Menorca has been good to Azzurra when the 52 SUPER SERIES has visited in the past. In 2016 they turned a corner at the Menorca event to convert a bad season to a clear win at the last event in Cascais. And in 2017 the Italian-Argentine team clinched the season-long series title, partying long into the night in Mahón.

Today the Roemmers’ family team made a very strong start to the 2019 52 SUPER SERIES with a second and first from the first two races to jump out to a clear early lead at the Menorca 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.

In light winds, just six to 11 knots of patchy breezes, it was the brand-new, straight-from-the-wrapper Bronenosec that took first blood in Race 1, Day 1 of 2019, to give Russian owner Vladimir Liubomirov the best welcome back to the world’s leading grand prix mononhull circuit after a year out.

With Croatian sailing hero Sime Fantela, the 470 Rio gold medal winner, promoted to the helm on what was his first ever 52 SUPER SERIES race, Bronenosec led all the way round the course to take the first winning gun of a highly anticipated season.

Azzurra started best in the second contest, nailing the pin end of the line to be sure that they – like Bronenosec in the first heat – could not be challenged at all after the windward mark.

While the three-time circuit champions Azzurra had a standout day, the 2018 champions Quantum Racing made a modest start to their title defence with an eighth in the 11-boat fleet in the day’s first race followed by a fifth to lie seventh overall.

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