Rise of the Rookies...
52 Super Series communications supremo Andi Robertson checks in with a update on the 2026 season...
The first regatta of the 2026 52 Super Series had it all. Three new teams, all led by very different, very committed owners. From a fleet of 14 eight different boats won races, Alkedo Vitamina being the only boat to win two. And, nothing new here, the first regatta title went to the wire on the last day, the seemingly super-dependable Sled taking the win.
And in Puerto Portals the script wrote itself. The brand new Swedish boat, Trinity, steered by owner Joakim Sundberg – a rookie compared to others on the circuit – chalked up a win in the second race before a halyard issue forced them to sit out Race 3. After a solid opening, finishing third with No Way Back, new Dutch owner-driver Pieter Heerema also left Mallorca with a big smile.
Built by King Marine, the immaculate Trinity is a head-turner. She was also exceptionally fast for a new TP52 fresh out of the box. Ed Baird is doing a great job as tactician, with Ross Halcrow, having moved from Platoon Aviation, onboard as lynchpin trimmer.
Main picture: Left turn please, JC. Provezza helm John Cutler tacks away from new Brazilian Super Series team Caballo Loco to leeward at the series opener in Puerto Portals. To say Provezza is dripping with talent is an understatement. Cutler steering, Mariano Parada tactician, Nacho Postigo navigating, Santi Lange strategist and for 2026 with Paul ‘Flipper’ Westlake coming back to trim main. After missing the 2023 title by a single point, it’s fair to say that for 2026 skipper Ergin Imre is throwing the kitchen sink at this.
Halcrow: ‘We are pretty happy with the boat, it felt good! I was surprised, to be honest, at how good it felt. It is the same as Alegre and Platoon but with a different appendage package. Joakim shows great focus and concentration. We have a lot of room for improvement but it was an incredibly good start to the season.
‘The Trinity keel is of a more rectangular planform than what we have had in the past. The chord thickness is also greater than what we sailed with in the early days on Platoon, which right away gave us good grip upwind. But we have the standard Botín rudder which Platoon and Alegre both used last year.
‘We certainly felt we could hold a lane well off the startline – we even held Sled off the line with Adam Beashel driving which is encouraging. Upwind we were good generally. And as tactician Ed did his usual good job of keeping things nice and simple.’
Trinity starts with pretty much the ‘standard’ North Sails package and runs full Harken hardware including all of the hydraulics – which now also take in the jib functions. Mickey Costa, who master minded the layout, drew particular attention to the work ethic the Swedes have shown in the build-up to their TP52 programme. ‘This is TP52 number 12 for me and teams like Provezza and Azzurra are my family. But I have hardly ever seen a team work as hard as these guys! The performance of the boat is good and the team is already progressing well.
‘Ed Baird is the professor. His articulation onboard is exceptional. In terms of cool stuff, as on Provezza we have a Pro Trim system moving the traveller, but mounted at the companionway; most teams still have them by the traveller, on the cockpit floor or down in the hull. So when tacking in light air, for example, this system is driven by the front pedestal keeping weight forward.
‘All the jib systems are now hydraulic and I hope that one day the TP52 class allows electro valves in these layouts. What we do now is we pump the oil by hand and then open the valves with strings… but that could easily all be electronic.
‘Nevertheless, we have considerably simplified the system. We have created a simple suite of valves which control jib up and down, jib in and out, and jib tack all on the same system. Conceptually it is the same as on Platoon and Provezza, but this time Harken made everything for us.
‘Also we are trying a pivoting mainsheet track, a T-track that pivots fore and aft as on some of the maxis, instead of a fixed X-track bolted rigidly in place. Loads align better and it makes it easier for the main trimmer to ease down the traveller. We also have new line-spoolers from Morfrac in Brittany. Instead of shockcord, these suck in the line with a single pull like a lawnmower start. One pull and it’s done. We are very happy with those!’
Among those admiring the new Trinity is Gladiator trimmer Simon Fry. ‘Trinity is definitely a step on. What is impressive is that before with a new boat you would be two, three, four weeks minimum to get up close to speed. Even with really good people onboard. These guys lack TP52 experience and yet overall they were up to speed super quickly.’
Looking across the fleet, Fry also believes that the new keel fins are working well. ‘I think some of the new bigger fins have now given these boats different modes. On Gladiator we might now be slightly exposed as we are probably the smallest keel fin.
‘If we can sail targets on our own patch of water that is fine, but we definitely have to avoid setting up in skinny lanes with the likes of Alkedo, Platoon or Sled. They have a different grippier mode which we are not comfortable with. Downwind I did not see much difference but upwind these boats with more grip have a mode we can’t match.’
Fry also points to Sled’s consistently good sailing as the reason Takashi Okura’s team have won the last two regattas. ‘Three or so years ago they slightly rejigged and went straighter rig, less luff curve, more headstay in the breeze. Super good in heavier air, as we have seen.
‘However, I think most of us have now followed that, but then in lighter airs in Portals they just sailed super well! They never missed a shift and were relatively conservative in not putting themselves in a position of risk. And completing the last day with a broken main halyard lock was impressive.’
Thailand bound
Adhering to the 52 Super Series philosophy of trying to race outside Europe every two years or so, plans are advanced for the circuit to be hosted in Thailand in 2027, heading to Asia for the first time ever. The Whitcraft family, who campaign Vayu, are instrumental in advancing an exciting initiative that has already secured the required commitment from Super Series owners.
The first regatta will run in February as Thailand 52 Super Series Sailing Week. Then the Rolex TP52 World Championship Thailand 2027 will run in March. Both regattas will be hosted at Ocean Marina under the flag of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club. From the balmy winds of Thailand then it’s back to Europe in May starting in Sorrento, then staying in Italy for the fourth regatta in Scarlino in July with the finale in Puerto Portals in September.