Rolex TP52 World Championship at the New York Yacht Club

Rolex TP52 World Championship at the New York Yacht Club – A beacon of success

by Quinag July 22, 03:11 HKT
15-20 July 2024

The Rolex TP52 World Championship is the culmination of the 52 SUPER SERIES, the world’s premier monohull Grand Prix circuit. In 2024, ten teams from seven nationalities and four continents took part.

After ten races off Newport in the US state of Rhode Island, the British team on Gladiator prevailed against the elite competition with an impressive demonstration of precision and determination and secured its first world championship title.

Rolex has an enviable reputation for supporting only the very best sporting events, and the Rolex TP52 World Championship, which joined the Yachting portfolio in 2017, is no exception. The culmination of the annual 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also the Official Timekeeper, the regatta brings together exceptional crews for a series of dramatic and thrilling races. This relationship is an important part of the Swiss watchmaker’s nearly 70-year partnership with the sport of sailing.

This year’s edition was sailed as part of the biennial Race Week in Newport, presented by Rolex, and linked the championship with Rolex’s longest-standing partner in the sport, the New York Yacht Club (NYYC), a club whose history stretches back to 1958. Commodore L. Jay Cross commented: “We are very honoured that the TP52 Class and the 52 SUPER SERIES have chosen Newport and the New York Yacht Club to host the first Rolex TP52 World Championship outside European waters. This fleet is the pinnacle of monohull fleet racing and last week’s competition was as close and exciting as we had hoped. Our congratulations to Tony Langley and his Gladiator team on their victory. It is always nice to see hard work and patience rewarded.”

The ten competing teams were all managed by passionate owners who have also achieved success outside of sailing. They are determined and competitive and know what it takes to build teams that perform at the highest level and live up to their standards. With narrow margins and the smallest of mistakes making the difference between victory and defeat, exceptional teamwork is a key requirement.

Tom Slingsby, Rolex brand ambassador and three-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year, has already taken part in the World Championship with the South African Team Phoenix: “The Rolex TP52 World Championship is truly a competition at the highest level between the best tacticians in the world, the best strategists, the best trimmers and the best archers. It is pure sailing and probably the hardest event to win.”

Tony Langley, Gladiator’s owner, echoed the view that it takes more to be successful than just a good crew and a well-prepared boat: “Winning the Rolex TP52 World Championship is incredible and the result of a very long process. Winning one of the 52 SUPER SERIES regattas is already special, but the World Championship is really the highlight of the season.”

Langley tried to figure out what makes the difference and how to get to the top in a crowded environment: “We consider everything down to the smallest detail. To build a successful team you need the very best people, but that’s just the beginning. To build a team everyone has to work together and be open to things. Everyone is encouraged to contribute.”

Agustin Zulueta is Chief Executive of the 52 SUPER SERIES. Over many years he has watched the competition develop and intensify and seen how the constant pursuit of excellence within the fleet has reduced the gaps between teams. He is also aware of the need to provide the teams with the best possible racing so they can perform: “The ability to maintain such a high level in this class is down to fair rules and top-class race management. This year was an extremely competitive championship due to the outstanding performance of the teams. Anyone could win. The slightest mistake could mean a jump from a top position to the bottom of the fleet.”

Not only is the championship a beacon of success on the water, but the organisers also aim to protect the seas on which it is held and do their part to secure the future of the sport for generations to come. As one of the leading pioneers in promoting and implementing sustainability in sailing, the 52 SUPER SERIES aims to reduce the environmental impact of its regattas each year through concrete actions. And as a global platform, it uses the power of sport to reach a wider audience and encourage positive change, as Zulueta explains: “With Kick Out Plastic, our sustainability partner, we organise regular beach clean-ups, but most importantly, we are committed to protecting our environment and our seas, ensuring that sailors and the sailing community in general also recognise the need to act to protect the planet.”

Performance in the Rolex TP52 World Championship is measured both on and off the field of competition. This combination of sporting excellence and a commitment to transforming the way sport addresses its environmental impact makes Rolex a natural partner.

The 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship will take place from July 1 to 6 in Cascais, Portugal.