Irish Sailors in 52 Super Series Title Showdown in Valencia

7th October 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Title showdown: Irish sailors are on both sides of the 2026 52 Super Series championship battle as Platoon Aviation takes an 11-point lead over Sled into the Valencia finale Credit: Nico Martinez

Irish sailors are on both sides of the battle for the 2026 52 Super Series title as a record 16-boat TP52 fleet gathers in Valencia for the season's final regatta.

Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon Aviation, with Oisín McClelland and Grattan Roberts among the crew, enters the Valencia Sailing Week finale leading Takashi Okura's Sledge, whose international crew includes Cian Guilfoyle and Simon Johnson.

As Afloat reported after the Royal Cup in Lanzarote, Platoon Aviation moved to the top of the championship with an 11-point advantage over 2026 world champions Sled, setting up a final-event showdown in Valencia.

Title talk: The 52 Super Series Valencia Sailing Week opening presentation sets the scene for the season decider, with up to ten scoring races scheduled before the 2026 championship is settled. Photo: Nico Martinez

Platoon Takes 11-Point Lead Into Finale

Platoon Aviation starts the regatta on 171 points, with Sled second on 182 as up to ten scoring races remain before the championship is decided on Saturday, October 10.

Müller-Spreer's German-flagged team arrives after winning the Puerto Calero Lanzarote 52 Super Series Royal Cup with a race to spare, its fourth Royal Cup victory. Sled, meanwhile, is seeking to overturn the deficit after winning the opening two regattas of the season and claiming the 2026 TP52 World Championship in Porto Cervo. As

Behind the leading pair, Alkedo Cetilar, Paprec and Trinity Racing are among the teams seeking to make their mark in the season finale.

Record 16-Boat TP52 Fleet

Marina Port Valencia is hosting 16 teams from 11 countries, the largest fleet in the 52 Super Series' 15-year history.

The international line-up includes Brazilian teams Caballo Loco and Crioula, Germany's Platoon Aviation, US newcomer Katana, Japan's Sled, French teams Paprec and Teasing Machine, Italian entries Alkedo Cetilar and Vudu, and Turkey's Provezza.

The 16-boat entry surpasses the 15-boat fleet assembled for the TP52 World Championship in Sardinia in June, as previously covered by Afloat.

Fleet in port: A record 16-boat TP52 fleet is assembled at Marina Port Valencia for the 2026 52 Super Series finale, where Platoon Aviation carries an 11-point championship lead over Sled. Photo: Nico Martinez

More than 200 sailors and shore-team professionals are involved in Valencia Sailing Week, reflecting the substantial technical operations behind the grand prix yachts.

Valencia Decides 2026 Championship

The TP52s are based at Marina Port Valencia for the finale, with the marina also hosting shore activities during the regatta.

The opening programme included a training day and an 'AfterSailing Event' bringing together sailors and technical teams before the championship racing. A free public Fan Zone is operating beside Veles e Vents, with live broadcasts and opportunities to see the TP52 fleet ashore.

But the principal focus is on the water, where the 11-point margin between Platoon Aviation and Sled leaves the 2026 championship open heading into the final races. For the four Irish sailors involved across the two leading boats, Valencia brings the season down to a direct fight for the 52 Super Series title.

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.