52 Super Series. Some Images of the ‘Phoenix’ Yachts

There those socks again! There is no love lost between the teams of the ‘Phoenix’ boats when in combat on the water.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za

by Richard Crockett

International sailing competition at its consummate best was presented on Cape Town waters last week during the Odzala Discovery Camps 52 SUPER SERIES V&A Waterfront regatta.

For the locals it was compelling watching for many different reasons, and for those who have not yet had their fill of these mouth-watering boats, their very slick crew in action on the water, and the fascination of some of the closest yacht racing one will ever see on our waters, there’s more to come in the form of the Rolex TP52 World Championship Cape Town 2020 at the end of this month.

If you did not witness the racing last week, pencil in these dates – 31 March to 4 April – and get here. You will not regret it.

A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the Plattner family, and others, for bringing these events to our shores.

I thoroughly enjoyed the week, and leave you with a small selection of my memories of the Plattner campaigned ‘Phoenix’ yachts.

Enjoy.

Will they squeeze through that small gap?
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Hard on the wind heading into Granger Bay.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Bowsprit to bowsprit as the ‘Phoenix’ boats cross each other.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
The first upwind leg was always a close affair.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Both ‘Phoenix’ boats with the iconic Table Mountain keeping a weather eye on them.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Upwind and into the fog!
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Paul Willcox, the mainsheet trimmer on ‘Phoenix 11’, keeps helmsman Hasso Plattner fully aware of what is happening around them.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Closing fast and breathing down the opposition transom. The racing was always close.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Both ‘Phoenix’ boats closing the shoreline in the fog.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Fog invaded the race course at times, but this did not deter the closeness of the racing.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Blasting along in the region of 20 knots.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
This international fleet came to Cape to Cape Town for this view – and our great sailing waters too!
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
Hiking hard and far to get as much weight as possible outboard.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za
In the pre-start. All the crew in place and ready for action.
pic by Richard Crockett/Sailing Mag/www.sailing.co.za

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