After a week of big-breeze racing in Portugal, Doug DeVos’ American Magic Quantum Racing emerged as the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Champions in Cascais. The US crew, blending seasoned campaigners like Terry Hutchinson with rising talents such as 24-year-old helm Harry Melges IV and trailblazing navigator Sara Stone, secured their eighth world title by a single point over a resurgent Paprec. The French team, led by Loïck Peyron, kept the pressure on until the final leg of the last race, while Takashi Okura’s Sled rounded out the podium. With Cascais now in the books, the fleet turns its attention to the next battle — Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES 2025.
American Magic Quantum Racing heads up leaderboard into Puerto Portals in the 2025 52 Super Series
Back to the Bay of Palma
Having raced there every year since 2015, the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet treats Puerto Portals, Mallorca, as a home-from-home. The upscale marina and the Bay of Palma’s reliable sea breeze offer a contrast to Cascais’ gusty Atlantic conditions. But from 18–23 August, the fourth event of the five-regatta season will be anything but relaxed on the water. Twelve boats from nine nations will be chasing points, pride, and — for some — redemption.
American Magic Quantum Racing arrive with serious momentum, having won the last two regattas and carrying a 29-point circuit lead into Mallorca. Yet as strategist Victor Diaz de Leon notes, there’s no room for complacency.
“There are 12 boats out there and so the way I see it our odds of winning are 1 in 12 — no better than that,” Diaz de Leon says. “I’m focused on improving my communications with Terry and being the team-mate he needs me to be. I really like it on the Bay of Palma. Yes, it can be a little one-sided and that can make it hard to get back through the fleet, but it really puts the emphasis on getting a good start and the first shift right.”
Familiar waters, fresh challenges
The defending Puerto Portals champions are Tony Langley’s Gladiator. They arrive without the pressure of chasing the overall title, something trimmer Simon Fry believes could work in their favour.
“If we sail as well as we did in Portals last year, as well as we did in Saint Tropez, we will be in the mix,” Fry says. “Portals is not a gear-changing race track — you can often set the boat up for the week and that suits us. A particular strength we have is how we set up the rig for particular breezes, and not having done Baiona means we come in with a bunch of new sails in the range needed for Palma.”
Fry tips Platoon Aviation, Alegre and Provezza as potential threats. Alegre has brought in 2008 Olympic gold medallist Paul Goodison as tactician, alongside technical upgrades. Provezza, with Palma resident Nacho Postigo navigating, is also chasing a turnaround after a tough Cascais.
“We are always so welcome at Portals, we feel at home,” Postigo says. “The fleet is so close in terms of speeds — I’ve never seen it so even. Even new teams are doing well. It is completely open, which can be good for us.”
Platoon Aviation, runners-up here in 2015 and winners in 2019, have owner-driver Harm Müller-Spreer back on the helm, with Jordi Calafat returning as strategist. Runner trimmer Victor Mariño says they’re eager to reset after a patchy season.
“Puerto Portals has always been a good venue for Platoon,” Mariño says. “We’re really looking forward to it, because after a bad start to the season and some bad luck in the World Championship, we’re keen to get back into it.”
New energy in the fleet
Alegre project manager Sebastian Tenghage describes Goodison’s recruitment as bringing “a fresh set of eyes and new energy”. The team has been refining its setup for lighter conditions, which Palma may deliver. Provezza has been making similar adjustments in Valencia. Returning to the circuit after missing Cascais are the Brazilian Crioula and France’s Teasing Machine, adding further depth to the fleet.
Standings after three events
- American Magic Quantum Racing, USA – 93
- Sled, USA – 122
- Paprec, FRA – 129.5
- Alkedo Vitamina, ITA – 138
- Platoon Aviation, GER – 143
- Vayu, THA – 160
- Alpha+, HKG – 160.5
- Alegre, GBR – 163
- Provezza, TUR – 175
- Phoenix, RSA – 177
- Gladiator, GBR – 195
- Teasing Machine, FRA – 241
- Crioula, BRA – 268
History and expectation
Past Puerto Portals winners include Gladiator (2024), Phoenix (2022–2023), Sled (2021), Platoon (2019), Quantum Racing (2016, 2018) and Provezza (2017). The variety of victors underlines how open this regatta can be, even with an in-form leader.
Racing starts with the official practice race in a little over four days time, on Monday 18 August, with points racing running Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 August. Boating New Zealand will be following all the action from the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES 2025, bringing you daily updates, race analysis, and behind-the-scenes insight as the season heads towards its climax.
