17 TP52s set to celebrate 20th anniversary in spectacular style when 52 Super Series kicks off

Rolex TP52 World Championship Puerto Portals 2019 © Nico Martinez / MartinezStudio

The biggest ever fleet of TP52s will meet on the Bay of Palma in August (24th to 28th) in Mallorca, Spain, to celebrate 20 years of the enduring international box-rule class at the Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Sailing Week & TP52 20th Anniversary Invitational.

The five-day event will welcome back nine circuit-regular teams after an extended hiatus to open the truncated, short, intense 2021 season. They will be joined by an additional eight TP52 20th Anniversary Invitational entries, which between them span almost the entire history of design generations that have been active in the Mediterranean.

From the original Aifos, which was one of the "founder members" of the TP52 Mediterranean fleet, through to Karl Kwok's successful Beau Geste designed as the Brazilian-flagged Onda for the 2018 circuit, the fleet, which will race under IRC handicap, will be a fascinating reminder of the evolution and the popularity of the class in Europe.

TP52 20th Anniversary Invitational Fleet: (Team, Owner, Nation, Designer)

• AIFOS 500 - Ricardo Alvarez-Maldonado Parames (ESP, Farr 2005)
• AIR IS BLUE - Roberto Monti (ITA, Judel Vrolijk, built in 2008 as Audi Q8)
• AROBAS - Gérard Logel (FRA, Botín, built in 2009 as CAM from ETNZ mould)
• BEAU GESTE - Karl Kwok (CHN, Botin Partners, built in 2018 as Onda)
• BLUE CARBON - Toni Guiu (ESP, Botin Carkeek, built in 2005 as Balearia)
• MACCHIA MEDITERRANEA - Giampero Russo (ITA, Reichel Pugh, built in 2008 as Artemis)
• XIO - Marco Serafini (ITA, Botín Partners, built in 2011 as Quantum Racing)
• ZERO EMISSION - Samuli Leisti (FIN, Reichel Pugh, built in 2008 as USA-17 / Oracle)

The invitational fleet will feature many top international crews as well as semi-professionals and amateurs who are keen to not just benchmark themselves against the top 52 Super Series teams but to also enjoy the unique atmosphere of Puerto Portals, a venue which has hosted and supported the Mediterranean TP52 fleet since the inaugural year of the MedCup in 2005.

"This will be a very special event, and we are pleased to be welcoming so many friends back to race with the class, or indeed those coming to enjoy a taste of the 52 Super Series for the first time. Puerto Portals has a proud, colourful history with the class, and we are delighted to be hosting this one-off showcase event; thanks to Puerto Portals for their support and enthusiasm. It will be really special to see 17 boats lined up there," enthuses Agustín Zulueta, CEO of the 52 Super Series.

Class Manager Rob Weiland is looking forward to the regatta:

"What a way to return to TP52 racing! We were sorry this could not happen last year when it was the actual 20th anniversary, but here we are with an exciting regatta that should be an enjoyable reminder of all that is great about TP52 racing. I hope it will inspire some teams to join us during the rest of this season or next year."

52 Super Series Fleet: (Team, Owner, Nation)

• Alegre - Andy Soriano (GBR)
• Bronenosec - Vladimir Liubomirov (RUS)
• Gladiator - Tony Langley (GBR)
• Interlodge — Austin & Gwen Fragomen (USA)
• Phoenix - Hasso Plattner (RSA)
• Platoon - Harm Müller-Spreer (GER)
• Provezza - Ergin Imre (TUR)
• Quantum Racing - Doug DeVos (USA)
• Sled - Takashi Okura (USA)

Racing will run from Tuesday 24th to Saturday 28th August. The Invitational and 52 Super Series fleets will race on the same courses with different start times, but there will be racing for the combined fleet on Monday for the Official Practice Race and on Friday for separate trophies.

Viewers around the globe will be able to follow the racing LIVE on 52 Super Series TV, with all the action streamed LIVE from the Bay of Palma racecourse over the final three days of racing.

That week, the 52 Super Series will incorporate again the popular Super Sustainability Day, sponsored by 11th Hour Racing. The event has proved fun and informative at previous regattas and will encompass light-hearted, inter-team competition including stand up paddleboard (SUP) racing, environmental quizzes and discussion on key sustainability issues and initiatives.

"Sustainability has become part of the 52 Super Series DNA, and we take it very seriously, but we like to mix it up with fun activities to build engagement among the fleet," said Christoph Kröger, the 52 Super Series Sustainability Manager. "In addition to all the great initiatives detailed in our 2021 Sustainability Policy, we will be working with our friends at Yachting Gives Back again to ensure the event's surplus food is quickly and efficiently passed on to people in need in Palma."