44Cup Porto Cervo - Overall

Vladimir Prosikhin, tactician Nic Asher and Team Nika provided a masterclass in RC44 racing on the final day of the 44Cup Porto Cervo, organised between the RC44 Class and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

In addition, wholely unexpected was the podium for the event being filled with the 44Cup's first father and son team of Torbjörn and Markus Törnqvist and their two boats.

With the wind finally into the prevailing westerly Mistral direction, for the final day of racing PRO Maria Torrijo moved the course up into the mouth of 'Bomb Alley'. Here the 11 RC44 teams got to experience one of the world's most spectacular racing areas with the flat water and stiff breeze funnelling down between La Maddalena archipelago and the Sardinian coastline, with its craggy mountainous sandstone backdrop. After two light days, a breezy one and culminating in this, the Costa Smeralda delivered a complete test for the crews of the high performance, owner-driver one designs.

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

The final day dawned with Team Nika leading Artemis Racing by a mere point. The Swedish team set out delivering what should have been a knock-out blow in the pre-start of the first race when they pushed Team Nika on the wrong side of the committee boat. Thus Team Nika started resoundingly last. But up the beat they pulled onto the starboard lay line early thereby avoiding Wow! Sailing Team being stalled at the top mark (which forced Peninsula Racing to circle back round) and had pulled up to fourth as Hugues Lepic's Aleph Racing led down the run.

A penalty for the French team for going beyond head to wind at the top mark forced them out of the running and with this Torbjörn Törnqvist's Artemis Racing and Markus Törnqvist's GeMera moved into first and second respectively. GeMera was first to the leeward gate but by this point Team Nika was up to second and by going left up the next beat she took the lead with Nico Poons' Team Charisma finishing second and Artemis Racing fourth.

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

It can take new RC44 teams seasons before they win races, however GeMera has been fast tracked by an experienced tactician fresh from the America's Cup in Francesco Bruni and an AC and SailGP A-list crew and coaches. In the second race GeMera picked a good lane upon which to tack, enabling her to nose ahead. At the top mark it was once again a father and son 1-2 with Artemis Racing rounding first with GeMera outside her and taking the lead on the run. Chris Bake's Team Aqua had pulled up to second by the leeward gate but up the second beat GeMera extended, Markus Törnqvist earning his first bullet and in doing so displacing Christian Zuerrer's Black Star Sailing team from the bottom rung of the podium.

Going into the final race Team Nika was leading but only by three points from Artemis Racing. In this Team Nika sat on her opponent on the first upwind with good effect, rounding in third with the Swedish team eighth. Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team put in the best first beat and led on to the run but here she was rolled and then picked up a penalty after her spinnaker touched Team Aqua, dropping her to last place. This left the race for the lead as a two way fight between Charisma and Team Nika, with Team Nika going on to score her second bullet of the day. Artemis Racing's fourth saw her finish seven points adrift of the leader with GeMera an additional 11 points behind in third.

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

With the 44Cup Nanny Cay winner Charisma finishing fourth, Team Nika has moved into the lead of the 2025 44Cup, recovering 'her' golden wheels, the 44Cup's equivalent of the Tour de France's yellow jersey.

"We are in the best shape at the moment," commented Prosikhin. "In that first race to come from last six boatlengths behind the whole fleet to first - that's rare. Somehow we were climbing upwind and downwind, with excellent boat speed and synchronisation and manoeuvres. This fleet is so equal you need everything to win: the best trimmers to be on fire. Skip [Baxter - main trimmer] is usually a bit more relaxed but today he was trimming every single degree. You need all these details and everything to come together - best starts, best speed, best work of each crew. And that happened to us this time. It's extremely enjoyable, because it's so difficult."

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

The Törnqvists' Artemis Racing and GeMera taking the remaining two spots on the podium was especially remarkable, GeMera perhaps the first team ever to podium at their first 44Cup regatta.

"When we came into this we didn't think we were going to do well," admitted Markus. "Obviously in the first days we were struggling, not only with boat speed, but with boat handling too. But I think we got to grips with it and we ended up performing way better than anyone thought."

Having his son as competition seems to have motivated Torbjörn. "It's a big inspiration to have Markus around here. All the progress he's making, is great."

"We are super happy that we did a very great event," said GeMera tactician Francesco Bruni. "Today was a magic day, but to be fair the whole week was good. We made a few mistakes here and there, but in general we have achieved a result that was well above our expectations. I'm very impressed with Markus. His concentration is really amazing. I'm super happy and I think we can do great things during the season."

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

After an inconsistent start to the event, Nico Poons' Charisma finished on a high with the second best score of the day. "In the beginning, we couldn't come up to speed. Too many things were going wrong," admitted Poons, who has raced in Porto Cervo many times before, albeit this being only his second time with the 44Cup.

The 44Cup resumes in Marstrand, Sweden over 24-28 June.

44Cup Porto Cervo final day - photo © Nico Martinez / 44Cup

Overall Results