The 2021 champions are a prominent international team that is headed by New York Yacht Club owner-driver Takashi Okura, who before coming in to the 52 SUPER SERIES raced at top grand prix level for about 15 years with success in the Farr 40 and Melges 32 classes in particular.
Sled have been regular podium contenders at most regattas thanks to a very strong group of experienced top professionals, many of them former Team New Zealand sailors most notably including five times America’s Cup winner Murray Jones as tactician and Don Cowie -who runs the project – as mainsheet trimmer.
Winners overall and Rolex TP52 World Champions, securing both titles at the conclusion of a thrilling late season finale in Majorca (Spain), Sled finished fifth at the end of the 2023 season, their high point being second at the season finale in Puerto Portals.
An outstanding memory for the Sled team was the last regatta of 2019 in a breezy Porto Cervo. They were unstoppable, reeling off six race wins from nine starts. For 2024 they sail with Jones partnered by Ado Stead – a past 52 SUPER SERIES and Rolex TP52 World Champion who during his career has been successful with Quantum Racing, Ran Racing, Alegre and Phoenix. Italian Andrea Visintini is the ever dependable navigator.
