Please select your home edition
Edition
North Sails Loft 57 Podcast

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

by 52 Super Series 23 Sep 2024 11:26 PDT 23-28 September 2024
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.

Related Articles

Sailing with Matt Cornwell
From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds From youth sailing in Lymington to the America's Cup and TP52 Worlds, Matt's journey has been shaped by resilience, big moments, and life at the bow. We caught up with him to talk favourite races and what he'd be doing if he weren't a sailor. Posted on 13 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup overall
American Magic Quantum Racing are Galician royalty, winning 2nd event of 2025 with a race to spare. Delivering an impressively consistent series across 10 races sailed in broad range of weather conditions Doug DeVos's US flagged crew of American Magic Quantum Racing won the second regatta of the 2025 season to lift the prestigious Royal Cup. Posted on 7 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022. Posted on 6 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 3
Platoon Aviation turn up the heat but don't dent American Magic Quantum Racing's lead After a disappointing first regatta of the season when they finished in an uncharacteristic last position in Saint-Tropez, the fortunes of the German flagged 2023 52 SUPER SERIES overall champions Platoon Aviation seem to have turned for the better. Posted on 5 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 2
American Magic Quantum Racing extend their lead after challenging light winds day Patience, concentration, risk management and perhaps a highly developed sixth sense of the subtle changes in the light breezes, were among the key assets shared by the crews which did best today, the second racing day. Posted on 4 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 1
Top level consistency gives 2024 champions a strong start in Baiona The 2024 overall circuit champions, Doug DeVos' American Magic Quantum Racing, lead the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP after two good races on the beautiful but challenging race area off Baiona on the NW corner. Posted on 3 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup practice day
Breezy, beautiful Baiona finds favour again with TP52 teams Takashi Okura's Sled team today laid down a marker on the beautiful waters off Baiona, NW Spain as the top performers over the two official practice races sailed today on the eve of the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup. Posted on 2 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys. Posted on 1 Jun
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Preview
Getting ready to race at Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona Today (Friday) Galicia's prestigious Monte Real Club de Yates in Baiona (Galicia, Spain) hosted the official presentation of the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP, the second scoring event for the 2025 season of the 52 SUPER SERIES. Posted on 30 May
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup preview
Next regatta should yield stronger winds With the programme shortened to just four races by very light winds at the 52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Sailing Week earlier this month, owners and crews are hoping that the move out into the Atlantic for the GALICIA 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP. Posted on 29 May
Palm Beach Motor YachtsArmstrong 728x90 - MA Foil Range - BOTTOMSea Sure 2025