52 Super Series PortoCervo Range Rover Sailing Week Day 2: Sled extends lead in strong Mistral winds
by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 25 Sep 03:39 NZST
21-27 September 2025
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo by Range Rover - Day 2 © Nico Martinez / 52 Super Series
On the second day of the 52 Super Series - Porto Cervo - Range Rover Sailing Week, the Mistral wind on the race course off Porto Cervo was as strong as forecast, blowing at over 20 knots from the morning onwards.
The Race Committee's decision to advance the start earlier to 10.30am CEST proved to be prudent. The wind and sea conditions, for which the Costa Smeralda is so popular with sailors from all over the world, proved spectacular and the performance of the 13 TP52s created a fabulous spectacle: close tacks upwind, surfing at over 20 knots, the fleet always tightly grouped at the marks and the tactics and strategies chosen by the most successful professional sailors.
The start saw a breeze of around 18 knots, which increased during the first and only race, the third in the series. By the end, the Mistral was gusting up to 30 knots at the windward mark and was predicted to get even stronger. As a result, PRO Maria Torrijo hoisted the AP flag on A, sending the fleet back to port and postponing the fourth race until tomorrow midday.
Terry Hutchinson, tactician for American Magic Quantum Racing, who finished second today, said: 'It was a typical Mistral day in Porto Cervo. There were a few clouds at the start, but then the sky cleared and the wind picked up on the first beat, going from 18 to 25 knots with gusts of 27. It's brilliant sailing here. There are few places in the world as ideal for these boats as the Costa Smeralda."
With perfect sailing in the only race of the day, Sled came out on top with owner Takashi Okura at the helm, tactical calls from Checco Bruni and strategy from six-time America's Cup winner 'Kiwi' Murray Jones. The victory came after passing Alegre, which has British gold medallist Paul Goodison on tactics and Italy's Pietro Sibello as strategist, on the second upwind leg. The final order was: Sled, AM Quantum Racing, Alegre.
Sled's strategist Murray Jones said: 'We are very happy. The conditions were challenging but our owner, Mr. Okura, sailed the boat very well, especially downwind where we planed very fast at 22 knots. We sailed left on both upwind legs and I think that was the reason we won the race."
The provisional standings for the event have Sled leading by 5 points with Alegre in second. In third place is the French team Paprec with Loick Peyron as tactician, today in fourth place, tied on points with the South African team Phoenix, today in eighth place. Andrea Lacorte's Italian team Alkedo, with Cameron Appleton as tactician, lie seventh today.
In the overall standings of the 52 Super Series - for which all individual races of the event count towards the final score, with no discards - the American Magic Quantum Racing continues to lead with a 28-point advantage over Sled. Paprec is provisionally third, ahead of Alkedo and Platoon Aviation.
The forecast for tomorrow, 25 September, is for the Mistral to decrease. The first start is scheduled for 12 noon CEST.
The Porto Cervo event is supported by Range Rover, an institutional partner of the YCCS, reaffirming the brand's strong ties with the nautical world.
Rolex is Official Timekeeper of the 52 Super Series and an institutional partner of the YCCS.
More information and full results at www.52superseries.com