Alpha+ (bow number 46) and Sled (bow number 05) duelling on the race course, Rolex TP52 World Championship - photo © Nico Martinez / 52 Super Series
It was noted in the run-up to this championship that most of the 15 boats taking part had a realistic shot at the title. With one day to go, that assessment seems a valid one since no clear leader has emerged and the margins remain wafer-thin, with the top six boats separated by just 10 points.
The provisional overall standings see Alpha+ (scoring 5-7 today) holding onto the lead with 43 points, just one point ahead of Sled (4-9). Today’s result for Trinity Racing sees the Scandinavian team climb to third place in the World Championship with 48 points. Tied on 51 points are Alkedo Vitamina (2-4) and Platoon Aviation (10-8), while Paprec (8-11) slips to sixth place on 53 points.
With two races still to sail tomorrow in light breezes, nothing is decided, and the battle for the title may well come down to the final race of the series.
Race seven, the first of the day, started at 1 p.m. CEST in 7 to 8 knots from the east-southeast. Victory went to Thai entry Vayu, with Manu Weiller on tactics, which emerged from a tightly bunched group after the first upwind leg, followed by Alkedo Vitamina and Trinity Racing, who went on to finish in that order. Fourth and fifth places went to Sled and Alpha+, sitting at the top of the overall standings.
In the second race, with the wind having picked up to around 9 to 10 knots, Trinity Racing prevailed over the Brazilian crew of Crioula. Third place went to Turkish team Provezza, with Argentinians Cole Parada and Santi Lange in the afterguard. The race turned on a few key moments, particularly at the start and the first windward mark. Provezza, Sled and Platoon – the latter extremely fast and right on time on the line – got away from the pin end in that order, but Sled found themselves squeezed between their two rivals, forced to tack and left chasing for the remainder of the race.
The second pivotal moment involved Vayu on arrival at the windward mark in the leading group, alongside Trinity Racing, Crioula and Provezza. The Thai boat arrived slightly below the lay line, had to luff hard and slow down, but still clipped the mark, incurring a penalty that left them unable to deliver another strong result in the second race of the day.
The final two races of the Rolex TP52 World Championship are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CEST in light breezes. With very tight standings and the outcome anything but guaranteed, the TP52 fleet is demonstrating why this box-rule class represents the highest technical and competitive level in keelboat racing.
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda
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