Ready to rock and roll at the 2024 Big Final of the 52 SUPER SERIES in Valencia

Valencia 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup Practice Races © Nico Martinez / 52 Super Series

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.

In good winds, up to 18kts, there was no dominant, outstanding team and places changed through both warm up contests. Hasso and Tina Plattner's Phoenix, winner of the last event of 2023, took the winning gun on the first race, Andy Soriano's Alegre was first in the second single circuit practice.

There are several crew changes among the teams, some precipitated by athletes' commitments to the Youth America's Cup now on in Barcelona, others are trying different options in a quest to finish on a high note.

Alegre have brought Elliot Willis, tactician Nic Asher's 470 world championships winning crew, out of the coach boat on to the race boat to trim mainsail and have brought in Pablo Ararte. Hong Kong flagged Alpha Plus are missing their talented young Kiwi helm Leo Takahishi on duty with Emirates Team New Zealand whilst Quantum Racing powered by American Magic see Harry Melges IV steering their Youth AC40 in Barcelona. For Doug DeVos' five times champions Morgan Larson steps in to steer.

Can the Morgan Magic make the winning difference?

Unflappable, laid back Larson has years of experience in the TP52 and presently races on the US circuit on the boat which won the 2023 52 SUPER SERIES as Platoon.

An excited Larson smiled on the dock at Valencia's King Marine where the 13 boat fleet is based this week: "It is amazing to be back with the 52 SUPER SERIES. I have always been so fond of Quantum Racing and Doug DeVos and the whole group. And I sailed with them quite a lot in the past and we won the worlds with Terry Hutchinson and the team. And this is a really nice team. It is easy for me to slot back in with the likes of Greg Gendel on the bow, with Warwick Fleury and James Dagg. Learning the dynamic with Victor (Diaz de Leon, tactician) and Nevin Snow (strategist) and Evelyn Hull is doing an amazing job as navigator, I have been picking that up these last two days. They are such talents Im sure it will be good. It is fun. You would say that with this team and how well this programme is developed I would say we should be able to give Gladiator a push. That is what we are here to do. I have been racing the 52s in the USA, sailing on the old Platoon and doing the ORC worlds on the small Vesper, so I have been doing enough."

Official Press Conference, Valencia pledges

Shortly before the official practice racing the Salón de Cristal of the Valencia City Hall hosted the official presentation of the Valencia 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup. The event was attended by Rocío Gil, Valencia City Council's sports councillor, who highlighted the importance of this event as a spearhead to the local government team's strategy to attract major international projects: 'As the mayor has said on countless occasions, Valencia is a city which is open to the sea, it will not let any opportunity slip away and will continue to fight to bring major events here. As a Valencian, I like to look at the sea, I like these kinds of competitions and we are going to continue along these lines. We have projects for the future, we are ambitious, we want more, and Valencia will always have its doors open for you to come back and enjoy its racing waters."

Among those present on the stage were Gladiator's Tony Langley, and Guille Parada, Quantum Racing powered by American Magic's Víctor Díaz de León, Platoon Aviation's Harm Müller-Spreer, the 52 SUPER SERIES' Agustin Zulueta and Principal Race Officer María Torrijo

Weather? Looking good Valencia...

The forecasts are promising for the week ahead, with westerly winds at 12-15knots for the opening races Tuesday. Racing starts from 1300hrs local time each day and is streamed live on the 52 SUPER SERIES networks.