Tony Langley’s Gladiator became the first British flagged team to lift the Rolex TP52 World Championship title when they emerged from a testing three race finale today off Newport, Rhode Island with a six points margin over the 2021 world champions Sled and eight on the 2023 champions Platoon Aviation.
With Guillermo Parada steering, backed up by Bruno Zirilli navigator and the owner calling tactics supported by Chris Hosking, the Gladiator team laid the foundations for their first outright regatta success and their first world title together with three back-to-back race wins early in the ten race championship.
They complemented these victories with two second places and some fourths and fifths. They went into the last race today with a seven points lead over Sled which represent the host club the New York Yacht Club. Chasing their rivals across the finish line after a long, tough week on a challenging race course was enough to secure Gladiator the title.
When the Argentinian double world champion and four times 52 SUPER SERIES title winner Parada joined the Gladiator programme before least season Langley passed over the helm to ‘Guille’ as Langley sought to learn from one of the most accomplished, humble pro sailors on the 52 SUPER SERIES. Immediately it proved a potent combination when they finished third in Saint Tropez, third in Menorca and then third at last year’s Rolex TP52 World Championship in Barcelona.
This year they took over the former Alegre and most recently on these same Newport RI waters finished a close second last month behind the Thai Team Vayu, serving notice again that they are potential regatta winners.
This week they have achieved their ultimate accolade so far on the back of their excellent boat speed in the light to moderate breezes, on their careful risk management – prepared to push hard to one side of the course or the other on the strength of their great starting all backed up by good teamwork.
“We have come a long way in one and a half seasons and before that it was a long, long road and this makes it all the sweeter. And especially having our first ever regatta win at a world championship and becoming world champions and right here in Newport, somewhere I love. We started with this new team in Saint Tropez and since then we have had eight regattas and we have developed our processes together, we have a few wobbles but pull ourselves back and here we are.” Grinned the delighted owner Tony Langley.
“This is so nice to pick up the first event win for the team at the Rolex TP52 World Championship at the right time, so I am honestly very happy as it was a long and stressful week. We kept our nerves tight and we were able to hold on to our last race. I think everyone will agree we deserved to win. It is such a demanding race course, it is never obvious which side to go. We worked hard on having good starts and having good boat speed and I think we were a little better than the competition.” Said Parada who won TP52 world titles with Matador in 2009 and Azzurra in Puerto Portal in 2015.
Takashi Okura’s Sled take second place, Mr Okura finishing best owner driver, “It has been an amazing world championship, probably one of the best TP52 World Championships I have ever sailed. I am really so proud what the Sled team have achieved as runners up and World Champion owner driver. Congratulations to Gladiator who sailed a superb regatta and are deserving world champions.” Said tactician Ado Stead.
FINAL RESULTS ROLEX TP52 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
1. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 9+1+1+1+5+2+5+4+2+10 = 40
2. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 2+2+9+6+3+1+2+7+5+9 = 46
3. PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 7+3+4+9+1+4+4+6+8+2 = 48
4. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn and Tina Kang, 5+5+5+7+6+9+7+1+4+1 = 50
5. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 3+4+6+3+2+10+9+3+6+5 = 51
6. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos,
6+10+3+2+8+7+3+9+1+3 = 52
7. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, 4+8+8+5+9+5+8+8+3+4 = 62
8. VAYU (THA), Family Whitcraft, 1+7+2+8+10+8+10+2+9+8 = 65
9. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso and Tina Plattner, 10+6+7+4+7+3+1+10+10+7 = 65
10. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin y Gwen Fragomen, 8+9+11(DNS)+11(DNS)+4+6+6+5+7+6 = 73
STANDINGS 52 SUPER SERIES 2024 after three events
1. GLADIATOR (GBR), Tony Langley, 37+35+40 = 112
2. QUANTUM RACING POWERED BY AMERICAN MAGIC (USA), Doug DeVos,
27+36+52 = 115
3. SLED (USA), Takashi Okura, 33+42+46 = 121
4. ALEGRE (GBR), Andy Soriano, 37+44+51 = 132
5. PLATOON AVIATION (GER), Harm Müller-Spreer, 45+47+48 = 140
6. VAYU (THA), Familia Whitcraft, 51+33+65 = 149
7. INTERLODGE (USA), Austin y Gwen Fragomen, 32+49+73 = 154
8. ALPHA+ (HKG), Shawn y Tina Kang, 51+58+50 = 159
9. PAPREC (FRA), Jean-Luc Pethuguenin, 49+51+62 = 162
10. PHOENIX (RSA), Hasso y Tina Plattner, 77+46+65 = 188
11. PROVEZZA (TUR), Ergin Imre, 25+88+110 = 223
