Cascais, 26 June 2022 – The Rolex TP52 World Championship is considered the crown of monohull grand prix competition. The 2022 edition of this annual event, partnered by Rolex since 2017, gathered nine teams from six countries and a selection of elite sailors for five days of dramatic and captivating competition in Cascais, Portugal. After 10 races in varied conditions, Quantum Racing was crowned 2022 Rolex TP52 World Champion as a reward for supreme consistency.

The TP52 is conceived solely for racing. Two decades of evolution, and this high-performance monohull remains at the very top of the sport. A versatile design able to shine throughout the yacht racing spectrum in different configurations, whether winning the pinnacle of offshore races such as the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race or, as at this world championship regatta, competing over intense inshore courses.

The 2022 edition of the Rolex TP52 World Championship attracted the usual mix of passionate, committed owners and crew that included Olympic medallists, round the world and America’s Cup winners, and world champions in a multitude of sailing disciplines. The best of the best.

With evenly matched racing yachts and no discards across the ten-race series, the TP52 formula guarantees hugely competitive racing. Success demands a combination of skill, commitment and concentration. With every point counting, each decision and each manoeuvre has consequences. The smallest of errors can have a direct impact on the standings.

From the very outset, Quantum Racing presented their credentials to claim a fourth world title. The American crew is led by owner Doug DeVos. Winners here in 2018, the team arrived in Cascais as one of the favourites. Then, through a combination of focus and determination, they carved a position at the top of leader board from the first day. While rivals alternated race wins with more average results, Quantum Racing remained calm posting solid results in virtually every race. Tactician Terry Hutchinson cleverly moved the pieces on the chess board towards the end goal by sailing smart and avoiding too many risks.

An untimely slip by Quantum Racing on the fourth day meant that the result remained in the balance just as Cascais welcomed strong conditions for the final day of racing. Harm Müller-Spreer’s Platoon (world champion in 2017 and 2019) had climbed the rankings through the week and, thanks in part to the leader’s sub-par result, was within three points of the lead with two races to go.

As it was, Quantum Race delivered its best performance of the regatta in the penultimate race, securing a first race-win of the championship and, in doing so, firmly closing the door on Platoon’s aspirations, despite the German crew’s fourth place finish. It was a masterclass from the American team in the toughest of racing. Ultimately, though, it was the effort throughout  the series that had delivered the title. The leader board shows five other teams winning races, confirming the potency within the fleet, but none had been able to match Quantum Racing’s ability to avoid posting too many crippling scores.

At the final prizegiving at the Clube Naval de Cascais, Quantum Racing was crowned 2022 Rolex TP52 World Champion to the rapturous applause of their peers. Testimony of the crew’s ability to adapt to the elements and summon their deepest resources in the quest for excellence. It had taken a masterful combination of skill, perseverance, and team spirit to stand out among such talented opponents.

A NATURAL AND SUPPORTIVE PARTNER 
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand's enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including groundbreaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester and the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie. Today, Rolex is the partner of 15 major international events - from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world's most famous sailing locations. Rolex's partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.