52 SUPER SERIES PORTO CERVO SAILING WEEK
On the 52 SUPER SERIES’ return to the Mediterranean after two regattas in the Atlantic, 2025 circuit leaders American Magic Quantum Racing scored a resounding victory today on the Bay of Palma, Mallorca, lifting the top prize at Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.
It is the third regatta title in row for Doug DeVos’ US flagged team after wins in Baiona, Spain and at last month’s Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais Portugal. With one regatta still to sail in Porto Cervo, Sardinia in a month’s time American Magic Quantum Racing are firmly on course to defend the circuit title they secured in Valencia last year.
The second half of the ten race series saw American Magic win three from four starts before clinching the Portals title with a sixth and a fifth in today’s classic Palma sea breeze conditions of 10-12 knots. They win by 12 clear points ahead of Takashi Okura’s Sled whilst Shawn and Tina Kang’s Hong Kong flagged Alpha + secured their first ever podium place since joining the circuit at the start of 2023 in Saint Tropez.
After a difficult period midweek which saw their title-winning hopes dashed by accumulating 23 points from two nightmare races, colliding with Andy Soriano’s Alegre to lose their bowsprit followed by a double penalty in the next race, Harm Müller-Spreer’s German flagged three times world champions Platoon Aviation were top boat of the final day achieving a measure of contrition with a second and first today, amassing just 16 points from the last five races to suggest they will be regatta title contenders in Porto Cervo in September.
Led by Terry Hutchinson tactician with young Harry Melges IV steering and Sara Stone navigating. American Magic Quantum Racing had a solid if unspectacular finale today which culminated in them bouncing back from being over the start line in the second race to take a seventh, whilst the impressive Sled team led by Francesco Bruni and Murray Jones secured their third podium of the season winning the first race of the day and taking fourth in the last race of the event.
Third overall for Alpha + is a great result for the team which has the youngest average age in the fleet a great blend of youth and experience. Recruiting Adrian Stead to the tactician’s role to work alongside navigator Ian Moore brings a steadying influence which proved vital after a contentious penalty Friday cost them seven points. They bounced back today to take a close second behind Platoon Aviation in the final race to secure third ahead of Andrea Lacorte’s Alkedo Vitamina which finished fourth, the Italian owner wining the top owner-driver award.
On the dockside in Puerto Portals Terry Hutchinson smiled, “It is a good result for us but at times we did not put our best foot forward today. We did not get off the start line great which is good as it is something we have to work on and get better, but after the starts we sailed really, really well. The second race we were OCS and came back for a fifth which was good but overall a good result and everything to play for in Porto Cervo when Doug will be back sailing with us. Even looking at the points here now, I think we sailed a lot better on the last day at the worlds, a lot better, so, yes, we won here, I am always happy about that but there is room for improvement and we are always thinking about that.”
Don Cowie from Sled recalled, “ To finish up with a second is great for the team. For the season title American Magic Quantum Racing have stretched away from us a little. But if we could get rid of a couple of 10th places in the future that would help, we have stretched ahead of the guys behind us so overall we are happy with the week. The team really are good at keeping the boat going in conditions like today. Looking to Porto Cervo we would love a 20 knots Mistral every day and flat water but we will take what comes, we will be going out to win but to hold second place on the podium for the season would be good.
Ian Moore navigator on Alpha + commented, “It is fantastic to finish on the podium. The team has been developing through last season and this year, it feels like we are really getting to grip with the boat and the class. We have had a few changes on board and the result is this. We were gradually getting better during the last regatta and now to get on the podium is fantastic. We are super excited about it. And today was hard, really, really hard. The first race we were at the back of the pack and got up to seventh in that race. And then the second race we led at the windward mark we just knew had to be steady. One boat got through us but second is great and third overall, on the podium is just fantastic. This is a really, really tough fleet, you cannot say we will now be up at the top of the Super Series pack because the competition is so hard. But we have been improving at this regatta and we have a long way on our arc but here we are, from now on we will be fighting for podiums and making it tough for out competitors.”
The fifth and final regatta of the season takes place in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, 22nd to 27th September…
Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week Overall
1. American Magic Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos, 5+3+2+8+1+6+1+1+6+5 = 38
2. Sled, USA, Takashi Okura, 7+1+10+4+6+3+4+10+1+4 = 50
3. Alpha+, HKG, Shawn & Tina Kang, 3+8+4+3+2+11+12+2+7+2 = 54
4. Alkedo, ITA, Andrea Lacorte, 6+10+1+5+11+4+3+7+5+7 = 59
5. Vayu, THA, Whitcraft Family, 2+11+8+2+8+8+5+11+3+3 = 61
6. Platoon Aviation, GER, Harm Müller-Spreer, 10+6+9+13(+3)+7+1+9+3+2+1 = 64
7. Alegre, GBR, Andy Soriano, 1+2+6+9+10+2+10+6+12+8 = 66
8. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 4+7+5+7+5+10+2+12+8+10 = 70
9. Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 12+5+3+6+9+7+6+5+11+6 = 70
10. Crioula, BRA, Eduardo & Renato Plass, 8+4+7+11+3+5+7+4+10+12 = 71
11. Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley, 9+9+11+1+4(+1)+9+11+9+4+11 = 79
12. Teasing Machine, FRA, Eric de Turckheim, 11+13+12+10+12+12+8+8+9+9 = 104
52 SUPER SERIES 2025 Leaderboard after four of five regattas
1. American Magic Quantum Racing, USA, Doug DeVos, 18+23+42+38 = 131
2. Sled, USA, Takashi Okura, 13+58+51+50 = 172
3. Alkedo, ITA, Andrea Lacorte, 28+49+61+59 = 197
4. Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 23,5+ 63+43+70 = 199,5
5. Platoon Aviation, GER, Harm Müller-Spreer, 36+44+63+64 = 207
6. Alpha+, HKG, Shawn & Tina Kang, 21,5+68+71+54 = 214,5
7. Vayu, THA, Whitcraft Family, 27+68+65+61 = 221
8. Alegre, GBR, Andy Soriano, 30+71+62+66 = 229
9. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 30+64+81+70 = 245
10. Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley, 12+120+63+79 = 274
11. Phoenix, RSA, Tina & Hasso Plattner, 48+69+60+130 = 307
12. Crioula, BRA, Eduardo & Renato Plass, 28+120+120+71 = 339
13. Teasing Machine, FRA, Eric de Turckheim, 48+73+120+104 = 345
