Palma de Mallorca is getting ready to welcome, from 18 to 23 August, a new edition of the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, an event that has become a true classic since it first hosted the TP52 World Championship back in 2015. Ten years on, the bond between the circuit and the Mallorcan marina is stronger than ever, with many crews now referring to Portals as their second home.
This time, 12 boats from nine nations will line up on the start for the fourth regatta of the 2025 calendar, a decisive stage that could prove crucial ahead of the season’s finale. While the atmosphere ashore is relaxed, on the water the pressure is relentless, with margins tighter than ever.
Doug DeVos’s crew arrived in Mallorca riding a wave of momentum, having won the last two events on the circuit, including the TP52 World Championship in Cascais. With a 29-point lead over Sled, the Americans top the standings with authority. Yet there is no sense of complacency on board. As strategist Víctor Díaz de León puts it: “There are twelve boats in the regatta, so our odds are one in twelve. The key is never to take anything for granted and to keep communication sharp on board.”
Briton Tony Langley and his Gladiator team, winners in Puerto Portals in 2024, are determined to defend their crown. Trimmer Simon Fry notes that Palma Bay rewards teams who get it right from day one: “It’s a racecourse where you can set up your boat for the whole week. If we get the configuration right early, we’ll be in the game.”
Among those aiming for redemption is Platoon Aviation, with owner Harm Müller-Spreer back at the helm and Olympic champions Jordi Calafat and Joan Vila strengthening the line-up. After an uneven start to the season, the Germans are looking to reassert themselves as title contenders.
Other campaigns are also ringing the changes. Alegre, owned by Andy Soriano, brings in Olympic gold medallist Paul Goodison as tactician in a bid to turn their season around. Provezza, meanwhile, continues to fine-tune its new boat and hopes Palma’s lighter conditions will play to its strengths.
The line-up also includes the likes of Sled, Paprec, Alkedo Vitamina, Alpha+, Vayu, Crioula, Teasing Machine and, of course, Gladiator, guaranteeing a fiercely competitive week.
Palma Bay is renowned for its reliable sea breeze, which rewards consistency and punishes poor starts. Gaining positions is notoriously difficult, making each start sequence decisive. “The important thing is to nail the first shift and defend your lane,” explains Díaz de León.
The programme begins today Monday 18 August with the official practice race. Points racing will run from Tuesday 19 to Saturday 23 August, with up to ten races scheduled. Every start, mark rounding and finish will be broadcast live on the official 52 SUPER SERIES TV YouTube channel.
With American Magic Quantum Racing consolidating their lead, Gladiator defending their 2024 title and heavyweights such as Platoon and Provezza hungry to return to form, the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week 2025 is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the international sailing calendar.
1. American Magic Quantum Racing, 18+23+42 = 93
2. Sled, USA, 13+58+51 = 122
3. Paprec, FRA, 23,5+ 63+43 = 129,5
4. Alkedo, ITA, 28+49+61 = 138
5. Platoon Aviation, GER, 36+44+63 = 143
6. Vayu, THA, 27+68+65 = 160
7. Alpha+, HKG, 21,5+68+71 = 160,5
8. Alegre, GBR, 30+71+62 = 163
9. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 30+64+81 = 175
10. Phoenix, RSA, 48+69+60 = 177
11. Gladiator, GBR, 12+120+63 = 195
12. Teasing Machine, FRA, 48+73+120 = 241
13. Crioula, BRA, 28+120+120 = 268
