Freddie Carr's season preview: 52 Super Series 2026

This season’s 52 Super Series delivers its biggest and most competitive fleet to date. 14 boats line up for the opening regatta in Puerto Portals, with two more teams expected to join later in the season.

Representing 11 nations and featuring three new programmes, the fleet gathers on the Bay of Palma this week for the season opener, for what promises to be one of the tightest seasons in the circuit’s history.

Fifty races, no discard, across five regattas in Puerto Portals, Porto Cervo, two events in Lanzarote and finishing in Valencia in October. The depth of talent is exceptional – there are no easy races here. Margins will be fine, and consistency will decide everything.

Here’s a rundown of the runners and riders…

Bow: 01

Nationality: Netherlands

Owner: Pieter Heerema

Pieter Heerema steps in to buy Quantum Racing after their 2025 double, lifting both the 52 Super Series and the Rolex TP52 World Championship. It’s not a reset. Same Botin boat, same core crew, same engine room – this is continuity with a twist. Heerema’s an experienced owner-driver, now stepping onto the biggest stage with a package that knows how to win.

Terry Hutchinson will still be calling the tactics as one of the most successful TP52 sailors of all time. A few sharp additions: Michele Ivaldi, Morgan Larson early doors, and Lucas Calabrese for the run-in just add depth.

Bow: 02

Nationality: German

Owner: Harm Müller-Spreer

Four podiums before finally cracking it in 2023 in Puerto Portals, where they sealed the overall title and backed it up with a third world crown.

Led by Harm Müller-Spreer, one of the sharpest owner-drivers out there, this is a team built properly – top crew and top prep. Post-2023, they doubled down with a fresh Botin build out of King Marine. Juan Vila on nav, with Vasco Vascotto and Jordi Calafat running the afterguard. Add some new energy on the handles and up front, and it’s the same story – tight, polished and very hard to beat.

Bow: 03

Nationality: Sweden

Owner: Joakim Sundberg

Trinity is a new Swedish programme led by Joakim Sundberg – very new to the game and straight into the deep end of grand prix racing.

They’ve put the work in early, training through the winter in Palma and winning their class at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía in the Cape 31 class. It features a strong line-up: Ed Baird on tactics, Rossco Halcrow trimming, with Johan Barne navigating. New Botin boat, same mould as Platoon and Alegre – proven platform, straight out the box.

Bow: 04

Nationality: Great Britain

Owner: Tony Langley

They sit within the Quantum Sails group and reshaped things in 2023 by bringing in Guillermo Parada – a multiple series winner – with long-time partner Bruno Zirilli on navigation. That core set-up settled quickly and delivered the Rolex TP52 World Championship in 2024, while staying in the hunt across the season.

They also moved into the ex-Alegre that year – known quantity, no bedding-in phase. With Tony Langley calling tactics and Parada steering, they built momentum through the season, finishing on a high in Palma at Puerto Portals.

They won the season opener in 2025 in a light air event in St. Tropez, with Langley back on the helm marking his first Super Series wins on the wheels.

For this season, there’s a tweak in the afterguard. Ray Davies heads back to America’s Cup duties, with Victor Díaz de León stepping in as strategist alongside Langley and Parada.

Bow: 05

Nationality: USA

Owner: Takashi Okura

Sled made their mark with a clean sweep in 2021, taking both the series and the Rolex TP52 World Championship. They race under the New York Yacht Club with Takashi Okura at the helm– an owner-driver who came up through Farr 40s and Melges before stepping into this class.

The afterguard leans heavily on experience: Murray Jones on tactics, Don Cowie running the programme from the main sheet, with Francesco Bruni in the afterguard. Same group, well embedded. Last year they were right in the mix again – second overall, with a late-season win in Porto Cervo.

Bow: 07

Nationality: France

Owner: Jean-Luc Petithuguenin

Paprec is a long-running programme led by Jean-Luc Petithuguenin – one that’s evolved from an amateur core into a more polished, pro set-up over time, including the move into a newer Botin platform.

They’ve kept a clear focus on developing young French talent, while building experience into the group. Loïck Peyron calls tactics, with Cédric Château steering.

Last year they were right in it, pushing at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and finishing the season on the podium in Porto Cervo.

Bow: 09

Nationality: Turkey

Owner: Ergin Imre

Provezza is run by Ergin Imre, a long-time big boat racer who’s been around since the IOR days. They’ve been part of the 52 Super Series since 2013, building the programme steadily over time.

Their standout year came in 2023: two regatta wins and right in the title fight, missing out by the smallest margin after leading late in the season. They rolled into a new Judel/Vrolijk & Co build for 2024, setting up for a full campaign. John Cutler steers, with Cole Parada on tactics, backed up by Santiago Lange. Nacho Postigo handles navigation, and Paul Westlake trims main.

Bow: 10

Nationality: Brazil

Owner: Plass Brothers

They’re running the former Provezza IX, a well-sorted Judel/Vrolijk design that finished second overall in 2023. It’s a mixed amateur–pro crew, largely out of Veleiros do Sul, with a couple of Argentine sailors in the mix. The programme is led by brothers Eduardo Plass and Renato Plass – Eduardo steering, Renato on the runners.

The Crioula project goes back to 2010, building through Soto 40 and Soto 65 campaigns before stepping into the TP52 class in 2021. Now they’re back in Europe with a more active schedule lined up for 2026.

Bow: 11

Nationality: Brazil

Owner: Mauro Dottori

Caballo Loco step into the circuit in 2026, taking on the former Phoenix – a quick, well-developed platform. The programme is run by Mauro Dottori and Fabio Cotrim, sharing driving duties across the season.

They’ve been sailing together in South America for the past few years and now make the move into the 52 Super Series. Pre-season training in Valencia gave them a solid base heading in. Onboard, Jorge Zarif calls tactics, Rob Paradeda steps in as strategist and Luciano Secchin handles navigation. Most of the group comes out of São Paulo.

It’s a step up from their previous 44ft Botin ‘mini’ Phoenix. Since 2023 they’ve been chartering TP52s in Europe – now they’re in one full-time.

Bow: 12

Nationality: France

Owner: Eric de Turckheim

Teasing Machine came into the 52 Super Series in 2024 as prep for the Admiral’s Cup – but it stuck. Eric de Turckheim brings the team back in 2026, this time fully committed.

It’s an offshore-heavy group – Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Rolex Middle Sea Race – with a core that’s logged serious miles together.

They’ve switched from their NMD 54 into the Botin-built ex-Gladiator and are now properly into the inshore set-up. Under Laurent Pagès, it’s the same group, just adapting to a different style of racing.

Bow: 19

Nationality: Great Britain

Owner: Andy Soriano

Alegre have been part of the 52 Super Series since 2015, with Andy Soriano driving the programme – an owner with plenty of grand prix miles from the maxi scene into TP52s.

They moved early on the latest generation, launching a new Botin build out of King Marine in 2024. The core group has stayed largely intact, but there’s been some change around the afterguard. For 2026, Luke Patience steps in as strategist alongside Hamish Pepper on tactics, with Francesco Mongelli navigating.

Last year was mixed overall, but they closed the season with a podium in Porto Cervo.

Bow: 27

Nationality: Thailand

Owner: Whitcraft Family

Vāyu is the Whitcraft family programme out of Thailand, stepping into the 52 Super Series in 2021 after several years running a TP52 at home.

It’s a unique set-up – often six or seven family members onboard. Brothers Tom Whitcraft and Kevin Whitcraft lead it, with Ben Howett navigating and Pom Green running the programme.They’re tied into the Quantum Sails group, sharing data and coaching, which has accelerated the learning curve. Results have followed – podium in Scarlino and a first regatta win in Newport.

The wider focus is clear too: bringing young Thai sailors through into grand prix racing. For 2026, Manu Weiler joins on tactics.

Bow: 36

Nationality: Italy

Owner: Andrea Lacorte

Alkedo stepped into the 52 Super Series in 2025, moving up from ClubSwan50 and M32 racing. The programme is led by owner-driver Andrea Lacorte, with a long-standing Italian core sailing under Yacht Club Repubblica Marinara di Pisa, backed up by an experienced international group.

They’re racing a proven platform, originally launched as Azzurra and winner of the 2019 series. On the afterguard, Cameron Appleton calls tactics, Álvaro Marinho runs strategy, and Nicolò Sanfelici navigates.

First season out was solid – just off the overall podium, with a third in Baiona and fourth in Puerto Portals.

Bow: 46

Nationality: Hong Kong

Owner: Kang Family

Alpha+ came into the 52 Super Series in 2023, led by Shawn Kang and Tina Kang, and this is now their fourth season on the circuit.

The programme has built steadily: fourth at the Rolex TP52 World Championship in 2024, a podium in Puerto Portals, and mid-fleet overall last season. They’ve come a long way from club racing in Hong Kong through Ker 46+ and into the TP52 class, now running a fully established programme. For 2026, the focus is on consistency, with a keel update and a settled afterguard. Nick Egnot-Johnson steers, Ado Stead brings experience on tactics, and Ian Moore continues navigating – a group that’s spent a lot of time sailing together.

This is as deep as the 52 Super Series has ever been. There are multiple regatta winners across the fleet, several genuine title contenders, and a group of improving teams capable of upsetting the order.