The Hong Kong flagged crew of Alpha Plus delivered an exceptional performance today, clinching a third and a first place finish at the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. This strong showing marks the second consecutive day that they have topped the leaderboard, leading on a tie-break from the 2021 World Champions, Sled, who are currently leading the 52 SUPER SERIES.
With Adrian Stead as tactician and Ian Moore navigating, Alpha Plus demonstrated smart racing tactics, minimising risks after solid starts and executing well-managed upwind legs. Their consistent performance saw them finish in the top three at every mark throughout the day.
Luke Van Der Kamp, project manager for Alpha Plus, expressed satisfaction with the team’s strategy, stating, “We just kept things simple and followed our plan, stuck to our processes, didn’t take risks and worked hard. The boat is quick, we are fast!” The team’s efforts were rewarded with a strong showing in light sea breezes, with winds ranging from 9 to 11 knots, leading to intense and exciting racing among the record fleet of 15 boats from 11 nations.
Jean-Luc Petithuguenin’s Paprec team initially took the lead after finishing fourth in the first race, which was won by Brazil’s Crioula. However, Paprec faced challenges in the second race, starting early and finishing ninth, which positioned them fourth overall, just three points behind Alpha Plus.
Pieter Heerema’s No Way Back also showed promise but faced penalties that impacted their standings. Meanwhile, Sled had a solid day, finishing fifth in the first race and securing second place in the second race, sharing the championship lead with Alpha Plus. Harm Müller-Spreer’s Platoon Aviation is closely trailing in third, with only three points separating the top five teams heading into the final two days of racing.
Müller-Spreer remarked on the team’s performance, noting, “Our speed is good now… For sure we can win the world title from here but there are five boats tied together that have a chance and we need a little bit of luck and to stay calm.” Adam Beashel, helm of Sled, highlighted the challenging conditions and the competitive nature of the racing, stating that every inch counts in these tight contests.
The provisional standings for the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo are as follows:
1. Alpha Plus (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 12+12+2+1+3+1 = 31
2. Sled, Takashi Okura, 5+1+6+12+5+2 = 31
3. Platoon Aviation (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 4+6+9+6+2+6 = 33
4. Paprec (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 13+4+1+3+4+9 = 34
5. No Way Back (NED), Pieter Heerema, 6+2+7+8+8+3 = 34
6. Trinity (SWE), Joakim Sundberg, 10+13+3+2+12+4 = 44
7. Alkedo Vitamina (ITA), Andrea Lacorte, 1+9+10+5+6+14 = 45
8. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10+5+13+7+5 = 48
9. Vayu (THA), Whitcraft Family, 3+3+14+11+9+10 = 50
10. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 11+8+4+10+11+7 = 51
11. Crioula (BRA), Eduardo & Renato Plass, 7+11+13+14+1+8 = 54
12. Teasing Machine (FRA), Eric de Turckheim, 2+14+11+9+10+11 = 57
13. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 15+5+8+4+15+15 = 62
14. Caballo Loco (BRA), Mauro Dottori & Fabio Cotrim, 9+7+15+7+13+13 = 64
15. Vudu (ITA), Mauro Gestri, 14+15+12+15+14+12 = 82
Stay tuned for more updates as the championship continues.
##52SuperSeries
52 SUPER SERIES – Pure Performance
www.52superseries.com
Interested in seeing more Racing News? Click here
