Australian firepower joins Phoenix
All eyes were on Phoenix as racing began off Porto Cervo. Hasso and Tina Plattner’s South African-flagged TP52 brought in a heavyweight Australian afterguard straight from SailGP Geneva. Tom Slingsby returned to the tactician’s role alongside Olympic champion Will Ryan and wing trimmer Kyle Langford.
It marked Slingsby’s first outing in a conventional monohull since 2022, when Phoenix won Puerto Portals and finished runners-up for the season. Practice races had been abandoned the previous day as the breeze died, leaving the Australians little chance to adjust. Even so, Phoenix began strongly, finishing the opening day just one point off the lead.
A fleet reset after abandoned practice
Principal race officer Maria Torrijo had cautioned that the week would be shaped by weather swings, from Mistral blasts to drifting calms. That forecast soon rang true. With the season title effectively locked in for American Magic and Sled secure in second, the spotlight rested firmly on the battle for third between Alkedo and Paprec. Both teams knew their preferred conditions: Alkedo in light airs, Paprec in heavy winds.
Provezza meanwhile rolled the dice, moving Santi Lange from coach to strategist, and Cole Parada to tactician, as they aimed to finish 2025 stronger and lay foundations for 2026.
Race 1: Platoon strike first
The opening race set the tone for a fiercely contested week. Germany’s Platoon Aviation, steered by Harm Müller-Spreer with Vasco Vascotto calling tactics, fought a close duel with Paprec. The French led early, but Platoon found more breeze on the final leg to edge across the line first. Phoenix and Sled both delivered steady top-five finishes, immediately planting themselves near the top of the standings. Alpha+ finished in thirteenth.
Race 2: Alpha+ deliver a shock
The second race brought fireworks. Hong Kong’s Alpha+ rebounded from a last-place finish in Race 1 with a perfectly judged pin-end start. Shawn and Tina Kang’s crew, fresh from their first podium in Puerto Portals, controlled the race from the front to seal a memorable win. Sled followed close behind, banking another strong result, while Phoenix stayed consistent with a fourth.
The drama came at the start, when Gladiator collided with Platoon. The impact forced the German boat back to dock with damage to the stern and a crew injury. Platoon were awarded redress but their promising day had been cut short.
American Magic off the pace
For circuit leaders American Magic Quantum Racing, the finale began with more grind than glory. Doug DeVos’s crew managed a 10th and an 8th, showing glimpses of speed but losing out in the battles around the marks. With their season title almost secured, the focus is on improvement before the week’s stronger breezes.
Standings after Day 1
Sled’s steady 4th and 2nd gave them the overnight lead with six points, proving their consistency once again. Phoenix’s new-look crew ended the day one point back, while Platoon’s Race 1 win and redress left them third. Alegre, Paprec, and Alpha+ all sat within striking range, while the battle for third overall in the season remains finely poised.
Leaderboard after Day 1
- Sled, USA, Takashi Okura, 4+2= 6
- Phoenix, RSA, Tina & Hasso Plattner, 3+4= 7
- Platoon Aviation, GER, Harm Müller-Spreer, 1+6,5(RDG)= 7,5
- Alegre, GBR, Andy Soriano, 6+3= 9
- Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 2+9 = 11
- Alpha+, HKG, Shawn & Tina Kang, 13+1= 14
- Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 11+5= 16
- Crioula, BRA, Eduardo & Renato Plass, 5+11= 16
- Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley, 7+6(+3)= 16
- Alkedo, ITA, Andrea Lacorte, 8+7 = 16
- American Magic Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos, 10+8 = 18
- Vayu, THA, Whitcraft Family, 8+10= 18
- Teasing Machine, FRA, Eric de Turckheim, 12+12= 24
The finale is wide open after a day of shifting fortunes. Sled look in rhythm, Phoenix are quickly settling with their Australian additions, and Alpha+ proved they can win races at this level. With breezier conditions forecast, expect more drama off Porto Cervo as the 2025 52 Super Series builds towards its climax.
