Rolex TP52 World Championship: Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" fights for the World Championship crown

Just three points behind the Turkish leader "Provezza" with tactician John Cutler, Harm Müller-Spreer's "Platoon" crew will be heading to the final of the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Barcelona's sailing arena on 26 August. There's no doubt about it: the two-time world champions from 2017 and 2019 want to fight for their third title with owner and helmsman Harm Müller-Spreer (Norddeutscher Regatta Verein), tactician Vasco Vascotto (Italy) and a select crew. It would be the first World Championship gold for Ergin Imre's "Provezza".

Will it be a three-way battle for victory in the Rolex TP52 World Championship?

The Turkish leaders of the 52 Super Series 2023 season standings go into the final Saturday races of the Rolex TP52 World Championship with a narrow lead over "Platoon" (22 points) with 19 points on their World Championship account. The crew on "Provezza" took the lead with the series 5, 3, 1, 1, 5, 4. The double world champions on Harm Müller Spreer's "Platoon" are breathing down their necks after finishing 1st, 5th, 9th, 2nd, 2nd and 3rd and have been exerting some pressure recently with consistency at the top end.

However, it won't just be a neck-and-neck race between the leaders, as Tony Langley's team on "Gladiator" (26 points) is lurking in third place, just a few points behind. The "Provezza" crew has already proven this season that they are capable of closing the bag on the final day when they have been under pressure in the important regattas of recent years. However, experience and momentum could lie with the "Platoon" crew, who won the 2017 and 2019 World Championship titles and took the Royal Cup in Menorca last month. However, Harm Müller-Spreer and his crew will have to avoid penalties such as the two in Race 3, which resulted in a damaging nine points.

Start well and find the lucky lane - that's how you have to do it and everyone knows that." Vasco Vascotto

The final day of the Rolex TP52 World Championship will be an exciting one. Also because the wind and weather conditions on this Saturday are difficult to predict. When the boats left Barcelona in the morning, the wind was blowing at around twelve or 13 knots. Hardly anyone in the TP52 field was able to predict how the wind would develop in view of the cloudy skies at the start attempt around 12 noon.

"Platoon" tactician Vasco Vascotto said before the decision: "We just have to try to correct the mistakes of the season and this week. I think we've had good debriefings, good work from the coaches and everyone else. So let's fight and see what happens. Start well and find the lucky lane - that's how you have to do it and everyone knows that."

Harm Müller-Spreer said: "We hope that we can do again what we did off Menorca in the last regatta: Catch them on the last day!" One question remains: Will there be enough races for the "Platoon" to catch up before the last possible start at 3.30 pm?

A short review of day 4 of the Rolex TP52 World Championship:

Final fun live! Click here to go to the 52 Super Series homepage, where the races on the final day will be broadcast from around 11.45 am.

Click here for the intermediate results of the TP52 World Championship before the final day.