Winning the final race in Barcelona Quantum Racing, skippered by Ed Baird with Terry Hutchinson as tactician, contributed all that they could to lifting the Conde de Godo Trophy regatta for the second year in a row, but with long time event leaders Azzurra slumping to a dramatic seventh place at the same time, the American team did have a little unexpected assistance from their main rivals.
Race start. Image copyright Xaume Olleros/52superseries.com
Azzurra went into Sunday's only race with a lead of two points on Quantum Racing and four on Niklas Zennstrom's Ran Racing, but the defending 2012 52 Super Series champions Azzurra had only a modest first beat and then were penalised for fouling Interlodge at the spreader mark spinnaker hoist.
Required to take a penalty turn Azzurra's hopes of winning the regatta evaporated at that point. There was no coming back for them as Quantum Racing were already half a mile down the first run, sailing securely and confidently to take the winning gun and with it the Conde de Godo Trophy and draw first blood on the 2013 52 Super Series.
Ran Racing's second place, with Azzurra seventh gives Zennstrom's world champions crew second overall in Barcelona, the city where they won their first 52 regatta as a team in 2011.
Barcelona delivered a potent mix of breezes including two memorable days when the early season winds were consistently over 20kts, complemented nicely by Sunday's 11-15kts showdown.
Trofeo Conde de Godo, standings after eight races
1. Quantum Racing, USA, 18 points
2. Ran, SWE, 21
3. Azzurra, ITA, 22
4. Gladiator, GBR, 35
5. Interlodge, USA, 35
6. Rio, USA, 45
7. Provezza, TUR, 48
52 syuper Series
