Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

2022 Rolex TP52 World Championship at Cascais - Day 1

by 52 Super Series 21 Jun 2022 11:04 PDT 20-25 June 2022

Racing in winds which were much lighter than Cascais has built its reputation for, Doug DeVos US flagged Quantum Racing has the early lead of the Rolex TP52 World Championship after opening with two second places.

Defending champions Sled were penalised in Race 1, the resulting turns costing them three places and with that the chance to lie second overall. Takashi Okura's crew atoned immediately by winning the second race, passing Quantum Racing on the first run, that victory elevating them to fourth overall one point behind Platoon and Phoenix.

With the wind in the west blowing between eight and ten knots over both races Quantum Racing, with owner-driver Doug DeVos on the helm, started well and showed excellent patience and risk management to be able to deliver two good second places on what was a complex race course when tidal currents as well as wind pressure and shifts dictated strategies.

Andy Soriano's Alegre, who took third here 2018's strong breezes, recognised the advantage to be gained on the left side on the top third of the windward leg and were able to lead the Whitcraft family team on Vayu around the top mark first time up. The Thailand flagged team fell prey to Quantum Racing on the second beat but were able to hang in for a third in the first race. They were in the mix early in the second race but dropped to sixth but Vayu finished the day on nine points, the same as defending champions Sled and Alegre. All three are just a point behind Phoenix and Platoon.

Lucas Calabrese, the Argentine 470 Olympic medallist who is strategist on regatta leading Quantum Racing admitted this is his first ever regatta in Cascais but they are a team with masses of experience of these Atlantic waters, not least winning last time the 52 SUPER SERIES were here in 2018 and 2019.

"We managed to survive the day with two second places which is a good start. Our goal is just to get to the last day with a chance to win and so we accomplished that. Our key attribute today was managing the risk and we had a constant conversation on board today, where to place the boat. We were patient when we had to be, risk management was key. It was a tricky day as the low pressure is moving down and so we were expecting the left shift all day local knowledge in Cascais favours the right side some of the time. So we were managing the high lane or low lane on port and the high lane on port was pretty good."

The defending champions Sled's Italian navigator Andrea Visintini explained,"It was a little bit of an uphill battle after that penalty on the first bottom rounding on the first race. We were really in the mix but in this strong fleet a penalty it is difficult to fight back. But we did not just let it go, we managed to get one boat back. So we were full of energy and raced the second race well and won. We are happy. The breeze was something to watch and use but especially in that second race the current made a big role in the strategy and we were monitoring the current. There were two rivers of current and we managed to stay in the most favourable one. We did well in the second race. So we are 50 per cent happy with our day!"

Results after Day 1: (two races)

1. Quantum Racing (USA) (Doug DeVos) (2,2) 4 pts
2. Platoon (GER) (Harm Müller-Spreer) (5,3) 8 pts
3. Phoenix (RSA) (Plattner family) (4,4) 8 pts
4. Sled (USA) (Takashi Okura) (8,1) 9 pts
5. Alegre (GBR) (Andrés Soriano) (1,8) 9 pts
6. Vayú (THA) (Tom and Kevin Whitcraft) (3,6) 9 pts
7. Provezza (TUR) (Ergin Imre) (6,5) 11 pts
8. Gladiator (GBR) (Tony Langley) (9,7) 16 pts
9. Interlodge (USA) (Austin Fragomen) (7,9) 16 pts

More information at 52superseries.com.

Related Articles

Range Rover main sponsor for 52 Super Series Week
The event will mark the conclusion of the YCCS 2025 sporting season The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda will bring its 2025 sporting season to a close with the final leg of the 52 Super Series, one of the world's premier professional grand prix circuits. Posted on 4 Sep
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Overall
It's a certain kind of Magic… On the 52 SUPER SERIES' return to the Mediterranean after two regattas in the Atlantic, 2025 circuit leaders American Magic Quantum Racing scored a resounding victory today on the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, lifting the top prize. Posted on 23 Aug
Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 4 Season 2
Bulwarks and Bulldust welcomes Jack Macartney into the Captain's Chair This week Bulwarks and Bulldust speaks with Jack Macartney, legendary Australian sailor, Sydney to Hobart winner, RTW racer, 18-footer driver, and co-owner of Cannafox. Posted on 23 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 4
American Magic Quantum Racing go into final day with an 18 point lead American Magic Quantum Racing have given themselves what appears to be a relatively straightforward task as they now go into the final day of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week with a margin of 18 points with two races still to sail. Posted on 22 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 3
American Magic lead at the midpoint Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing emerge with a slender one point lead overall at the end of a long mentally and physically demanding three race programme today on the Bay of Palma at Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week in Mallorca. Posted on 21 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 2
Sled move into contention with race win. Takashi Okura's Sled move into second place on the 12 boat leaderboard some five points behind Andy Soriano's regatta leaders Alegre which took a well earned second in the only contest to be sailed today. Posted on 20 Aug
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory True to tradition, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez honours each of its 19 classes with awards presented in the pure Corinthian spirit inherited from the legendary Nioulargue. Here, there is no prize money - only the pursuit of glory. Posted on 19 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series Day 1
Alegre ring the changes with Puerto Portals opening win Andy Soriano's Alegre team made the best start to the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week winning the only race sailed today, the first day of competition as the 12 boat fleet returns to Puerto Portals for the tenth successive year. Posted on 19 Aug
Puerto Portals 52 Super Series practice race
Primed and prepared to perform in Mallorca Two short, sharp practice races which served as the final warm up before the start of Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week were won by Tony Langley's Gladiator and Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing today on the Bay of Palma in Mallorca. Posted on 18 Aug
Race Yachts latest premium offerings
Including the 2012 Judel Vrolijk Maxi 72 “Hollywood Down Under” Designed by the world-renowned Judel/Vrolijk design team and built to exacting standards by New England Boatworks, Hollywood Down Under is a standout Maxi 72 with a proven winning pedigree. Posted on 14 Aug
Barton Marine Pipe GlandsZhik 2024 DecemberSwitch One Design