There was unfinished business on their minds, too, after watching the 2024 title slip from their grasp in Valencia. If Day 1 of this new season is any indication, they’re back with purpose.
Under postcard skies and with a modest Saint-Tropez sea breeze delivering 8 to 13 knots, Gladiator wasted no time reminding the fleet who’s boss. They nailed the first race, leading wire to wire, and followed up with a close second to Alpha+, the upstart Hong Kong team that’s quickly becoming a serious player.
“We stuck to the process,” said Langley, now back on the helm full-time, his voice steady and measured. "Guille [Parada] is a natural driver, but he’s also a fantastic tactician. We saw that today."
Indeed, Parada—with America’s Cup winner Ray Davies riding shotgun—kept Gladiator glued to the favored right side of the course, where the gains were obvious. Clean starts, steady hands, and smart positioning were all they needed to stay in control.
Davies, grinning after a satisfying return to the circuit, summed it up: “It was dead flat, 9 to 13 knots, and pretty much a one-way track. The big deal was getting off the line clean. This fleet doesn’t forgive mistakes, so you can’t afford any. But Tony did a fantastic job. You can’t expect to go 1-2 every day, but it’s a heck of a way to start.”
Behind them, Alpha+ had their best day ever on the 52 circuit. A 5-1 scoreline put them second overall, and for helmsman Nick Egnot Johnson and tactician Tom Burton—an Olympic gold medalist finding his groove in the TP52 ranks—it was validation of steady improvement.
“We’re chipping away, slowly getting better with more experience,” said Burton. “You get more comfortable with the fleet, and when the moments come, you have to execute. Today we did.”
Elsewhere, the usual suspects had mixed fortunes. Provezza, so often the pace-setter, stumbled badly. A black flag penalty in Race 1 left them onshore watching, a costly early mistake in a fleet where every point counts. Meanwhile, American Magic Quantum Racing had a win in their sights in Race 2 until it slipped through their fingers, finishing tenth.
With three races on tap tomorrow and the Saint-Tropez forecast holding steady, there’s plenty of runway left. But make no mistake—Gladiator came here to win, and they look every bit like a team eager to finish what they started last season.
Provisional Standings After Day 1
1.- GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 1+2 = 3
2.- ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn & Tina Kang, 5+1 = 6
3.- SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 4+3 = 7
4.- PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Pethuguenin, 3+4 = 7
5.- VAYU (THA), Whitcraft Family, 6+5 = 11
6.- AMERICAN MAGIC QUANTUM RACING (USA), Doug DeVos, 2+10 = 12
7.- PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 7+8 = 15
8.- ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 10+6 = 16
9.- CRIOULA (BRA), Eduardo & Renato Plass, 8+9 = 17
10.- PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, UFD (12)+7 = 19
11.- ALKEDO (ITA), Andrea Lacorte, 9+11 = 20
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