Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo by Range Rover - Day 1

by 52 Super Series 23 Sep 18:10 UTC 21-27 September 2025

Takashi Okura's Sled lead the 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta after the first two windward leeward races.

With Italy's Francesco Bruni calling tactics, aided by six times America's Cup winner Murray Jones, owner Okura steered Sled to a fourth and a second to earn a one point margin over Hasso and Tina Plattner's Phoenix which welcomes Tom Slingsby back as tactician, sailing with fellow Aussie gold medallist Will Ryan.

After winning Race 1 of the regatta Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation were denied the chance to complement that victory with another strong score, when they were struck by Gladiator during the starting sequence to Race 2 which was subsequently recalled. The 2023 champions Platoon had to return to the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda dock with a crew injury, and to effect composite repairs to their starboard aft quarter. They receive average points, 6.5 in the 13 boat fleet, and lie third overall.

Racing in a building W'ly breeze which topped 18kts in the second race it was the French team on Paprec which made the best start to the first race to lead down the first run. The French and German crews fought round the track and were still close at the final windward turn but Platoon Aviation, led by tactician Vasco Vascotto, found more breeze on the final sprint and just pipped Paprec to second at the finish line.

In the second race a start off the pin end of the line was the foundation for a good race win for Shawn and Tina Kang's Hong Kong crew on Alpha +. After a 13th in the first race Alpha + held off the challenge from Sled whilst Andy Soriano's Alegre took third.

2025 circuit leaders American Magic Quantum Racing, with Doug DeVos steering this week, made a relatively modest start with a 10th and eighth. In the first race they recovered from the back of the fleet on the first upwind to be up to fifth on the final run, but then dropped places into the finish. And in the second heat they were overlapped with Alpha + at the first top mark, sharing the lead, but lost positions in the highly competitive fleet which is very keyed up for this finale to the season, as could be seen on the start lines.

Owner-driver DeVos remarked, "It was a tough day out there but that is what this class is. It is a reminder how close this racing is but it was great to be out there fighting for every position. We learned we need to get better. We had some good moments where we were moving through the fleet in good positions, we got round the top mark in first but to then finish where we did (eighth) really hurt. We learn that we have to better on all aspects, you cannot just have one aspect working at a time."

Sled's tactician Bruni reported, "We had two good races today, we were not particularly good on the starts, but we went well after that. The boat is going fast, especially upwind. I am happy with the way the team is sailing, especially Mr Okura who steps onto the boat at the last minute and is doing a fantastic job steering. And so we had two good clean races, we had a few moments where we just crossed some boats, but the luck was on our side today."

Platoon Aviation's Víctor Mariño explained: "The collision occurred during a tight start by the pin end of the line. Gladiator tried to squeeze into a space which wasn't really there and hooked our stern with her bowsprit. It broke part of the stern structure of the boat. The bowsprit hit Gerdy (Gerd Haberdmuller) in the ribs, but fortunately as far as we know it was only a bruise. As for the boat the shore team will have a long night ahead of them."

52 Super Series Porto Cervo-Range Rover Leaderboard after Day 1:

1. Sled, USA, Takashi Okura, 4+2= 6pts
2. Phoenix, RSA, Tina & Hasso Plattner, 3+4= 7pts
3. Platoon Aviation, GER, Harm Müller-Spreer, 1+6,5(RDG)= 7,5pts
4. Alegre, GBR, Andy Soriano, 6+3= 9pts
5. Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 2+9 = 11pts
6. Alpha+, HKG, Shawn & Tina Kang, 13+1= 14pts
7. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 11+5= 16pts
8. Crioula, BRA, Eduardo & Renato Plass, 5+11= 16pts
9. Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley, 7+6(+3)= 16pts
10. Alkedo, ITA, Andrea Lacorte, 8+7 = 16pts
11. American Magic Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos, 10+8 = 18pts
12. Vayu, THA, Whitcraft Family, 8+10= 18pts
13. Teasing Machine, FRA, Eric de Turckheim, 12+12= 24pts

Related Articles

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 2
One hundred years of naval architecture At the stroke of 10 this morning in bright sunshine, the kilted crewman on Elena of London breathed life into his bagpipes to signal the Tradition yachts' departure from the port of St Tropez. Posted on 30 Sep
Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 1 Ingrid Abery Gallery
She knew just where to be to catch the autumn light on the stunning yachts The one and only Ingrid Abery is in Saint-Tropez for Les Voiles, and knew just where to be to catch the autumn light at its best on day one of the regatta. Enjoy some of her great shots here! Posted on 30 Sep
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 1
A dazzling start in light airs and glorious sunshine Light airs and glorious sunshine dominated play on this first day of competition in the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 29 Sep
The Gulf of St Tropez in her Sunday best
Racing at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez starts tomorrow The gentle majesty of sail was omnipresent in the port of St Tropez this Sunday, where large crowds of visitors had the chance to enjoy a foretaste of the showstopping spectacle that will grace the race zones from tomorrow. Posted on 28 Sep
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 1 Season 3
Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks Admiral's Cup, Hobart, Hammo and a heap more... Episode One - Straight from the Admiral's Cup and Hamilton Island Race Week, Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks about those events, the impending 80th Hobart, and pathways into sailing. Lots to learn, so strap in for a terrific time. Posted on 27 Sep
Sunshine vibes at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
The Village des Voiles opened its doors this morning The Village des Voiles opened its doors wide to the public this morning at 9 am and it was officially inaugurated on Sunday at 5 pm. Posted on 27 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo overall
Concluding an 18 year journey, American Magic Quantum Racing sign off at the top with a 7th title Doug DeVos and the American Magic Quantum Racing team lifted their seventh season championship title today in Sardinia, Italy at the conclusion of the 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo Range Rover Sailing Week. Posted on 27 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Overall
Sled wins the event, American Magic Quantum Racing wins the 2025 circuit The 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week ended with a 6-point victory for Takashi Okura's American boat Sled, with Italian Checco Bruni as tactician, ahead of Tina and Hasso Plattner's Phoenix, which had Tom Slingsby as tactician. Posted on 27 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo Day 4
Vayu wins the only race of the day The fourth day of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week started punctually at 12 noon (CEST) when the Race Committee started the first and only race in a 10 knots Mistral. Posted on 26 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 4
Sled look to close out regatta win, American Magic Quantum Racing on the cusp of swansong 7th title The penultimate day of racing proved to be a sharp contrast to the two previous days of strong Mistral winds presenting the 13 teams from ten different nations with a different challenge as the conclusion of the 2025 season approaches. Posted on 26 Sep
Maritimo S SeriesPalm Beach Motor Yachts