News

Team Nika extend lead in provisional ranking

Porto Cervo, 16 May 2025. Day two was a challenging one for the competitors in the RC44 Porto Cervo Cup, who tackled three races with steep waves of at least 1.5 metres and a north-northeasterly wind of around 18 knots, dropping slightly to 16-18 knots. With two third places and a bullet today, Monaco's Team Nika, owned by Vladimir Prosikhin, took a clear lead in the provisional ranking with a total of 14 points, demonstrating why they are reigning world champions and current holders of the 44Cup. Artemis Racing climbed to second place thanks to a spectacular win in the first race, followed by a fifth and a fourth. The final place on the podium is held by Swiss team Black Star (6-4-5 today), who have been posting consistent results and performed well in the first race, prior to being overtaken right on the finish line.  

The first race, which started on schedule at 12 noon CEST, saw a very compact fleet performing spectacular manoeuvres at the mark roundings. Black Star led the fleet throughout, but the decision to head for the finish line on a port tack saw her overtaken by the tight group arriving with right of way from the right-hand side of the course. They were led by Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis Racing after a planing duel with Gemera, helmed by his son Markus. To give an idea of how close the racing was, a nail-biting finish saw four boats cross the line within 4 seconds, and all of the first eight within 16 seconds.  

The second race went to Ceeref Vaider, Igor Lah's Slovenian team with Adrian Stead on tactics, who nailed a fast and on time start on the left of the course. They maintained their lead throughout the race, winning by a clear margin over John Bassadone's Peninsula Racing, with tactician Vasco Vascotto, followed in third by Team Nika. The third and final race of the day began with a general recall, with Peninsula Racing then claiming a good start on the committee boat end together with the new Turkish team WOW! It was Team Nika who rounded the first windward mark in the lead, however, followed by Peninsula Racing and Charisma. Aleph was able to make up ground on the next downwind run, moving from fifth to second place, and taking the lead on the next upwind leg. On the final run, while Aleph gybed on the right of the course, Nika continued on the left. A decisive choice that allowed them to just nudge ahead and cross the finish line less than a boat length clear of Aleph.

Nic Asher, tactian on Team Nika: “Today was an extremely hard day, the wave state built through the day and the wind was up and down. It was super hard upwind and downwind to find the right mode and rhythm, it was a great day’s sailing but definitely hard on everyone. In the last one, after the start we managed to find some good shifts up the first beat and led at the top mark but on the second beat Aleph crossed ahead of us, they’re always there. Then on the last run, we found our rhythm nicely and managed to get a good few waves on the way in on port. It's nice to finally get a bullet. It's really good to race here in Porto Cervo, always tricky conditions, it’s a good test for a team and a tactician as well. It’s just a beautiful place and scenery, so I always love sailing here.”

Racing in the RC44 Porto Cervo Cup resumes tomorrow, 17 May, with the starting signal scheduled for 12 moon CEST. The forecast is for very light winds of 4 to 6 knots.

The event is organised by the YCCS in collaboration with the RC44 Class, with the support of the YCCS technical partner North Sails.

For further information, results, entry list, official documents, programme and photos please visit the YCCS website.

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