52SuperSeries 2025 : Wrap Up - 52 SUPER SERIES Saint-Tropez Sailing Week
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00:30With the French Riviera, Saint-Tropez
00:32Returning for the second time since the curtain was lifted on the 2023 season here
00:38Saint-Tropez lays on a warm welcome for 11 teams from 9 different nations
00:43In spring, Saint-Tropez has a special charm
00:47It's still the epitome of French chic
00:50It's a timeless appeal to tourists from all over the world
00:53And the line-up of 52 takes pride of place moored in the heart of the historic harbour
01:00And of course the pressure is on from the very start
01:04The last seasons have all been decided by one single point here and there
01:09And so no one wants to give away cheap points at the first regatta
01:13The 2024 circuit champions set out defend
01:17Now as American Magic Quantum Racing
01:20Returning from the America's Cup role, Terry Hutchison returns on board as tactician
01:25Sarah Stone moves back in the boat, completing a new challenge as navigator
01:30Lucas Calabresi joins as mainsail trimmer
01:33And owner-driver Doug DeVos is back on the helm in the hot seat in Saint-Tropez
01:38The competition at this level, this class, just keeps getting better and better every year
01:43So you kind of walk in and go, well, let's just do the best we can do
01:46You know, we're going to have to see where it all comes together because everyone's so good
01:51Having the opportunity to come back and sail with a new team and with new sailors
01:55And I'm impressed really with how good they all are
02:00On the world champions, owner-driver Tony Langley returns to steering
02:05And America's Cup winner Ray Davis joins as strategist to work with Gijay Parada
02:11There's a lot of pressure, big shoes to fill
02:13Now the team is, like all of the teams, are at such a high level
02:17So absolutely no trouble with the crew work and the boat speed
02:21And as an aftercard, we're working to get better all the time
02:24Another important America's Cup sailor, Francesco Bruni, returns to sled
02:28To reprise the line-up, which won both the 2021 titles
02:33It feels great to be back in Saint-Tropez
02:35But it feels even better to be back with the TP52 class
02:39I love the class, it's great racing
02:41And there's a brand new Italian team in town
02:44Andrella Cortez Alcedo Vitamina moves up from the Club Swan 50
02:49To the very top tier of monohull racing
02:51It's a gigantically high level
02:54So we are happy because we are selling together with the best one
02:58What do we want more?
03:00The Côte d'Azur, of course, might be known for spring sunshine
03:03Vibrant landscapes, but not necessarily for reliable breezes early in the season
03:08Indeed, it's day two before the racing really gets underway
03:11With two decent contests
03:13Tony Langley's Gladiator won the first race of the season in 2024
03:16And they do the same again this time in Saint-Tropez
03:20They recognise the favoured right side of the upwind
03:23And win gun to gun to take the first blood
03:25American Magic making a nice gain on the second upwind to get second
03:29And Paprec, the French team, getting third
03:32And the breezes shifted right for the second race
03:35And it's a great start from Alpha Plus
03:37Round to your top mark in the lead
03:38With Gladiator second, sled and third
03:41And Alpha Plus go on to win
03:42So the first win for the Hong Kong team this season
03:45Getting first, second are Gladiator to take the overall lead
03:48And third, sled very much in contention
03:51And we have to wait until the Sunday to get race number three underway
03:55And even then there's quite a nervous wait to get the event completed
03:59On the start line, Alcado get away nicely
04:01Up the middle of the first upwind
04:03Round the first top mark, it's Alcado leading from sled and Allegri
04:07And through the finish line is a first race win ever
04:10On the 52 Super Series for the Italian boat
04:13Sled gets second, Allegri third and Gladiator in fifth
04:17Still leading the regatta, tied on points into the final race
04:21The big finale is really between Gladiator and sled
04:26But American Magic get away nicely on the first upwind
04:29Showing good speed in the middle of the course
04:31They lead round the top mark
04:32With a comfortable lead round and second, Preveza
04:35But it's really on the final run
04:37It's between sled and Gladiator
04:38Sled have the regatta title in their pocket
04:41But Gladiator move out to the left of the downwind
04:44Come back at sled on starboard
04:46Force sled out to the right
04:48And that's enough to get Gladiator through in third place
04:51American Magic winning the race
04:53But sled in fourth to Gladiator in third
04:56Means Gladiator win the title in Saint-Tropez
04:58By a single point from sled
05:00First regatta win as driver in Super Series
05:05In what, 15 years now we've been doing this
05:08First regatta win as driver
05:10For Gijet it's first regatta win as tactician
05:15Really quite special
05:18So after just four races in Saint-Tropez
05:21Top of the table winning the first regatta of the season
05:23Is Gladiator on 12 points
05:25Second are sled missing out by a single point on 13
05:28And third American Magic on 18 points
05:31We haven't done any bad results
05:33Obviously we could have won the event
05:35Being ahead on the last race
05:36But yeah, we have to accept that the best boat win
05:41And Gladiator was the best boat this week
05:43The week was challenging
05:44Really hard for the race committee
05:46Hard for all the teams
05:47But it was good for us to finish strong
05:49And win that last race
05:50We were happy with that for sure
05:51Well that's it from a difficult and quite frustrating
05:54Saint-Tropez
05:55Still beautiful, still lovely
05:57But only four races sailed
05:58Gladiator winning
05:59But now we head to Bayona
06:01We'll see you there
06:02To be continued...
06:14A film by