'Sled sways in the second journey of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week

With a victory today in Race 2 of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week on the Bay of Palma, Takashi Okura’s Sled move into second place on the 12 boat leaderboard some five points behind Andy Soriano’s regatta leaders Alegre which took a well earned second in the only contest to be sailed yesterday, August 20th.

In the face of a very dynamic and unsettled weather situation over the Balearic islands, the race management team made the call to try and start early in the day. Rewarded by the first build of the sea breeze, sailing in six to eight knots of wind, Sled led at the top mark on the first circuit and were comfortably clear by the finish.

Andy Soriano and his team moved up to second on the final run, outgybng the world champions ‘American Magic Quantum Racing’, to roll through them with better speed and earn a 1,2 scoreline from the first two races sailed.

Race 3 was started but due to the proximity of the incoming thunder cells to the west of the race course the contest was abandoned and the fleet brought back ashore to Puerto Portals.

After results of 10th, 10th and sixth from the regattas so far this season, ‘Alegre’ is showing well so far with new tactician Paul Goodison joining the afterguard, but the annual event on the Bay of Palma is always popular with families and the added support ashore is seen as a big positive in the ‘Alegre’ camps. In particular owner Soriano encourages and facilitates his team sailors benefiting from a strong family atmosphere ashore.

“We were very happy with the result again today, I feel we sailed a good, clean race with good comms all around and Paul (Goodison) is getting into this really nicely.  The last few years we have run this with everyone who wants to have their family here are invited to come and it creates a great atmosphere and so it is nice when so far we can produce some nice results.” Enthuses Sebastian Tenghage, project manager and forward grinder.

‘Sled’, which lies second overall on the circuit standings are now tied at this regatta with ‘American Magic’ after their race win yesterday, the first in a while for owner Takashi Okura on the helm.

“Our boatspeed is quite good upwind and we tacked in a good lane to get across and the lane was really good, and it was really down to that. There is such a fine line between a good race and a bad race in this fleet now. It is a great to have a win with Mr Okura on the helm, it Is great for him and he really enjoyed it.” Reported Murray Jones, six times America’s Cup winner, strategist on Sled.

‘American Magic Quantum Racing’, with Harry Melges IV steering, lies third tied on the same eight points tally as Sled.

Three races are scheduled for Thursday.

Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week – Provisional Leaderboard