The annual Rolex TP52 World Championship represents the top tier of monohull grand prix sailing.
Held as the pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in the sport. Success is highly coveted. Emerging triumphant at the end of the exacting week-long competition is considered an exceptional accomplishment and a source of immense pride for the victorious crew.
The 2025 edition will serve to reinforce Rolex’s commitment to celebrating achievement. The showpiece has been supported by the Swiss watchmaker since 2017 and the partnership forms part of a wider relationship with yachting that began almost 70 years ago.
This year’s world championship takes place across a maximum 10 races over five days from 2 July. For the third time in a decade, the host is Clube Naval de Cascais, Portugal, one of several impressive yacht clubs that form the foundation of Rolex’s privileged partnership with the sport.
Crews representing a broad spread of nations, including France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, will contest the title. Each is highly competitive, led by skilled, committed owners and comprised of leading professional sailing talent.
It is common for a high percentage of teams to win races and for the championship to be decided in the final stages of the very last race. Rolex Testimonee and three-time Rolex World Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby has twice competed in the regatta and knows from first-hand experience how difficult it is to win:
“At the Rolex TP52 World Championship you can’t leave anything to chance. The fleet is razor-sharp and the margins between success and failure are tiny. To win overall, you need to achieve a high level of consistency throughout the regatta series. This takes discipline and resilience. There is little room for an off race, let alone day. It is the kind of racing I love — intense, close and brutally honest. If you want to win this championship, you have got to be on it every second.”
The regatta offers a level playing field. All crews compete on high-performance 52-foot/15.85-metre yachts. All have a singular ambition to be the best. This demands meticulous preparation of boat and personnel, a detailed and instinctive understanding of the racing area and an unbreakable determination to compete in each and every race.
Campaigns demand an investment of time, resources and passion. Former Rolex World Sailor of the Year and three-time Olympic gold medallist Robert Scheidt, who has competed as a tactician at the event, says all 12 or so crew members on each boat need to exhibit expertise in decision-making, optimizing speed and executing precise manoeuvres:
“The Rolex TP52 World Championship is probably the hardest monohull event to win. The level of detail that goes into the design of each boat, each sail and each piece of equipment is at the highest level. The quality of the crew work and the technology involved means it is really a game of fine margins, and consequently, super tough to win.”
Putting the best team together and arriving at the championship in peak preparedness is just one part of the journey to possible victory. Once on the water, the tension ramps up and the pressure on the sailors leaves no room to relax. Slingsby explains the importance of onboard synergy:
“I have learned that precision in communication is everything when racing as a team. At the Rolex TP52 World Championship that translates to keeping the language clear, so manoeuvres are sharp and everyone knows their role, particularly at pressurized moments.”
Last year’s regatta was the first held outside of European waters, in Newport, Rhode Island, in the United States. For the victorious Gladiator team, winning was the culmination of a 10-year quest.
This year’s competition is set to welcome four former winners – American Magic Quantum Racing, Platoon Aviation, Sled and the aforementioned Gladiator. They will have to contend not only with a high class fleet but also the exceptional sailing environment off Cascais. Situated on the Portuguese Atlantic coast, the location adds challenging wind and sea conditions to the mix. Scheidt has experience of competing in the area:
“One of the most important factors at the 2025 Rolex TP52 World Championship will be racing on the Atlantic. Crews will experience ocean swells and more wind compared with other venues. The conditions will place extra demands on the boat-handling skills of the crews.”
Just as at previous championships, victory this year will be a moment to be cherished. The passage to the top will be marked by emotion, collaboration, resilience and belief; ultimate success will require a blend of technical skill, seamless teamwork and unyielding competitive spirit.
