52 Super Series 2025: Sled lead Porto Cervo as title fight goes down to the wire

Day 4 Racing: A calm before the storm

The penultimate day of the 52 Super Series 2025 finale in Porto Cervo offered a sharp contrast to the heavy-air battles earlier in the week. The Mistral finally eased, leaving the 13-boat fleet to coax their TP52s around a shifty course in light airs. Only one race could be completed before the breeze collapsed.

Thailand’s Vayu, helmed by the Whitcraft family, seized the opportunity. Picking their way through the pressure lines inside the straits, they secured their first win of the season — a popular result that means every single team on the circuit have now claimed at least one race victory this year.

Behind them, Provezza again showed flashes of form. The Turkish-flagged team, with new strategist Santi Lange working alongside Cole Parada, led early but slipped to second on the final beat. For a crew that started 2025 with high hopes but little to show for it, back-to-back podium finishes this week hint at a reset in confidence.

Takashi Okura’s Sled finished sixth in the day’s only contest, enough to keep their grip on the Porto Cervo leaderboard. With one day remaining, the New York Yacht Club-backed boat carries a six-point cushion over Tina and Hasso Plattner’s Phoenix.

Looking back to Day 1: Sled set the tone early

Sled’s position at the top of the table is no accident. From day one in Sardinia they have shown both speed and composure. On the opening Tuesday, Okura’s crew (who are largely made up of Kiwi sailors) posted a 4th and a 2nd to take the early lead, with tactician Francesco Bruni and strategist Murray Jones guiding the boat cleanly through the fray.

That same day produced plenty of drama elsewhere. Platoon Aviation won the first race but collided with Gladiator at the start of the second, forcing them ashore for emergency repairs. The incident left their bowman bruised and their stern damaged — and their overall challenge compromised.

The real surprise was the Hong Kong-flagged Alpha+. After finishing dead last in Race 1, the youthful crew, helmed by Kiwi Nick Egnot-Johnson, regrouped and stormed back to win Race 2. For a team fresh from their first ever Super Series podium in Puerto Portals, it was confirmation that their rise is genuine.

Looking back to Day 2: Mistral mayhem

By Wednesday the famous Porto Cervo Mistral had returned in force, gusting close to 30 knots. It was a day for strong nerves and slick boat handling.

Sled again rose to the occasion, starting well and converting a second at the first mark into their first race win of the regatta. “It was a great day for Sled. Lots of fun, pure Porto Cervo,” said Kiwi mainsheet trimmer Don Cowie. “We reached 21.5 knots downwind. At the start of the day we agreed that we had to be careful — to finish first, first you have to finish.”

American Magic steadied their campaign after a poor opening day, sailing a smart first run to secure second behind Sled. But not everyone survived the conditions unscathed: Platoon, still reeling from Tuesday’s collision, blew their spinnaker drop at the leeward mark and slid down the fleet.

Looking back to Day 3: Three races, three stories

Thursday proved pivotal. With the Mistral easing, the race committee managed to catch up on the schedule with three hard-fought contests. Each race delivered its own narrative.

Paprec opened the third day of racing with a statement win, showing pace and control downwind.

Phoenix, with Tom Slingsby and Will Ryan calling the shots, struck next, holding their nerve to claim Race 5.

Sled responded in style in Race 6, playing their upwind speed edge to perfection and extending their regatta lead.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Americans. Sled had taken a penalty in the first race of the day after a port-starboard incident with Provezza, dropping them to 11th. But they bounced back with a second and a first, proving their resilience.

Phoenix were the top-scoring boat of the day, climbing to second overall and keeping alive their hopes of an upset. “Any day with three races in this fleet is tough,” said strategist Will Ryan. “The mental drain is real. For everyone else it felt like a battle all the way through, but the chips kind of fell our way.”

Meanwhile, American Magic slipped further back. Doug DeVos admitted, “Yes, our lead is shrinking. We kept missing things. Tomorrow we need to focus on what’s ahead and not what’s behind.”

52 SUPER SERIES – Porto Cervo Leaderboard after seven races

1. Sled, USA, Takashi Okura, 4+2+1+11+2+1+6 = 27
2. Phoenix, RSA, Tina & Hasso Plattner, 3+4+8+5+1+4+8 = 33
3. Alegre, GBR, Andy Soriano, 6+3+3+6+3+7+10 = 38
4. Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 2+9+4+1+9+5+9 = 39
5. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 11+5+6+7+6+2+2 = 39
6. Platoon Aviation, GER, Harm Müller-Spreer, 1+6,5(RDG)+11+8+8+3+3 = 40,5
7. American Magic Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos, 10+8+2+4+10+9+4 = 47
8. Alkedo Vitamina, ITA, Andrea Lacorte, 9+7+7+2+5+12+7 = 49
9. Vayu, THA, Whitcraft Family, 8+10+10+9+7+10+1 = 55
10. Alpha+, HKG, Shawn & Tina Kang, 13+1+9+12+11+8+5 = 59
11. Crioula, BRA, Eduardo & Renato Plass, 5+11+13+3+4+13+11 = 60
12. Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley, 7+6(+3)+5+10+13+6+13 = 63
13. Teasing Machine, FRA, Eric de Turckheim, 12+12+12+13+12+11+12 = 84

The wider view: Season title picture

As it stands, Sled lead the Porto Cervo regatta with 27 points, followed by Phoenix on 33. Andy Soriano’s Alegre sit third, just ahead of Paprec and Provezza.

But the wider story is the season title. American Magic Quantum Racing, winners of three of the four earlier regattas, still hold a 21-point advantage over Sled across the 2025 circuit. Barring a collapse, they remain on course for their seventh overall Super Series crown, adding to titles in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024.

The real intrigue lies further down the order. Paprec currently hold third overall (currently with 238.5 points0 for the season but face fierce pressure from Italy’s Alkedo Vitamina (246 points) and Germany’s Platoon Aviation (247.5 points). A single slip on the final day could reshuffle the season podium.

Kiwi watch

For New Zealand fans, Porto Cervo has been rich in storylines. Sled, with Cowie and Murray Jones central to their performance, are challenging for both the regatta and a late-run at the season. Egnot-Johnson’s Alpha+ continue to prove themselves, adding another top-five finish on Friday after their dramatic win on day one.

Their presence underlines the Kiwi fingerprint on this fleet — experienced Cup veterans driving consistency at the top, and younger talent like Egnot-Johnson pushing new teams into the spotlight.

Now we wait for the final day of racing

The season’s climax now rests on the final day. Race officers hope to deliver up to three races if conditions allow. For Sled, the job is to close out the Porto Cervo regatta win. For American Magic, it’s about finishing the season strongly and securing the title that still hangs within reach.

For Paprec, Alkedo, and Platoon, the fight for third overall could come down to a single shift. And for Phoenix, Slingsby’s return has already reinvigorated the campaign — a reminder of what they achieved together in 2022, and perhaps a signal of what lies ahead.

Whatever unfolds, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda is poised to deliver a fitting finale to the 52 Super Series 2025.