Team SLED do the double !!
Point Break, New Double 2021 Champions Sled Join The 52 SUPER SERIES Super Elite
“We are just delighted. It was hard to sit around and wait when we really were keen to get out there and race. We like sailing in the breeze as a team. We were a bit disappointed not to go sailing but we’ll take it!”
Tactician Bruni added,
“This class is the pinnacle of the sport and it’s great to see the TP52 class with this strength again. I think it’s going to stay strong, and this year has been really incredible, it is impressive that the circuit has boats with such a high level. And this has been a real team effort. Without a doubt, this week was a bit tougher than the usual because of the stress and the nerves. Concentration was the key and trying to overcome the bad moments, which we all had. In the end it is a very close competition: one point has decided the whole season “.
Sled have been on the 52 SUPER SERIES since joining in January 2014 and finished on regatta podiums eight times. They proved a class apart at 2019’s season-ending Porto Cervo event where Mr Okura helmed to victory and now finally break the Azzurra-Quantum Racing duopoly which has reigned for eight full years on the world’s top grand prix monohull circuit which next year will celebrate its ten years anniversary. As Rolex TP52 World Champions they join Niklas Zennstrom’s Rán Racing which won once, twice victors Azzurra of the Roemmers family and Platoon, and six times world champions Quantum Racing. Quantum Racing finish a very close second, Doug DeVos being awarded the top owner-driver championships title. He said,
“At the end of the regatta you always feel like you did everything you could. Everyone is going to look back and think where did we lose a point where could we have gained a point? Especially being just one point behind Sled. But they did the same thing, they had to fight for every point they got. You’re happy with good competition, you look at the result and think, ‘we did our best.’ To be in this class and to be competitive in this class is a thrill for me.To see the quality of all the sailors, all the owners, all the programmes and to be in the mix here is a complete thrill. I pinch myself every day when I walk down the dock and see everybody. The commitment they have, they talent out there and the way all the teams work. The shore teams, the crews on the boats and to see the effort that goes in to be the best they can be, I’m just thrilled to be part of it. And it is great for the class to have a new winner. The level of the competition with how close the World Champs were and how close the season championship is you see that there are some great teams that have really embraced the spirit of the TP52 super series and have made a lot of commitments. Anybody can truly win.”
Platoon finished only two points shy of their first 52 SUPER SERIES title. Coach Morgan Reeser rued,
“It seems like it ends up this way almost every season, one or two points missing and so you think back to one penalty or one over early and you just want it back again to give it another chance. But the mood is still positive. It’s a great team and it’s a great class. Every leg is a challenge, every race is a challenge and every regatta so it’s a pleasure to be here.”
52 SUPER SERIES 2021 Standings after two regattas and eight races in Palma
- Sled 74, points
- Quantum Racing 75pts
- Platoon, 76 pts
- Phoenix 79 pts
- Alegre 85 pts
- Bronenosec 94 pts
- Provezza 110 pts
- Interlodge 123 pts
- Gladiator 142 pts
ROLEX TP52 World Championship RCNP 2021 after eight races
- Sled (7,2,5,1,6,1,7,1) 30 pts
- Quantum Racing (4,5,3,4,5,7,1,2) 31 pts
- Platoon (3,3,4,8,2,2,3,6) 31pts
- Phoenix (1,1,6,7,3,3,6,5) 32 pts
- Alegre (5,9,1,10,1,5,8,3) 42 pts
- Bronenosec Gazprom (2,8,9,2,4,8,2,8) 43 pts
- Interlodge (9,4,7,5,8,6,5,9) 53 pts
- Provezza (10,7,2,9,9,4,9,4) 54 pts
- Gladiator (8,10,8,3,10,9,4,7) 59 pts
- Code Zero (6,6,10,6,7,10,10,dnf) 66 pts