Scheveningen provided a dramatic finale to the 44Cup World Championship 2025, an event that kept the suspense alive until the very last day. After ten races sailed in shifting and often punishing North Sea conditions, the championship was decided by the narrowest of margins, with Team Nika (Mon 10) defending its crown and securing a record fifth world title in the RC44 class with 41 points.
The crew led by Vladimir Prosikhin, who began the final day just two points behind their closest rivals, delivered under pressure. They won the opening race, followed it with a second place in the next, and closed the regatta with a solid third, enough to stay ahead in the overall standings.
Second place went to Team Ceeref Vaider (SLO 11), who finished with 45 points. The Slovenians showed remarkable powers of recovery throughout the week, but a poor start in the first race of the final day left them with too much ground to make up. “We probably overtook more boats than anyone else this week, but we couldn’t get the upper hand over Nika when it mattered,” admitted their tactician Adrian Stead.
The big climbers of the day were Aleph Racing (FRA17). With scores of 2-3-1, Hugues Lepic’s team rose to third overall on 47 points, celebrating their first ever World Championship podium in the class. “It is a major step forward for us, a reward for the whole team’s effort,” said tactician Michele Ivaldi.
GeMera Racing (SWE 30) and Artemis Racing (SWE 44) completed the top five with 52 and 54 points respectively. Behind them, Black Star Sailing Team ended on 56, Team Aqua 61, and Team Charisma 62, while Peninsula Racing suffered from a costly seven-point penalty and slipped back with 66.
Further down the order, the developing squads continued to make progress. WOW! Sailing Team from Turkey posted their best scores of the week on the final day and finished with 99 points, just ahead of Lanzarote Calero Sailing on 100. Warp 5, representing the host nation, closed the standings with 119.
Prosikhin, who alongside bowman Jeremy Lomas has now been part of all five of Nika’s world titles, could not hide his emotion. “It has been a very hard week, but the team found the energy and determination to finish strongly. I am delighted with what we have achieved.” His tactician, Nic Asher, was equally candid: “Relief is the first feeling. It has been a grind in tough conditions, but we pulled it together when it mattered.”
With this result, Team Nika not only defends its world title but also makes history as the first team to claim five 44Cup World Championships. The 2025 season will now conclude in Marina Jandía, Fuerteventura, from 19 to 23 November, where the overall series champion will be decided.
With just one event left in the 2025 season, Team Nika (MON 10) arrives at Marina Jandía as the firm favourite for the title. The Monegasque team has racked up only 3 points overall, thanks to wins in Porto Cervo, Marstrand, and the World Championship in Scheveningen, alongside a third-place finish at the season opener in Nanny Cay. Their consistent performance has given them a comfortable lead over the rest of the fleet.
Their closest rival is Aleph Racing (FRA 17) with 7 points, followed by GeMera Racing (11 points) and Ceeref Vaider and Charisma, both on 12. For Nika to miss out on the championship, a dramatic shift would need to happen in the final regatta: Aleph Racing would have to take the win at Marina Jandía, while Nika would need to finish sixth or lower. A Top 5 finish for Nika would secure the title regardless of what their rivals do.
There is also a very slim chance for GeMera, Ceeref, or Charisma to claim the crown, but only if they win the last event and Nika drops outside the top seven. In any case, the championship remains firmly in the leader’s hands: a solid result in the Canaries would see Nika wrap up one of the most dominant campaigns in 44Cup history.
