First 44Cup win for Loro Piana, as Team Nika lifts the 44Cup trophy in Tortola

Today the wind was forecast to be a 15-18 knot easterly, but a cell passed through overnight leaving the St Francis Drake Channel with little wind. Nonetheless by the 1100 start time the wind had filled in and for race two crews were changing to J2 headsails, the wind building to 15+ knots. 

Despite being close at the outset, back-to-back wins in todays’ first two races won Aleph Racing the regatta. Sealed with a third in the final race, the French team – steered here by Pietro Loro Piana – finished eight points ahead of Charisma. 

While Aleph Racing has won a 44Cup event before, this was a first for Loro Piana. “After Chris [Bake, Team Aqua] threw me in the water, I started realising what we’ve done!” commented Loro Piana, who stood in for owner Hugues Lepic at four events this season. “It was a beautiful day. I am happy because the team deserved it. I made a lot of mistakes putting Michele [Ivaldi tactician] in difficult situations. He has done a great job and he really pulled something out of his head today [with their two wins]. I am very happy with the result.” 

And celebrations? “A couple of days ago I ‘exaggerating’ a bit... Yesterday I behaved a bit better. Tonight – no more excuses. I hope to take the boys out for ‘a couple’ of painkillers.” (A painkiller being the local pineapple and rum-based hooch favoured in the BVI). 

Of their two races wins today, Ivaldi explained: “In the first one, we got in the lead pretty early. The second one came in the last run - I was really pleased about that. The boat is going super well. Pietro and the trimmers are keeping the boat fast. Our manoeuvres were flawless. This group of guys is unbelievable. I can put the boat wherever I want and they will get us there. The gybes and roundings were good, so you start gaining in those and life gets easier. Thanks to Paul [Wilcox, main trimmer] - we had two sets of eyes looking out of the boat. We got some good shifts, good pressure and were in phase. Today was one of those days when everything clicked.

“Hugues [Lepic] sent us a message as we crossed the line. He has been fully behind us and I thank him for supporting us - he is the heart of this team.” 

Special mention today should be made of Chris Bake’s Team Aqua, which after their exceptional Saturday was once again in the hunt today posting a 2-4-1. Meanwhile Team Nika squeaked onto the podium, tied with Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref Vaider, just one point ahead of John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing. 

Aside from the Aleph Racing team, happiest this evening are Vladimir Prosikhin, tactician Nic Asher and Team Nika, winners of the 2024 44Cup.  

“I didn’t drive well here, but in the end, it's been a great season,” enthuses Prosikhin. “Finishing third here was a cherry on top.” This season Team Nika has podiumed in four of the five events, winning the World Championship in Brunnen. They discarded a seventh in Marstrand when their trim tab broke.

While Team Nika is four time 44Cup World Champion, this is only their second time 44Cup season victory (the last time in 2015), having held the 44Cup leader’s ‘golden wheels’ since winning in Puerto Calero in March. “It is a big deal for me,” continued Prosikhin. “Nic is very good, also we have a very nice, stable crew. The boat captain did a very good job. You can’t be the best at everything, but you have to perform stabily and be consistent.”

Team Nika has been through the very best tacticians in the world including Russell Coutts, Dean Barker, Ed Baird, Terry Hutchinson and Tom Slingsby. Since 2022, former 470 World Champion Nic Asher has been calling the shots on board.  

“We are super happy,” said Asher. “This event was tricky and I wasn’t on my best form, but the guys did a great job and pulled me through.”

As to why Team Nika won: “We’ve had a good plan for the last couple of years. Pierluigi [De Felice], Skip [Baxter] and Hookie [Robert Hook] have done a nice job with the sails. We went heavier with our crew and got two younger, stronger guys, which was a big gain. Vladimir has been good – especially in breeze and we’ve been working on the light stuff.”

The only threat to Team Nika’s beloved golden wheels has been Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref Vaider, but the Slovenian team had to put four boats between them in the results here – a tall order. 

“We were struggling all the time, trying to get in front, but we just didn’t manage it,” conceded Lah. “I congratulate Nika - they did a great job. But we are here next year, so it is an open competition again.”

The 44Cup resumes again here in Nanny Cay, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands over 13-16 February 2025.