven-year break. The three-time Dragon Gold Cup winner from the Elbe had changed the crew several times and now apparently found his ideal solution. Last year the team switched to Quantum sails and formed a training partnership with the dominant Quantum Racing team.
Now chase the "platoon" crew: the American team Quantum Racing
In addition to Kostecki and De Ridder, the Spanish America's Cup winner Jordi Calafat is in action on "Platoon". The two-year-old boat is considered a downwind rocket, but can now also keep up on all other sections of the course. "Platoon" was built at Premier Composites Technologies. The crew undertook intensive optimization in winter 2015/16. Before the start of the World Cup, Harm Müller-Spreer said: "We are very well prepared, but there are three or four boats that can win the title. And yes, it would be nice to assume that we are one of these teams."
You can find the results here.
Back in action for the Swedish Rán Racing team: Nacra 17 Olympian CarolinWerner from Kiel