After three year spell confined to racing only in Europe, the 52 Super Series circuit expands its horizons once again for the 2024 season when it will return to race two key regattas in the USA.
While owners and teams have previously loved opening the 52 Super Series seasons of 2013, 2014 and 2017 in the Florida sunshine of Key West and Miami, in 2024 the world's leading grand prix monohull circuit will be hosted for the very first time by the historic New York Yacht Club for two events on the renowned race areas of Newport, Rhode Island, both coinciding with the club's main summer events.
Coming to America?
The decision to go to Newport in 2024 reflects a long held desire of the 52 Super Series owners group, several of whom are members of the historic New York Yacht Club and under whose flag they compete on the circuit, while others have also loved racing at the club's annual summer regattas and want other 52 Super Series teams to come and share the experience. Also there is a strong fleet of TP52s on the Great Lakes and it is hoped that some of these teams will come and dip a toe in the waters of 52 Super Series racing.
Racing from Monday 10th June to Sunday 16th June the second 52 Super Series event of the season will be part of the 170th Annual Regatta. The 52 Super Series Newport Trophy fleet will have a lay day on the Friday which will give the teams the chance to compete in the Annual Regatta's Around-the-Island race.
Then from Monday 15th July to Saturday 20th July the 2024 Rolex TP52 World Championship will also take place on the waters of Narangansett Bay coinciding with the famous Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex.
The commodore of the New York Yacht Club Paul M. Zabetakis, M.D comments,
"For nearly a quarter century the TP52 class has delivered the most refined keelboat racing in the world. The confluence of motivated owners, top professional sailing talent and the most creative yacht designers has consistently produced dynamic racing, with races in the 52 Super Series often decided by feet, if not inches. It makes perfect sense that the New York Yacht Club would host the class's return to the United States for the 2024 Rolex TP52 World Championship. We are very excited to have the 52 Super Series join us in the summer of 2024 for the 170th Annual Regatta and Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex."
But first, Spring into action at PalmaVela
The 2024 season will actually open on Sunday 28th April on the Bay of Palma when the fleet compete until Thursday as part of the extended, annual spring showcase regatta PalmaVela.
Immediately after the prizegiving for the 52 Super Series PalmaVela Sailing Week at the prestigious Real Club Nautico de Palma the fleet will be loaded for shipping across the Atlantic.
Back to the Med in Autumn
After returning from the USA the 52 Super Series circuit resumes racing in the Mediterranean at perennial favourite Puerto Portals, Mallorca 27th August to 1st September.
The climax of the year will be a long overdue return to Valencia when the 52 Super Series fleet will muster back in the iconic Marina Juan Carlos for the last races of the season, the Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, racing from 23rd to 28th September.
CEO of the 52 Super Series Agustin Zulueta enthuses,
"After not having raced in the USA since 2017 and not been out of Europe since Cape Town in February 2020 we are all so very excited about heading to the most prestigious, historic hub of American sailing. Evernote on the 52 Super Series is only too aware of the place of the New York Yacht Club in the history of the America's Cup and Grand Prix sailing, so it is high time the 52 Super Series enjoyed showing off how strong and close our racing is whilst is still remains accessible to discerning, high calibre owners who want to challenge themselves and their crews. We are really looking forwards to meeting new TP52 enthusiasts in Newport and having them join us to experience the 52 Super Series at its best on this famous racing arena. Going to Newport was exactly the mandate of the owners at last year's meeting in Barcelona."
Zulueta concludes,
" The whole fleet is very motivated by the entirety of the 2024 calendar which includes racing in the USA complemented by great regattas in Palma, Puerto Portals, finishing in Valencia at the King Marine facilities in the Marina of the America's Cup. As the 52 Super Series fleet welcomes more and more international teams – we now have two teams from Asia competing, showing a really strong commitment, enjoying their racing with us, and tasting success from time to time – so we do need to keep an open mind and view the horizons as TP52 fleets grow in different strongholds around the world."
Key Dates
52 Super Series PalmaVela Sailing Week, Palma Mallorca, Spain:
27 April, Saturday: Official practice race(s)
28 April, Sunday: WL Races
29 April, Monday: WL Races
30 April, Tuesday: WL Races
1 May, Wednesday: WL Races
2 May, Thursday: WL Races and prize giving ceremony
52 Super Series Newport Trophy, Newport RI, USA:
10 June Monday: Official practice race(s)
11 June, Tuesday: WL Races
12 June, Wednesday: WL Races
13 June, Thursday: WL Races
14 June, Friday: Layday / Around-the-Island Race
15 June, Saturday: WL Races (+ Annual Regatta)
16 June, Sunday: WL Races
ROLEX TP52 World Championship Newport 2024, Newport RI, USA:
15 July, Monday: Official practice race(s)
16 July, Tuesday: WL Races
17 July, Wednesday: WL Races
18 July, Thursday: WL Races
19 July, Friday: WL Races
20 July, Saturday: WL Races
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week, Spain:
27 August, Monday: Official practice race(s)
28 August, Tuesday: WL Races
29 August, Wednesday: WL Races
30 August, Thursday: WL Races
31 August, Friday: WL Races
1 September, Saturday: WL Races
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, Spain:
23 September, Monday: Official practice race(s)
24 September, Tuesday: WL Races
25 September, Wednesday: WL Races
26 September, Thursday: WL Races
27 September, Friday: WL Races
28 September, Saturday: WL Races