52 Super Series: Range Rover Sailing Week, grand finale kicks off in Costa Smeralda

The final leg of the 52 Super Series, which will crown this year’s series champion, has gotten underway today in Porto Cervo. Proceedings opened with a practice race, followed by the skippers' briefing and a welcome cocktail on the terrace at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS). The 52 Super Series has visited Porto Cervo on several occasions over the years, with the last event held in September 2019 when Azzurra, flying the YCCS burgee and owned by club members the Roemmers family, claimed victory in the championship. 

The Porto Cervo event is supported by Range Rover, an institutional partner of the YCCS, reaffirming the brand's strong ties with the nautical world. 

Rolex is Official Timekeeper of the 52 Super Series and an institutional partner of the YCCS.

A fleet of 13 TP52s will compete on windward-leeward courses from tomorrow through Saturday, September 27th, in the 52 Super Series – Porto Cervo – Range Rover Sailing Week. Widely recognised as the most competitive professional sailing circuit, the TP52 boats are pure racers measuring 15.85 metres, built to a box rule and racing in real time. Within strict dimensional, weight, and technical parameters, designers and teams are free to innovate - pushing the boats to evolve and expanding the boundaries of performance, much like Formula 1.

The 52 Super Series attracts the cream of professional sailors, while owners can choose whether to helm themselves – with a dedicated prize for owner-drivers - or hand the wheel to a professional helmsman. Among the champions racing in Porto Cervo are: Terry Hutchinson and Harry Melges IV (American Magic Quantum Racing), Francesco Bruni and Murray Jones (Sled) Cameron Appleton and Alberto Bolzan (Alkedo), Loick Peyron (Paprec), Vasco Vascotto and Jordi Calafat (Platoon Aviation), Adrian Stead (Alpha +), Paul Goodison and Pietro Sibello (Alegre), Santi Lange and Cole Parada (Provezza), Guille Parada and Ray Davies (Gladiator), to name but a few. On board South African boat Phoenix, the line-up features a veritable dream team in the form of Tom Slingsby, Kyle Langford and Will Ryan.

After four events, the overall leaderboard for the series sees American Magic Quantum Racing firmly in the top spot. Having extended their lead with a third consecutive victory in the Puerto Portals leg in August, they head into the Porto Cervo event with a 41-point advantage over second-placed Sled. For the first time since May, owner Doug DeVos will be back at the helm of American Magic Quantum Racing.

Italian boat Alkedo powered by Vitamina, owned by Andrea Lacorte, sits in third place overall. Making their debut on the circuit this season, the team on Alkedo have achieved this impressive result thanks in part to a great performance in Puerto Portals, where Lacorte claimed fourth place and the prize for top owner-helmsman. The Alkedo hull is a veteran of successful campaigns in the 52 Super Series, competing until 2020 as the most recent Azzurra TP52. Hot on the heels of the Italian team are French entry Paprec along with Platoon Aviation, both pushing hard for a spot on the final podium. 

With competition at such a high level, all is set for a battle to the very last, and nothing can be taken for granted.

During yesterday's training, Cesare Barabino, an ILCA 7 athlete from the Young Azzurra sporting programme, had the chance to race on board Alkedo. He shared his impressions after racing: “It was my first time on a TP52, with a brisk breeze of 15 to 18 knots: a fantastic experience. Watching a top-level team working in complete synergy, with surgical precision, was really exciting. I'm used to racing solo, so observing this perfect harmony between crew and boat was unforgettable. I would like to thank the Alkedo team and owner Andrea Lacorte for welcoming me on board and the YCCS for organizing this experience through the Young Azzurra programme.”

Racing officially begins tomorrow, 23rd September at 12 noon, with forecasts of a Mistral wind of 10-15 knots, strengthening over the course of the day.