In 2005 Russell Coutts first conceived the RC44 as a strict one design, able to race well in anything from five to 25 knots to minimise days lost through excess or inadequate wind; often the bane of yacht racing. While similar classes have come and gone in that time, the RC44 has proved itself an enduring ‘modern classic’. 20 years on, it is shining brighter than ever, its performance has yet to be overshadowed by any competitors and it continues to provide racing at the highest level between teams, their amateur owner-drivers and crews including numerous America’s Cup sailors, World Champions and Olympic medallists.
The RC44 had its first season in 2007 and in terms of participation enjoyed its zenith over 2012-13 when 14 teams competed. Ever since the pandemic the circuit has had eight or nine teams competing regularly and this has motivated the 44Cup’s loyal owners group to try regrowing the fleet, by reminding the sailing world of what an exhilarating, high performance, good value racing machine the RC44 is and how much fun the circuit provides, visiting enjoyable attractive venues offering the best sailing conditions.
They have also introduced the ‘black boat program’: making an RC44 available for sailing teams to enter events with a ‘pay to play’ approach. This has proved highly popular and is being continued in 2025.
And their investment is finally paying off: For next week’s opening event of the 2025 season, taking place out of Nanny Cay in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, nine teams will be competing. This will swell to 11 for the first event when the 44Cup returns to Europe, in Porto Cervo, Sardinia in May and then to 12 teams for the three remaining events of the season.
In addition three new brand new RC44s have been built by their original supplier - Pauger Carbon Composites, in Kápolnásnyék, Hungary; carbon fibre masterpieces identical to the originals.
RC44 Class President and Team Aqua owner Chris Bake explains: “I had no intention of buying a new boat but we had several potential new teams who told us ‘we are not going to wait a year and a half for a new boat’. So in order to try and create some liquidity in the system John [Bassadone], myself and Torbjörn [Törnqvist] agreed to buy new boats.”
Two new RC44s were launched during 2024. Hull #28 is the new Team Aqua and #29 is for John Bassadone’s Peninsula Racing team. Hull #30 will be launched ready for May’s 44Cup Porto Cervo for Team GeMera. Before then Team GeMera will be competing at the 44Cup Nanny Cay next week aboard the former Team Aqua RC44. The crew will include tactician Francesco Bruni, who is freshly returned from Barcelona where he co-skippered the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli AC72 during the 37th America’s Cup and previously called tactics on the Artemis Racing RC44.
Meanwhile 2025 will see the full return to the 44Cup of Daniel Calero’s team. Originally the Caleros joined the RC44 class for its second season in 2008. As the leading marina operator in the Canary Islands, their marinas, notably Puerto Calero Marina on Lanzarote, hosted the RC44s annually from 2008 to 2013 and more recently in 2021 and 2022.
After a long hiatus Daniel Calero and his team made their return to the 44Cup tentatively competing in three events in 2024. This kicked off at the 44Cup event in his family’s Puerto Calero Marina in Lanzarote and continued in Baiona, Spain and in Brunnen, Switzerland. For 2025, Calero has put the pieces in place to be able to take part in all five 44Cup events.
He commented: “I am very much looking forward to returning to the 44Cup 'full time' after the three events we took part in during 2024. We have many friends in the class and I very much enjoy the tough competition. Last year’s three events were like a practice for us after a decade of being on the ‘bench’. Our aim is to be a team that is as competitive as possible.”
The good news is that Calero’s intentions are to continue with the 44Cup not just full time for this season, but for several future seasons. “We are launching this with our partners and want to consolidate this step by step with the goal of participating for a minimum of four or five years.”
Representing Spain as well as the island of Lanzarote, the team will be called Lanzarote Calero Sailing Team. It is being back by a non-profit organisation of the Calero family called Club de Mar Puerto Calero that promotes water sports on Lanzarote. Other backers include Calero Marinas and the family’s real estate company Calmar.
Of the crew, six are from Lanzarote, once again led by tactician and former Snipe World Champion Alfredo Gonzalez.
“Of course I am naturally looking forward to completing the year back in the Canary Islands, taking the 44Cup to our new marina in Fuerteventura,” Calero concludes.
The opening event of the 2025 44Cup will take place, as its closing event of 2024 did, racing on the British Virgin Islands’ magnificent St Francis Drake Channel out of Nanny Cay Marina on the southern shore of Tortola. As usual a day of practice racing (on Wednesday 12 February) will precede four days of competition.