Perfect light, a perfect fleet of real grand prix racers at a perfect venue, all of it superbly captured here by Nico Martinez. Who would have guessed that the TP52 Super Series would enjoy its first ‘trip’ to St Tropez? The venue was hardly new for most of the yachts’ owners and crews, for whom Brigitte Bardot’s hometown is familiar stamping ground for major regattas, including Les Voiles (the former, much lamented Nioulargue) and more recently for the French round of SailGP. For the luckiest TP52 skippers there is not even a need to secure temporary accommodation…
when it comes to showing and promoting our racing. I do not like to compare different types of boats, or racing – we are not a super- market trying to make potential customers believe we provide the same for less money, or better quality for the same money. If sailing does well we all benefit; owners, sailors, manufacturers, clubs, classes, events, and so on. There is room for all kinds of boats and sailing… Except on the event calendar, where we are limited by the number of days in the year and the sailing seasons worldwide.
Further away I am excited to see that after several attempts there is finally a structure in place to consolidate TP52 sailing in Australia, with 12 active members plus an elected class president and mutually organised class management. An obvious step forwards but not that easy to achieve, certainly not if it’s to last. With a big smile I saw the TP52 class logo in Australian colours to identify their effort. Again obvious choice, I cannot imagine a better image to send the message. Then to hear that Marcus Black- more is building a new TP52 to the Australian TP52 rule, also that he is planning to visit the 52 Super Series event in Scarlino to see how 52 Super Series runs things. Another big smile. I still remember the conversations and beers we shared when he came down to the Med well over 10 years ago to buy series champion Emirates Team New Zealand. A great fan and promoter of our sport.
And when it rains it pours. Also within the 52 Super Series fleet a new build is announced with rumours that two or three more new boats are seriously being considered gaining more credence by the week. Great, building new shows real longterm confidence. There is no better advertisement than that.
Over a week now from starting this article, close to having to send it in, and yesterday we had the prizegiving of the 52 Super Series Saint-Tropez Sailing Week. I witnessed Ergin Imre and team Provezza win the event and Saint-Tropez win all our often sceptical hearts when it comes to new venues, as I hoped would happen. All helped by good sailing conditions permitting the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez race committee, headed by ‘our’ Maria Torrija, to fit in a full eight races.
The 52 Super Series also won the hearts of the ‘locals’… yes, we are a good show even measured by Saint-Tropez standards. So the conclusion is that we shall be back and from the perspective of our new Tropezian friends the sooner the better. I am pleased, we all win; owners, sailors, organisers, clubs, town, harbour authority and so on, up to the ice cream parlour opposite where the TP52s are berthed.
Finally, team Provezza is and always will be a mix of close friends of owner Ergin Imre, along with pro sailors from all over the world. With time and age the number of amateur sailors onboard has dropped somewhat from the original 50-50 mix, but the friends are there, cheering from the support tender and supporting Ergin wherever they can.
Provezza in many ways resembles a family team, Saint-Tropez fitting them like a glove. So good to see the team withstand the big pressure of a tough final day; race 7 brought Quantum to be tied in points alongside Provezza, but then race 8 with Provezza finishing second and Quantum eighth saw the Turkish team 6pt clear for the event. And so too for this year’s overall scoring!! Quite an international family, sure, three from Turkey, seven Kiwis, two from Spain and one each from Argentina, Italy and the UK. I am tempted to type down all their names and indeed the names of all who race or work in or for the 52 Super Series, but that would require another page or two. Much better for our readers to drop by at one of the 52 Super Series events. I will be happy to show you around. Rob Weiland, TP52 class manager
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