Ireland's Guilfoyle and Johnson Crowned TP52 World Champions on Sled

21st June 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Title Time — Takashi Okura's Sled celebrates victory at the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo. Irish sailors Cian Guilfoyle and Simon Johnson were part of the winning crew as Sled claimed its second world title Credit: Kurt Arrigo

Irish sailors Cian Guilfoyle and Simon Johnson were part of the crew that helped Takashi Okura's Sled win the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. The pair contributed to a hard-fought victory as Sled secured one of grand prix monohull racing's most prestigious titles for the second time.

Hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the championship attracted a record fleet of 15 TP52s and some of the world's top sailors. After five days of racing and nine races, Sled emerged on top through consistency rather than dominance.

Title Chase — The record 15-boat TP52 fleet races off Porto Cervo during the Rolex TP52 World Championship, where Irish sailors Cian Guilfoyle and Simon Johnson helped Sled secure a second world title. Photo: Kurt Arrigo

The American team finished the regatta with just one race win but rarely strayed outside the leading group. That reliability proved decisive in a fleet where margins were measured in single points. Sled finished ahead of Swedish newcomer Trinity Racing, which won the final two races of the championship to secure second overall. Alpha+ completed the podium after leading at various stages of the week.

Agustin Zulueta, chief executive of the 52 SUPER SERIES, praised the standard of competition. "We have enjoyed a superb week of racing, impeccably hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda," he said. "Conditions have given us grand prix competition befitting a record fleet where the level of skill and passion on display has been of the highest standard."

For Sled, the title added to its growing reputation as one of the circuit's most consistent performers. The team previously won the world championship in 2021 and finished second overall in last year's 52 SUPER SERIES season standings.

Swedish Challenge — Sweden's Trinity Racing threads through the packed TP52 fleet off Porto Cervo on its way to an impressive runner-up finish at the Rolex TP52 World Championship. Photo: Kurt Arrigo

Project manager and mainsheet trimmer Don Cowie said the size and quality of the fleet made the achievement particularly satisfying. "We haven't seen a 15-boat fleet at the Rolex TP52 Worlds before, and that made the racing incredibly competitive," he said. "Fortunately, we sailed well when it mattered most."

Tactician Francesco Bruni credited preparation and teamwork for the victory. "Consistency was the key," he said. "We avoided unnecessary risks, but when we did take risks, they were calculated and played to our strengths."

The Rolex TP52 World Championship is the pinnacle event of the annual 52 SUPER SERIES and marks the tenth edition supported by Rolex as title partner. The 2026 championship will be remembered for its record fleet, close racing and the contribution of Irish sailors Guilfoyle and Johnson to Sled's world title success.

Published in TP52

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

About the TP52 Racing Yacht

The TP52 racing yacht is a remarkable example of cutting-edge technology in the world of competitive yachting. Measuring 52 feet (15.85 metres) in length, this vessel is constructed entirely from carbon fibre, making it an incredibly light and agile craft.

The TP52 features a 6.25-metre high rig, complete with a fractional asymmetrical spinnaker and a self-tacking jib. This design reduces the workload of the crew, allowing for more efficient manoeuvres and freeing up the crew to focus on the mainsheet upwind and on two-sail reaches.

The spinnaker rigging set-up, measuring 15.00 m2, presents a challenge to even the most experienced crews, requiring them to be fit and perfectly coordinated. Maneuvering the boat requires athleticism due to the vessel's lack of inherent stability and the high speed generated by the fully battened mainsail and jib.

The TP52's hull is constructed of fibreglass-reinforced polyester in a foam sandwich layout, resulting in a weight of just 74kg. The fully battened mainsail and jib are made from a transparent Mylar laminate with orange or red Dacron trimming, while the spinnaker is manufactured from ripstop Nylon.

The mast is made up of three parts, featuring an aluminium bottom and middle section, with a polyester-fibreglass composite tip to increase mast bend and decrease overall weight. The capsizing moment, which can be generated by a heavy mast tip, is also reduced through this design. The TP52's foils are constructed from either aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the specific requirements of the vessel.

Overall, the TP52 racing yacht is an exceptional example of the latest advancements in yacht design and technology. Its lightweight construction, advanced rigging, and high-speed capabilities make it a top contender in the world of competitive yachting, challenging even the most skilled and experienced crews.