44Cup Puntaldia

22 – 26 April 2026, Puntaldia, Sardinia, Italy

Also with a new team composition, we arrived in Puntaldia for our first RC44 class regatta. Many of the experienced sailors already knew each other from other projects, or had been sailing together on various yachts for years. For the younger team members, however, this event marked their entry into a whole new world.

The atmosphere within the team was very positive right from the start and focused on the upcoming training sessions, which meant we were able to make the most of the days leading up to the start of the regatta. Whenever there were coordination issues or uncertainties, we communicated openly straight away and worked together on solutions to continuously improve our processes. Moderate winds provided the ideal conditions for a perfect start to the 2026 season on our #27 RC44 yacht.

With a lot of confidence, we went into the event, which, with winds of up to 20 knots, now promised a stormy start. However, with a fourth place in the first race, we showed early on that the Black Star Sailing Team is a force to be reckoned with in the 2026 season too.

Unfortunately, whilst preparing for the second race on the first day, we discovered damage to the mast, which forced us to withdraw for the time being. We immediately returned to the marina to analyse the cause in detail and facilitate a repair as quickly as possible. Specifically, the so-called mast track was affected – a rail embedded in the mast through which the mainsail is hoisted. Although the damage was initially minor, if we had continued sailing, the wind load could have caused the mainsail to be torn out of the mast track, meaning that rather than just repairing a small section, the entire mast track along the 16-metre-high mast would have had to be replaced. This would have meant the early end of the regatta.

Our shore team therefore decided to carry out the repairs straight away whilst the mast was still standing, in order to save valuable time on laying the mast and then raising it again. Meanwhile, the sailing team checked the sails, cleaned the yacht and got everything ready so that we could set off again straight away the next day. Thanks to the swift and precise effort, work could begin early and was finally completed around 11.00 pm.

With a victory in the first race of the second day, we sailors finally thanked our shore team for their fantastic night-time efforts.

It is precisely situations like these that show that a team only works when everyone works together and supports one another. This includes not only the sailors on board, but also those who prepare the yacht, maintain the systems, prevent damage or carry out quick and competent repairs at the crucial moment. Support away from the water is equally important: our cook provides us with healthy, freshly prepared meals every day, ensuring our physical well-being.

Overall, we are very satisfied with our first event in the new team line-up. At the same time, however, it has become clear that the standard in the class has risen yet again. Whilst the winning team’s average points tally in previous years was usually at least five points, it currently stands at just 3.9 points!

The Black Star Sailing RC44 Team still managed an average score of 5.16 points across twelve races, despite being unable to compete in two of them. This put us in sixth place overall. Had we competed in the two races we missed, we would likely have been fighting for a podium place in the top five.

Armed with these insights and the valuable experience gained from the first event, the RC44 Team is now heading to Marstrand. Experience suggests we can expect rather rough and windy conditions there – challenges in conditions that we, as a newly formed team, have not yet had to face. Nevertheless, we are looking ahead with confidence and are convinced that we can compete for podium places in Sweden too.