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Valencia – 28th September 2024
Reigning World Champions stumble in fifth and final engagement
The 2024 52 SUPER SERIES concluded off the Spanish city of Valencia, September 23 – 28, with the Langley Holdings Gladiator Sailing Team finishing third place overall in the five regatta series.
Despite claiming victory in the ROLEX TP52 World Championship Newport in July – the pinnacle event of the season – and again in Puerto Portals in August, the hot favourites going into the final showdown, fell short in the southern Spanish arena, seeing their 8 points lead going into the event turn into a 5 point deficit to the eventual winners.
Overall victory for the season went to US team Quantum Racing Powered by American Magic, with the German Platoon Aviation taking second place in the 13 boat fleet representing 9 different countries.
Reflecting on the event and on the season, Argentine helmsman Guille Parada said:
“We didn’t sail at our best this week, but overall, it has been a huge step forward.”
Tactician and team boss Tony Langley concurred:
“It was tricky conditions, but it was tricky for everyone, so no excuses. We just didn’t sail well enough”
Notwithstanding the disappointing final event, 2024 has been the most successful season since the Gladiator campaign began in 2012.
In 2023 the Gladiators narrowly missed out on a podium finish for the season and despite a slow start to 2024 with a 6th place in the inaugural event, the team went on to take 2nd place in the second engagement and 1st place in events three and four, thereby sealing their position as the team to beat in this, the world’s premier monohull circuit.
Next season opens on the French Riviera in May in St Tropez. The Gladiators will be back, Langley confirmed:
“We have a pretty good idea what went wrong in Valencia and that will be addressed next season. Regroup. Reload. Go again.” he concluded.
Langley Holdings’ Gladiator Sailing Team: 3rd Place Overall in the 2024 52 SUPER SERIES
Watch WRAP UP SEASON 2024 Video
About Gladiator Sailing Team
The Langley Holdings Gladiator Sailing Team is one of 13 teams from 8 different nations competing in the 2024 52 Super Series, the world’s premier mono hull yacht racing circuit.
The Gladiator team also competes in other yacht racing in the UK and the USA, bringing on aspiring young sailors in big boat racing alongside seasoned professionals.
In common with Langley businesses, the 52 SUPER SERIES represents the very best technology in its field, attracts talented, dedicated people and is conducted with the highest standards of integrity.
About Langley Holdings plc
Langley Holdings plc is a privately owned UK-based engineering and industrial manufacturing group, principally producing capital equipment for diverse markets worldwide. Langley businesses are either outright market leaders, or occupy strong niche positions in their respective fields, providing advanced technologies in a solutions-based approach. The group operates in three principal areas: Power Solutions, Print Technologies and Other Industrials. The group’s operations are based in Germany, Italy, France the UK and Norway, with 18 production facilities in Europe, the UK and the USA. The group has more than 90 sales and service subsidiaries worldwide and employs around 5,000 people. Langley Holdings was established in 1975 by the current Chairman & CEO, Anthony Langley and remains entirely in family ownership.
