Please select your home edition
Edition

Rolex TP52 World Championship at Newport, RI - Overall

by 52 Super Series 21 Jul 05:42 BST 15-20 July 2024

Tony Langley's Gladiator became the first British flagged team to lift the Rolex TP52 World Championship title when they emerged from a testing three race finale on Saturday off Newport, Rhode Island with a six points margin over the 2021 world champions Sled and eight on the 2023 champions Platoon Aviation.

With Guillermo Parada steering, backed up by Bruno Zirilli navigator and the owner calling tactics supported by Chris Hosking, the Gladiator team laid the foundations for their first outright regatta success and their first world title together with three back-to-back race wins early in the ten race championship.

They complemented these victories with two second places and some fourths and fifths. They went into the last race today with a seven points lead over Sled which represent the host club the New York Yacht Club. Chasing their rivals across the finish line after a long, tough week on a challenging race course was enough to secure Gladiator the title.

When the Argentinian double world champion and four times 52 SUPER SERIES title winner Parada joined the Gladiator programme before least season Langley passed over the helm to 'Guille' as Langley sought to learn from one of the most accomplished, humble pro sailors on the 52 SUPER SERIES. Immediately it proved a potent combination when they finished third in Saint Tropez, third in Menorca and then third at last year's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Barcelona.

This year they took over the former Alegre and most recently on these same Newport RI waters finished a close second last month behind the Thai Team Vayu, serving notice again that they are potential regatta winners.

This week they have achieved their ultimate accolade so far on the back of their excellent boat speed in the light to moderate breezes, on their careful risk management - prepared to push hard to one side of the course or the other on the strength of their great starting all backed up by good teamwork.

"We have come a long way in one and a half seasons and before that it was a long, long road and this makes it all the sweeter. And especially having our first ever regatta win at a world championship and becoming world champions and right here in Newport, somewhere I love. We started with this new team in Saint Tropez and since then we have had eight regattas and we have developed our processes together, we have a few wobbles but pull ourselves back and here we are." Grinned the delighted owner Tony Langley.

"This is so nice to pick up the first event win for the team at the Rolex TP52 World Championship at the right time, so I am honestly very happy as it was a long and stressful week. We kept our nerves tight and we were able to hold on to our last race. I think everyone will agree we deserved to win. It is such a demanding race course, it is never obvious which side to go. We worked hard on having good starts and having good boat speed and I think we were a little better than the competition." Said Parada who won TP52 world titles with Matador in 2009 and Azzurra in Puerto Portal in 2015.

Takashi Okura's Sled take second place, Mr Okura finishing best owner driver, "It has been an amazing world championship, probably one of the best TP52 World Championships I have ever sailed. I am really so proud what the Sled team have achieved as runners up and World Champion owner driver. Congratulations to Gladiator who sailed a superb regatta and are deserving world champions." Said tactician Ado Stead.

TP52 World Championship 2024 Overall Results:

1. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 9+1+1+1+5+2+5+4+2+10 = 40pts
2. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 2+2+9+6+3+1+2+7+5+9 = 46pts
3. PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Mu¨ller-Spreer, 7+3+4+9+1+4+4+6+8+2 = 48pts
4. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn and Tina Kang, 5+5+5+7+6+9+7+1+4+1 = 50pts
5. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 3+4+6+3+2+10+9+3+6+5 = 51pts
6. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos, 6+10+3+2+8+7+3+9+1+3 = 52pts
7. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 4+8+8+5+9+5+8+8+3+4 = 62pts
8. VAYU (THA), Family Whitcraft, 1+7+2+8+10+8+10+2+9+8 = 65pts
9. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 10+6+7+4+7+3+1+10+10+7 = 65pts
10. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin y Gwen Fragomen, 8+9+11(DNS)+11(DNS)+4+6+6+5+7+6 = 73pts

52 SUPER SERIES 2024 Standings: (after three events)

1. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 37+35+40 = 112pts
2. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos, 27+36+52 = 115pts
3. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 33+42+46 = 121pts
4. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 37+44+51 = 132pts
5. PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Mu¨ller-Spreer, 45+47+48 = 140pts
6. VAYU (THA), Familia Whitcraft, 51+33+65 = 149pts
7. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin y Gwen Fragomen, 32+49+73 = 154pts
8. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn y Tina Kang, 51+58+50 = 159pts
9. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Pethuguenin, 49+51+62 = 162pts
10. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso y Tina Plattner, 77+46+65 = 188pts
11. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 25+88+110 = 223pts

Related Articles

Pics of BWPS Bird Island Race finishers
The clouds cleared as the leaders approached the finish line The clouds cleared late this afternoon as the front runners in the Audi Centre Sydney BWPS Bird Island Race passed Sydney Heads, closing on the finish line. Posted on 16 Nov
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 2024 | TP & Cape31
Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52 Gold Medallists Will Ryan and Tom Burton on the delights of St Tropez on a TP52, and Michael Wilson on the storming Cape 31 Class Posted on 6 Oct
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 8
25 years in the sunshine, an anniversary vintage worth savouring! The magic of Les Voiles was in full force once again for this epic 25th anniversary edition. Boasting weather conditions perfectly tailored to the 250 boats invited to be a part of this grand festival of racing by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez. Posted on 6 Oct
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Day 7
Passion colours the epilogue In Saint Tropez today, the 250 boats out on the racetrack wrote the final chapter of this wonderful 2024 epic of Les Voiles, a fitting title for which might well be '135 years of naval architecture.' Posted on 5 Oct
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Overall
Quantum Racing powered by American Magic win series title The 2024 52 SUPER SERIES championship went to the wire once again. After 41 races at five different regattas, the title has been won by Doug DeVos's Quantum Racing powered by American Magic. Posted on 28 Sep
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup day 4
Super close three cornered title fight for 2024 52 Super Series circuit title set for Saturday After three races contested in very varied offshore wind conditions on the waters off Valencia's famous Malvarrosa Beach three teams go into the final day shoot out for the 2024 circuit title with just four points separating first and third. Posted on 27 Sep
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup day 3
No racing due to big winds in Valencia, Gladiator's title winning chances increase With three races planned for today and forecasts aligning with all major models which predicted winds around 20kts there was considerable disappointment in the Marina of Valencia when competition could not take place. Posted on 26 Sep
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup day 2
Provezza enhance their challenge with race win but Platoon Aviation build late title charge Provezza enhance their Royal Cup challenge with race win but uber consistent Platoon Aviation build their late title charge. Posted on 25 Sep
Valencia 52 Super Series Royal Cup day 1
Provezza on point with early lead Ergin Imre's team with their newly launched Provezza lead the Valencia 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup after the first two races of the final event of the 2024 season were sailed in a testing, shifty light to moderate offshore SW'ly wind. Posted on 24 Sep
Valencia 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup Practice Day
Today proved how close and competitive the decisive final regatta is going to be Two official practice races today proved how close and competitive the decisive final regatta of the 2024 52 SUPER SERIES season, the Valencia 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup is going to be. Posted on 23 Sep