THE WORLD’S LEADING MONOHULL CIRCUIT: 52 SUPER SERIES - RETURNS TO LANZAROTE FOR THE PUERTO CALERO LANZAROTE 52 SUPER SERIES ROYAL CUP
The Puerto Calero Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Royal Cup is the fourth regatta of the five events which form the 2026 season and the second back-to-back regatta held in breezy Lanzarote following last month’s Marina Rubicon Lanzarote 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week.
With 13 teams competing the season is now very much into its second half. It really is starting to feel like racing is tapering towards a fabulous finale in Valencia in early October, but this Puerto Calero regatta represents a number of different opportunities to the teams.
Without doubt the long-awaited fairytale French victory at Marina Rubicon for Jean-Luc Petithuguenin – Paprec’s first event win since joining the circuit in 2012 – offers a massive injection of self-belief for the teams which have come so close to a magical maiden victory so far.
Having seen up close and personal how Paprec closed out their regatta win by staying solid and mistake free on a final day over which the stars aligned, teams like Shawn and Tina Kang’s Alpha Plus, Andy Soriano’s Alegre and Andrea Lacorte’s Alkedo head to Marina Rubicon with an added impetus.
Winning at Puerto Calero carries an additional reward is the shape of the historic Royal Cup. The trophy was originally presented to the IMS 50 class in 1995 by King Harald of Norway, Italy’s Pasqale Landolfi, Germany’s Willi Illbruck and Greece’s Yannis Kostopolous but it has become one of the most sought after trophies on the 52 SUPER SERIES circuit.
Of the fleet that will race in Lanzarote next week, Harm Müller-Spreer’s German flagged Platoon Aviation has won the prestigious cup most often, in 2021 in Menorca, in 2023 also in Menorca and most recently in 2024 in Valencia. The renowned German owner-helm, a three times world champion and overall title winner in 2023, loves the prestige and legacy attached to the Royal Cup but his primary focus in Lanzarote will be closing down the 17points gap that they trail behind the circuit leaders, Takashi Okura’s Sled.
After winning the first two regattas of the season, including the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo, Takashi Okura’s Sled team faltered on the final races of the Marina Rubicon regatta netting 18 points over the last two races. Francesco Bruni and the team rue the costly mistakes but Italian tactician insists their processes and approach remain the same as those which have served so well so far this season.
Credit to the Gladiator team which has, at the same time as campaigning their home based TP52 Gladiator ‘B Boat@ at Cowes Week, completed a significant race against time to have Gladiator ready to race at Puerto Calero. After the forestay hanger broke there was substantial damage to carbon tube around the fitting site and the British team had to sit out the event after two races.
While Marina Rubicon – 20 miles west of Calero – was a completely new venue to the 52 SUPER SERIES, many of the team sailors have raced and won at Puerto Calero so it is a better known venue, but most other class regattas have been late or early season. And the trade winds do blow most regularly in the summer.
Racing starts Tuesday 25th August and runs to Saturday 29th August
Royal Cup winners
2012 Rán Racing, Palma
2013 Quantum Racing, Ibiza
2014 Quantum Racing, Ibiza
2015 Quantum Racing, Cascais
2016 Quantum Racing Scarlino
2017 Azzurra, Miami
2018 Luna Rossa, Zadar
2019 Provezza, Puerto Sherry
2021 Platoon, Menorca
2022 Quantum Racing, Scarlino
2023 Platoon, Menorca
2024 Platoon, Valencia
2025 American Magic, Baiona
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