Having competed in 44Cup World Championships for the last 15 years, Aleph Racing finally managed to secure the coveted World title in the RC44 one design class’ most prestigious annual event.
Going into the final race, first and second places were secured but who would claim the title was not, Aleph Racing was two points ahead of Team Aqua and all depending on the final race.
From the start Aleph Racing got ahead and to leeward of her opponent, crossed ahead and then essentially sat on Team Aqua for the remainder of the race. It didn’t matter that they finished eighth and nine, this left Aleph Racing on 35 points to Team Aqua’s 39 and with their first World Champion title since joining the class.
For most of this time the team has been campaigned by Hugues Lepic, but in recent years he has shared the helm with Loro Piana, and handed over to the young Italian fully for this season. Lepic rang to congratulate his protégé soon after they’d crossed the line.
Back at the front of the fleet, the fight was on to gain the final place on the podium.
Vladimir Prosikhin’s Team Nika finally came good, posting a 1-3-1 elevating the defending world champion to fourth overall; one point astern of Markus Törnqvist’s GeMera Racing, winner of today’s second race.
And how is Pietro Loro Piana celebrating tonight? “Tonight we are just having a nice warm cup of tea and we are going to go to bed really early…” Which means exactly not that.
44Cup World Championships 2026 Cowes
