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The 2026 racing season kicks off on May 2 with the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, featuring 14 teams from 11 nations. This season promises to be the most competitive yet, with teams finalizing their preparations during the PalmaVela regatta leading up to the event.
As the fleet expands, the stakes rise; last year’s Saint-Tropez event had just 11 boats, making early points crucial. Conditions are expected to be unpredictable, with Palma’s tricky winds, as noted by Olympic gold medalist Jordi Calafat, who emphasizes the importance of a strong start and consistency in scoring.
New teams join the fray, including Pieter Heerema's No Way Back and the Swedish Trinity team, debuting a fresh boat with tactician Ed Baird at the helm. Both will face the challenge of mastering shifty breezes rather than relying solely on speed.
Tony Langley's Gladiator, fresh off a win in 2025, has restructured their afterguard, while Harm Müller-Spreer's Platoon aims to rebound after a challenging previous season. With such high stakes and diverse teams, the competition is set to be fierce from Day 1.
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