Team Nika wins 44Cup Puntaldia but GeMera gains the golden wheels

A second day of 7-10 knot southeasterly onshore breeze concluded the 44Cup racing off Puntaldia in northeast Sardinia with yet another high scoring day; every race seemingly bringing a change of fortune. Generally across the fleet the event was one of the closest in 44Cup history the winner averaging 4.333 points per race compared to the ninth-placed boat’s 6.5.

Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika started the day with a six point lead over the Pietro Loro Piana-steered Aleph Racing, in turn two ahead of Nico Poons’ Team Charisma. But, in the first race, a disappointing 7th for Team Nika to Aleph’s 3rdcaused the French team to close to just two points of the leader. In today’s second race the tables turned when Nika finished second and Aleph seventh, leaving Prosikhin's team beginning the final race with a nearly unassailable seven point advantage. But even in this at one point Aleph Racing was lying second and Team Nika eighth. Ultimately Team Nika crossed the line in seventh, enough to win the first ever edition of 44Cup Puntaldia, by a slender two points after 12 races.

Following his traditional winner’s dunking, Prosikhin commented: “What can I say? A bit of luck, but we were working hard. Mistakes: we had quite a few. It wasn't easy at all. In light winds there were ups and downs and a very strong fleet. We had to duck several boats. Today was especially difficult for us and we didn't perform well, but fortunately well enough to stay ahead. This fleet is so close really any boat can win now. I'm very happy to be back, because the last regatta wasn’t easy for us.”

His British tactician Nic Asher added: “It’s been a tough few days in a really tricky venue. We definitely had a tricky day today and the shifts and breeze were hard to read. So it's a relief to win – we’re very pleased.”

Asher admitted that in the last race they hadn’t got the best start. Nonetheless they had managed to claw their way back especially on the last downwind until he missed the last gybe. “But it was enough to win, that was the main thing.”

Rather than looking ahead to Team Nika, Aleph Racing helmsman Pietro Loro Piana said he had been forced to start keeping an eye over his shoulder at a threatening third-placed GeMera Racing. “They got us a bit scared: They shot out of the box in the first two races, winning the pin a couple of times. Up until the third race we were worried that Gemera could come and take our spot in second.”

Loro Piana was pleased with Aleph Racing’s performance in the final race: “Black Star did a little bit better job than us starting at the pin a couple of metres ahead. From that moment on we were just defending second place for the rest of the race. It was tough for the tacticians out there, given how shifty it was and in only 6-8 knots of wind. But Michele [Ivaldi, tactician] always did an amazing job of putting me where I needed to be.”

For the Swedish teams the first race was particularly satisfying with GeMera leading around the course ahead of Artemis Racing with Mehmet Taki steering the Turkish Wow! Sailing Team in third. Black Star suffered, picking up a penalty on the starboard layline on the first beat. GeMera went on to take her third bullet of the regatta (the only team to score three) both her and Artemis Racing finishing substantially ahead of the competition, despite carrying out their own personal tacking duel up the second beat.

There was drama in the second start when the race committee boat end was favoured and ultimately led to Team Nika locking out both Artemis Racing and Charisma, both starting late as a result. Ultimately at the top mark it was John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing that led immediately ahead of Wow! Sailing Team and Chris Bake’s Team Aqua. Peninsula Racing went on to score her second bullet of the 44Cup Puntaldia, a further endorsement of the Gibraltar team’s brand new RC44.

The final race saw Christian Zuerrer’s Black Star Sailing Team take the lead early and tenaciously hold on to it from there. Zuerrer with his new crew line-up did a good job to comfortably win the final race. “They are great people,” he said. “We’ve developed a good feeling over the last two weeks. I'm pretty happy and looking forward to the next events.”

While Team Nika may have won the 44Cup Puntaldia, an uncharacteristic seventh place in February’s 44Cup Calero Marinas means she now holds only third place on the 2026 44Cup leaderboard. The new leader is GeMera Racing following her 2-3 in the first two events of the season meaning she will be proud owner of the RC44 ‘golden wheels’, appropriately, for the next event in Marstrand, Sweden over 24-28 June.

Today GeMera Racing was the top scoring boat posting a 1-4-5. “We are very happy that we ended up on the podium,” commented navigator Francesco Bruni. “Leading the overall circuit - it's all going well. We are super happy with the team. We made some huge improvements through the last year and feel very competitive this year.”

As a whole the 44Cup owners, crews and organisation have been bowled over by Marina di Puntaldia, the quality of its facilities, the warm hospitality of its staff and especially the event’s host Marie Hélène Polo.

“It’s beautiful - a really, pretty environment,” summarised 44Cup President Chris Bake. “It is a very friendly marina. The setting is absolutely stunning. So on all counts, really good. And Marie Hélène has been a great host. It has been a really nice event.”