52 Super Series: Team Vāyu surprises, "Platoon Aviation" seventh after collision with spare rudder

Before the final day of racing, "Vāyu" was three points behind the leading US team Quantum Racing powered by American Magic. But because the Americans failed to finish in 9th and 10th place, the Thai family crew managed to storm to the top in the competitive monohull league of TP52s. "Vāyu" won the 52 Super Series for the first time before Newport, winning the showdown with a total of 33 points ahead of Tony Langley's British "Gladiator" (35 points) and Doug DeVos' US racing team (36 points).

Five Whitcrafts turned the biggest success in the team's history into a real family celebration: Don Whitcraft was at the wheel. His father Kevin and his brother Tom Whitcraft lead the team together. Also on board: Malee and Dylan Whitcraft. The Whitcrafts are spurred on by the well-known Palma tactician Manu Weiler and co-navigator Will Best from Wales.

America's Cup film "Born to win" as motivation

Kevin Whitcraft said after the win: "That absolutely blew us away. We are totally amazed. We didn't expect to come first today. However, last night we watched the film "Born to win", in which John Bertrand wins the America's Cup in 1983, as motivation, just to prove that it is possible. It's just fantastic and shows that hard work and never giving up always pays off. We were last in the season standings after the last event and this time we came first. So it is possible."

While Father's Day was celebrated in the USA and many other countries on Sunday, the Whitcrafts had many reasons to celebrate on the final Sunday. Kevin Whticraft said: "Winning on Father's Day is a coincidence, but my son was born on Father's Day and he was steering the boat today. I think it's a lucky day for us." The team knew before the final race that they were assured of a podium finish. Kevin Whitcraft explained: "That was fantastic, gave us a bit of reassurance. We just never gave up. We were last around the final mark, managed to come back and score just enough points to win overall."

For the American local heroes from the Quantum Racing Team, on the other hand, the last day was a dark one. Once again, they missed out on overall victory after good performances during the race week. After the weakest results of this 52 Super Series event and an early start, the US team even had to settle for third place on the podium behind Tony Langley's "Gladiator".

"Gladiator" ahead of Quantum Racing

"Gladiators" helmsman Guille Parada said: "It was very close in the end. We did everything we could to win the race without thinking about the podium. When we crossed the finish line and looked back, we knew it was going to be close. In the end, we only missed out on winning the regatta by two points. That's a good thing. We had a very good last day, we had a good result during the week and we are in a good position in the overall standings. So of course we are satisfied and happy."

Team Quantum Racing powered by American Magic can take comfort in the fact that they have defended their top position in the 52 Super Series season standings. The Americans lead the overall standings with 63 points ahead of "Gladiator" (72 points) and Takashi Okura's "Sled" (75 points). "Vāyu" moved up to sixth place with a total of 84 points behind "Interlodge" (USA, 81 points) and "Alegre" (GBR, 81 points).

Harm Müller-Spreer's crew on "Platoon Aviation", on the other hand, after finishing seventh ahead of Newport in the same place in the overall standings, is fighting to catch up with the traditional leading group in the rear midfield. Just as the Rolex TP52 world champions with "Platoon Aviator" seemed to be gaining momentum and had moved up into the top three with third place on the second day of racing ahead of Newport, there was a collision with an unknown object. The new Botín design had to be brought back to the harbour immediately, where it was craned out of the water and a badly damaged rudder blade was revealed.

"Platoon Aviation" seventh after collision

Harm Müller-Spreer's tactician Vasco Vascotto was inconsolable: "We went from 13 knots to zero in a second. Before that it was a good day for us. We were third and thought that a podium finish was possible at the end of the week. And suddenly this happens...." With a spare oar, the team lacked consistency in the final sprint. Nevertheless, they still managed to win the day before "Platoon Aviator" finished the regatta in ninth place with a total of 47 points and seventh place in the final ranking. One place ahead of them, Hasso and Tina Plattner's "Phoenix" finished the series in sixth place with 46 points.

The fleet will remain in Newport after the second regatta of the season for the pinnacle event of the year: the 2024 Rolex TP52 World Championship will take place in the famous US venue from 15 to 20 July.

Click here for the Newport results and the season standings.

Showdown off Newport - a summary of the final day:

The collision of "Platoon Aviator" in the replay (can be seen from minute 2:52:40):