The opening day of the 2026 44Cup showcased brilliant sailing conditions off Puerto Calero, with a steady southwest wind building to 15 knots, alongside clear skies. The winter break seemed to have little impact on the teams, with a different winner for each of the first three races at the 44Cup Calero Marinas. Notably, 2025 leaders Team Nika and Aleph Racing experienced mixed results, proving that past performances offer no guarantees in this competitive series.
Following a brief delay to relocate the race course south and avoid erratic winds from mountainous Lanzarote, racing commenced. In the first race, Torbjörn Törnqvist’s Artemis Racing set a strong precedent by starting on port tack, efficiently heading toward the coast where they maintained a lead unchallenged for the rest of the race. Meanwhile, other teams, including Team Aqua, Team Nika, and Aleph Racing struggled, while Mehmet Taki and Murat Edin’s Wow! Sailing Team demonstrated agility, overcoming their disadvantaged position to finish strong until a penalty turn halted their progress.
In the subsequent race, GeMera Racing took advantage of their favourable positioning to assume the lead early on, finishing ahead of both Team Nika and Peninsula Racing. Notably, Aleph Racing regained form to dominate the third race, leading from start to finish. Tactician Pietro Loro Piana acknowledged the complex conditions, expressing optimism about the team’s performance as they shake off the off-season rust.
With a scoreline of 2-1-3, GeMera Racing led the overnight rankings, bolstered by strong teamwork and effective tactics under the guidance of tactician Francesco Bruni. This performance included decisive moves that kept them ahead in nearly every scenario, with their crew reflecting a blend of experienced talent from the America’s Cup and SailGP.
Despite not winning any races, Peninsula Racing finished second overall with a consistent performance, expressing confidence and noting that the competition remains fierce and unpredictable. Tomorrow’s forecast anticipates a shift in wind direction with gusts reaching 20-25 knots, promising a challenging day for the RC44 teams.
44Cup Calero Marinas Day 1 Results:
| Position | Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeMera Racing | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Peninsula Racing | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Artemis Racing | 1 | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Team Charisma | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 5 | Team Aqua | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 6 | Team Nika | 6 | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| 7 | Aleph Racing | 8 | 8 | 1 | 17 |
| 8 | Wow! Sailing Team | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
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