Sled’s stranglehold on the Puerto Portals 52 Super Series tightened on Wednesday as the record 14-boat fleet continued to deliver punishing racing in shifting offshore winds across the Bay of Palma. While competitors around them stumbled through a roller coaster of results, Takashi Okura’s team stayed composed and efficient, extending their lead to nine points with two races still to run before Friday’s finale.
The day exposed just how unforgiving this fleet has become. Overnight leaders Provezza cratered from consistency into chaos when a 13th place in the opening race derailed their challenge, dropping them from first to third overall. Andrea Lacorte’s Alkedo Vitamina suffered an equally brutal reversal, following Tuesday’s double victory with a combined 20-point haul that left them scrambling to recover.
Sled’s recipe for success was refreshingly simple: be in the right place when the wind shifted. Their consecutive second and third places reflected sharp starts and tactical execution from afterguard Murray Jones and Francesco Bruni. The Italian America’s Cup campaigner credited the team’s mental resilience after losing points to a collision with Paprec at the top mark on Tuesday. “We all reacted well,” Bruni said. “The fleet is big, there are big names, the quality of the racing is so high. Our starts have been the highlight of the week—the team have done a good job on positioning and hitting the line hard.”
Teasing Machine finally found reward after a running backstay failure forced them to retire on the opening day. Eric de Turckheim’s crew claimed the first race, with Alpha Plus in their wake. The Plass brothers’ Brazilian-flagged Crioula won the second race convincingly, with three-time Olympian Sam Albrecht reading the conditions well enough to secure their first victory since Valencia last November. “When you’re in front, everything’s easier,” Albrecht reflected. “We didn’t get nervous; with such constant pressure, I was quite in control.”
Platoon Aviation, the three-time world champions from Germany, have clawed back into contention at third on equal points with Provezza. Víctor Marino highlighted the gains from better communication between tacticians Jordi Calafat and Vasco Vascotto, though he acknowledged the fleet’s competitive depth. “There are a couple of boats that stand out for their speed—Alkedo and Sled—but everyone here is quick.”
With winds expected to remain brisk and shifty through the final day, the leaderboard promises more chaos. Sled holds 25 points. Provezza and Platoon Aviation both sit on 34, setting up a tense climax to the week.
