An audacious port tack start, the likes of which has not been seen for a long time, was the perfect launch pad for Takashi Okura’s Sled team to win the second race of the Rolex TP52 World Championship. After a hard-earned fifth place in the first race, the 2021 world champions who won last month’s opening event in Mallorca now hold the championship lead, but only on countback from the Whitcraft family’s Vayu team, which achieved two third places.
Racing on the beautiful waters of Costa Smeralda, with smooth seas and breezes from nine to 12 knots, the right side of the upwind legs offered a consistent advantage. This created a scramble to get right from the start line.
The race officer adjusted the course to favour the left end of the start, which the Sled team executed perfectly. They jumped out to an immediate lead, which they extended to secure an impressive victory, particularly given the record entry of 15 teams from 11 nations for this world championship.
Tactician Francesco Bruni expressed satisfaction as he returned to the dock at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, stating, “That second race will be remembered for a long time by all of us. A great start on port tack at the pin end is not something you see every day in the TP52 class, or indeed any class. We’re very proud of our first day. Finishing fifth in the first race after a good recovery was as important as winning the second race. We had planned this start for a couple of days. We know the race committee put some bias on that pin end of the line as everyone wants to go right, so it was good to execute it today. I’m not sure anyone else will be able to do it again for the rest of the week. It’s obviously a risky move, but it was well planned and well executed at just the right time.”
Vayu displayed consistency with four family members aboard, including Dylan at the helm, Shane Elliot navigating, and Manu Weiler calling tactics. They managed to pull away from No Way Back and Platoon Aviation after a tight first windward mark to secure their first of two third places. They replicated their clean and impressive performance in the second race, allowing them to share the regatta lead. Tactician Manu Weiler noted similarities to the previous month at Puerto Portals but expressed optimism about maintaining their position this week, highlighting their good starts, speed, and manoeuvres.
Meanwhile, Dutch owner-driver Pieter Heerema and his No Way Back crew, led by Terry Hutchinson and navigator-strategist Michele Ivaldi, exhibited excellent risk management with solid starting and tactics, finishing sixth and second to secure third position after Day 1 of the five-day championship. Ivaldi commented, “A six and a two is a bit ahead of expectations. Everyone knows this is quite a right-hand track. Today, we started near the middle of the line both times and got two very good starts. The boat is performing well, fast both upwind and downwind, which helped us achieve two good races. I think we will see a very light gradient all week long.”
Rolex TP52 World Championship Porto Cervo 2026 Provisional Standings
- Sled, Takashi Okura, 5+1 = 6
- Vayu (THA), Whitcraft Family, 3+3 = 6
- No Way Back (NED), Pieter Heerema, 6+2 = 8
- Alkedo Vitamina (ITA), Andrea Lacorte, 1+9 = 10
- Platoon Aviation (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 4+6 = 10
- Teasing Machine (FRA), Eric de Turckheim, 2+14 = 16
- Caballo Loco (BRA), Mauro Dottori & Fabio Cotrim, 9+7 = 16
- Paprec (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 13+4 = 17
- Crioula (BRA), Eduardo & Renato Plass, 7+11 = 18
- Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 8+10 = 18
- Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 11+8 = 19
- Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 15+5 = 20
- Trinity (SWE), Joakim Sundberg, 10+13 = 23
- Alpha + (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 12+12 = 24
- Vudu (ITA), Mauro Gestri, 14+15 = 29
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