The race to be ready for what promises to be the most competitive 52 SUPER SERIES yet ends on Tuesday. Months of interpretation, innovation, inspiration and thousands of hours of sheer perspiration come to a head on Tuesday when 12 TP52s – nine of them being brand new boats – line up on the start line for the first regatta of the 2018 52 SUPER SERIES.

• Two teams make their first appearance on the circuit. Challengers of record for the 36th America’s Cup, Luna Rossa start their first 52 SUPER SERIES next week with champion tactician Vasco Vascotto sailing in the Prada colours.
• Making their debut on the circuit for the first time ever will be Hasso Plattner’s new Phoenix, which has America’s Cup winner Ed Baird as tactician – three times a 52 SUPER SERIES winning skipper-helm.
• Brazil’s double Olympian Eduardo de Souza Ramos returns to the circuit with a new boat that has five times Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt as tactician.
• Two America’s Cup Teams are racing on the 52 SUPER SERIES, Luna Rossa and American Magic, the team that combines Doug DeVos’s TP52 Quantum Racing and Hap Fauth’s Bella Mente Maxi 72 programme, which is led by Terry Hutchinson.

The successful formula for the 52 SUPER SERIES remains the same. This will be a long season of five regattas, spanning May to September. All races count. There are no discards and so these first few days of the new season, competing with new, freshly launched boats will be crucial. The well prepared that launched early and have trained and raced might be expected to have the advantage over other the crews that have only launched more recently. But, as most crews get to grips with their new boats and learn the hidden intricacies, there might also be an early advantage for the teams with tried and tested boats from last season.

The Šibenik 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week starts with the official practice race on Tuesday 22nd of May, with the first points scoring Windward-Leeward Races planned for Wednesday. There is one coastal race scheduled for Thursday and thereafter Windward-Leeward contests run through to end of play on Sunday.

It will be the first time that the TP52 fleet have ventured to the beautiful Adriatic coast of Croatia. And the sailors are in for a treat. Historic Šibenik dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries, and is built around a beautiful square. It is becoming an increasingly sought after tourist destination. It is located on the most beautiful part of the Adriatic coast and is the gateway to the breathtaking landscapes of the Krka and Kornati National Parks.

Entries for Šibenik
Alegre – Andy Soriano (USA/GBR), 2018 Botin
Azzurra – Alberto Roemmers (ARG/ITA), 2018 Botin
Gladiator – Tony Langley (GBR), 2016 Botin

Luna Rossa – Patrizio Bertelli (ITA), 2018 Botin

Onda – Eduardo de Souza Ramos (BRA), 2018 Botin
Paprec Recyclage – Jean Luc Petithuguenin (FRA), 2015 Vrolijk
Phoenix – Hasso/Tina Plattner (RSA), 2018 Botin
Platoon – Harm Müller-Spreer (GER), 2018 Vrolijk

Provezza – Ergin Imre (TUR), 2018 Vrolijk

Quantum Racing – Racing Doug DeVos (USA), 2018 Botin
Sled – Takashi Okura (USA), 2018 Botin

XIO Hurakan – Marco Serafini (ITA), 2013 Botin