As the 2026 racing season quickly approaches, preparations are in full swing for the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, which commences on Tuesday at the Bay of Palma. Fourteen teams from eleven different nations are gearing up for what is expected to be the most closely contested and exhilarating season yet.
Leading up to this inaugural event, most teams conducted testing and training in Valencia and Palma, allowing them to refine their strategies and practices during the PalmaVela regatta from Friday to Sunday.
The increased fleet size introduces significant competition which makes starting positions crucial. With the larger group, stacking up points early on could have lasting consequences throughout the season.
Racing from Tuesday to Saturday is predicted to experience varied conditions. Notably, it is the first season launch from Puerto Portals, and competitors will navigate the unpredictable winds of the Bay of Palma. Jordi Calafat, strategist for the Palma-based Platoon, mentions the potential for atypical conditions with a forecast that might not align with the usual Palma sea breezes, suggesting possible tricky winds and land breezes in the coming days.
Amidst the excitement, three new teams will be looking to establish their presence early in the competition. The Dutch No Way Back will compete with a mostly familiar crew and hopes to continue the success from previous seasons with returning sailors.
The Trinity team, debuting their brand-new boat, is expected to face early challenges, especially in fluctuating winds, but they have a talented tactician in America’s Cup winner Ed Baird. Similarly, the Brazilian team Caballo Loco, formerly known as Phoenix, displayed promising performance during training.
Tony Langley’s Gladiator, last season’s opening regatta winners, have restructured their team dynamics, while Platoon aims to rebound from a disappointing previous season, having also made modifications to their equipment.
Runners-up from the last season, Takashi Okura’s Sled, express confidence in their preparations, having upgraded sails and achieved a strong setup by the end of the previous year.
Live coverage of races will be available through the series’ website and YouTube channel, featuring commentary and updates.
Racing at PalmaVela runs from Friday to Sunday, followed by the official practice day on Monday ahead of the competitive week.
Participating teams include:
– Alegre (GBR) – Andy Soriano
– Alkedo (ITA) – Andrea Lacorte
– Alpha + (HKG) – Shawn and Tina Kang
– Caballo Loco (BRA) – Mauro Dottori / Fabio Cotrim
– Crioula (BRA) – Eduardo Plass / Renato Plass
– Gladiator (GBR) – Tony Langley
– Paprec (FRA) – Jean-Luc Petithuguenin
– Platoon (GER) – Harm Müller-Spreer
– Provezza (TUR) – Ergin Imre
– No Way Back (NED) – Pieter Heerema
– Sled (USA) – Takashi Okura
– Teasing Machine (FRA) – Eric de Turckheim
– Trinity (SWE) – Joakim Sundberg
– Vayu (THA) – Whitcraft Family
52 SUPER SERIES – Pure Performance
www.52superseries.com
#52SuperSeries #sailing #PuertoPortals #PalmaVela #SailingWeek #TeamSpirit
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