Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 2

Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais - Day 4

by 52 Super Series 5 Jul 18:45 UTC 1-6 July 2025

After three spectacular races today on Cascais, Portugal's showcase high winds arena, Doug DeVos' seven times world title winners American Magic Quantum Racing lead into the final day of the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship with a hard earned five points buffer.

The US-team, which won the worlds last time they were sailed here in 2018, may seem to be on course to add an eighth to their long list of honours, but they had to work extra hard today after being over the start line in the final contest of the day. Then, having fought their way back into contention, both American Magic and their nearest title rivals, Paprec, had to bail out spectacularly from a late port tack approach at the top mark losing multiple places in a costly error.

And so while Takashi Okura's Sled sailed an impeccable day in the 20-28kts winds and big seas, going 1,3,3 to substantially enhance their world title challenge, the resulting eighth place finish for American Magic Quantum Racing and tenth for the French Paprec crew means they both finished the long, hard three race day ruing that costly mistake which came about because they were so locked into fighting each other.

After leading into the day with a lead of one point, the French team now lie second. Their project manager and mainsheet trimmer Stepahane Névé grimaced, "We made a big mistake on the second upwind. We were too focused on American Magic instead of looking big picture at the others and in the end it was a mess. It is our fault, we made a mistake and we need to learn from it. We need to focus on what we can gain and lose during a race like that. We need to focus more. Tomorrow will be big, we need to learn from today, continue to fight. We are are still in a good position. Anything can happen."

American Magic Quantum Racing had just gone 2,2 from the first two races, tactician Terry Hutchinson and strategist Victor Diaz de Leon, combining to manage their risk quite precisely, working the favoured side of the course.

Super Sled

Sled won the first race by a country mile ahead of American Magic. After a technical breakdown left them trailing home a distant 11th the three times world champions Platoon Aviation then reeled off an equally comprehensive race win before Andrea Lacorte's Alkeda Vitamina won the final contest to keep the pressure on the top three. The Italian team are now only eight points off their second consecutive podium after taking third in Baiona.

For Sunday's big finale the forecasts promise potentially the strongest breezes of the week, possibly up to 30 knots.

Reviewing their day James Lyne the coach of American Magic Quantum Racing reflected, "It was top end conditions today and that last race was as much fun as it gets. We were over the start line at the start, we sailed right back into and into a great match with Paprec and then at the top mark it went wrong. We will debrief what happened but nonetheless we are going into the last day of the worlds leading and with a chance of winning and that is all you want. So we are there in that respect, now we will see what the weather gods give us for tomorrow but it will be fresh, pretty fresh."

Navigator on third placed Sled, Italy's Andrea Visintini added, "The key for us today was having a lot of fun, a lot of positive energy on board, and most of all getting one thing after another correct. The first thing was being able to start in our own lane, being able to get to the right side of the first beat as that was the favoured side, and then managing the crew work which has been exceptional, Francesco (Bruni) has been amazing, Beasho (Adam Beashel helm) was great and everybody did their jobs really well. For me as navigator it was hard as with the sea state it was hard to see the marks on the first part of the upwinds for example, you have to trust the instruments on the first part of the leg. We closed the gap to American Magic and Paprec and also it's good for the season. And so now it is all on tomorrow."

Rolex TP52 World Championship Cascais 2025 Provisional Leaderboard after Day 4:

1. American Magic Quantum Racing (USA), Doug DeVos, 3+2+1+3+6 +2+28= 27pts
2. Paprec (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 4+1+5+2+2+3+5+10 = 32pts
3. Sled (USA), Takashi Okura, 1+3+9+8+8+1+3+3 = 36pts
4. Alkedo Vitamina (ITA), Andrea Lacorte, 10+6+8+1+3+6+9+1 = 44pts
5. Gladiator (GBR), Tony Langley, 5+11+4+9+4+4+10+2 = 49pts
6. Alegre (GBR), Andy Soriano, 2+5+11+5+10+5+8+4 = 50pts
7. Platoon Aviation (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 11+4+6+6+7+11+1+5 = 51pts
8. Vayu (THA), Whitcraft Family, 9+9+3+4+9+7+4+6 = 51pts
9. Phoenix (RSA), Tina & Hasso Plattner, 8+10+2+11+1+9+6+7 = 54pts
10. Alpha+ (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 7+8+7+10+11+8+7+9 = 67pts
11. Provezza (TUR), Ergin Imre, 6+7+10+7+5+10+11+11(+2) = 69pts

Related Articles

Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais day 3
French tour de force gives Paprec world championship lead As the Rolex TP52 World Championship passed its midway point today in Cascais, Portugal it is the French underdogs on Paprec, led by ocean racing legend Loïck Peyron, which has taken the overall lead. Posted on 4 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 2
Consistent American Magic Quantum Racing move clear ahead American Magic Quantum Racing stepped three points clear at the top of the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship leaderboard today in Cascais, Portugal on the strength of a first and third from two breezy races. Posted on 3 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais Day 1
Sled sparkle in Cascais' Atlantic surf to lead After seemingly being starved of boisterous top end conditions for some years now Okura's Sled crew have been relishing a return to big breezes and big waves. Posted on 2 Jul
Admiral's Cup 2025 | Interview with the CYCA Team
A highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta from July 17 The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is fielding a highly experienced team for the revived Admiral's Cup regatta that will be run from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK, from 17th July 2025. Posted on 1 Jul
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais - Practice Day
Will Platoon Aviation's big breeze, big pressure experience prove key to their fourth world title? Of the three past and present world championship winning crews which completed their final practice today in typically muscular 25 knot breezes and big waves out of Cascais, Portugal it was Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation which showed best today. Posted on 1 Jul
Introduction to the Admiral's Cup/Fastnet 2025
After a 22 year abscence, the renowned Admiral's Cup is back. After a break of 22 years, the renowned Admiral's Cup is returning to the international yacht racing scene in July 2025. One short ocean race, three days of inshore racing, and then the fabled Fastnet to finish Posted on 29 Jun
Rolex TP52 Worlds in Cascais preview
Eleven teams hoping the Portuguese venue lives up to its reputation Given that it is a long time since the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet raced in big winds and waves, a breezy final few training days before the start of next week's Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais would be universally welcomed by the 11 teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez preview
Looking ahead to the 27th edition The elegance of the Classics, the power of the Moderns, the majesty of the Maxis. This dreamlike combination, a legacy of the Nioulargue, will once again come together in the stunning setting of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5. Posted on 22 Jun
Rolex TP52 World Championship preview
The pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES will be held at Cascais The annual Rolex TP52 World Championship represents the top tier of monohull grand prix sailing. Held as the pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in the sport. Posted on 19 Jun
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
Sea Sure 2025Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 Footer