Palma's 20th Superyacht Cup, A Hard Act to Follow

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The Superyacht Cup, firm favourite with owners and sailors alike, has not only become the second-biggest event on the superyacht sailing calendar, but is also the longest running regatta of its kind in Europe. An exhilarating four-day event which perfectly mixes fun times with fierce racing in the Mediterranean's most popular superyacht haunt, pretty Palma de Mallorca. An island known not only for its sun-drenched days but also for its beautiful bay, which because of its particular shape delivers a blissfully consistent sea breeze. Saudade's tacticien, Volvo Ocean Race veteran, Bouwe Bekking agrees: "We're happy how we sailed and of course the event is very nice and I think the owner will be back next year as well. Sailing-wise Palma is one of the best places in the world and very well served for superyachts."

This extra special 20th Superyacht Cup came to a truly spectacular close yesterday afternoon, with a jubilant crowd cheering on the grinning sailors of the nine winning teams who took it in turns to storm the Superyacht Cup stage. After three days of hair-raising action it was the 33m Baltic built Win Win who claimed overall victory this year. An ecstatic Clive Walker, captain on board this carbon rocket, commented: "I've got a huge smile on my face. We've been trying to win a regatta ever since we launched the boat two years ago and we've finally done it, which is a huge relief. To be part of this team for the last eight years and having won with the old boat (Scorpione dei Mari) as well is incredible, just fantastic. A win-win situation!"

A well earned overall triumph for the 33m Baltic built Win Win this year ©www.clairematches.com

P2, with three bullets to her name, was the undisputed winner in Class B. In classic Class D it was the gleaming Herreshoff designed Mariette of 1915 who, also with a perfect score of three firsts, championed. In Class C the lovely Tempus Fugit proved victorious. No mean feat as she was up against a regular racer: the Vitters built Ganesha, and the ridiculously fast 35m Sojana. This speed balling boat recorded one of the highest speeds over the past few days, a whopping 17.98 knots, -she ended up clinching third. With all 22 competitors divided across four classes, racing was close and saw fast boats fighting tight battles. The ORCsy handicapping rule which was used at The Superyacht Cup again this year, also helped to turn out some of the tightest and most dramatic superyacht racing to date.

In classic Class D it was the gleaming Herreshoff designed Mariette who championed. ©www.clairematches.com

Yesterday's final race day saw light conditions yet exciting sailing which perfectly rounded off three days of rip-roaring regatta action. Big boat races are close-knit affairs, which bring together the best of the world's professional sailing talent with experienced enthusiasts. As the sun went down on this 20th edition, hundreds of happy Superyacht Cuppers will have made new friends and will be taking home sunny memories of yet another thrilling and fun-filled event. The 24m petite performer and Claasen built Hearbeat's owner/tactician enthused: "The spirit is good, I just love it, it's good racing, tight racing and very well organized. We're very happy to be here every year. Unfortunately we'll have to go back to Holland for refit so we won't be here next year, but in 2018 we'll be back to have some more fun and try and win again, just as we did in 2013!"

The 38m Perini P2 pulled out an undisputed and impressive win in Class B. ©www.clairematches.com

Although this edition's line-up saw a number of freshly launched boats and first timers running around the race-course, this year's fleet was also made up of tried and tested Cup veterans which have been returning to the island year after year for the regatta's solid sea breeze, relaxed ambiance and social events to match the on-the-water-action. The high performing, award-winning 28m Kiboko Dos for example, she claimed third in Class C, competed for the third consecutive time this year.

Our much talked about party themed '20 Years of Rock', showed us a good amount of sailors rock the dance floor as much as they ruled on the race course. Owners and their guests were able to enjoy a thoughtfully prepared three course dinner, at what is, without a doubt, one of the loveliest dinner venues in the Mediterranean: The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca. Thursday and Friday's happy hours served up cold drinks to dilute the stress after three riveting hours on the race course and saw everyone from newbie crew to seasoned sailors discuss different takes on the day's performance. Additionally, oodles of the most talented sailors could be seen chatting at the bar, with a beer in hand and a smile on their faces.

In Class C the lovely, modern classic Tempus Fugit proved victorious. ©www.clairematches.com

We would like to thank all the yachts of this year's wildly diverse fleet for the past three days of hair raising sailing and of course our sponsors who have each helped make this edition another all-round success. And while we say 'Hasta Luego' to another memorable edition of The Superyacht Cup, a regatta where the atmosphere is relaxed, the sailing fast and the dock-side fun a given, we are already looking forward to seeing the world's most gorgeous yachts take part in our next edition, June 2017. And although this 20th regatta will be a hard act to follow, plenty of competitors have already said they wouldn't want to miss out on next year's racing, we're sure all fans of superyacht sailing will wholeheartedly agree!

Highlight of Saturday's prize giving was of course the announcement of Win Win taking overall victory this year. ©www.clairematches.com

For high res images contact Claire Matches at mail@clairematches.com

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Mon, 27 June 2016

Carbon Flyer Win Win Fastest of the Fleet and Overall Winner of the Superyacht Cup 2016

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This year's 22-strong fleet is teeming with the latest flyers, carbon rockets, and offshore racers. Moreover, most competing yachts boast having some of the biggest names in sailing on board. From America's Cup supremos to Olympic champions: stunning entries are handled by the world's racing elite. No surprise then that the past two days has seen some hot racing, bold tactics, slick crew work and battles so close they made the hair on the back of our necks stand up! Doubtlessly both the most seasoned sailors, as those new to racing, were eager to get every inch of speed out of the boats on today's deciding day of racing.

Racing was expected to face light winds today, between 8-12 knots at the start line and an even lighter 6-10, from approximately 14.00 onwards. The race committee decided on two highly tactical courses, a 20.6 nm course for Class A and a 17.8 nm course for Classes B, C and D. Both had the fleet fighting for lanes and the safety officers extra watchful as all yachts sailed hard to edge out the, equally as ambitious, competition.
Racing got underway at 13.00 and saw Sea Wave, she took third yesterday, round the downwind mark first, followed closely by Mari Cha III and the Vitters built Inouï.

P2, known for smoking it on the race course, repeated her stellar performance from Thursday and yesterday. ©www.clairematches.com

In Class A the 32m Sea Wave was the first to round Alpha, ahead of Mari Cha III and Inouï. Mari Cha III however caught up with Sea Wave and rounded the second, Illetas, mark first. Shortly after it was the feisty flyer Win Win, who forged through the fleet and hit the third mark ahead of both the 45m Vitters built Unfurled and the 33m Inouï. The 45m Vitters built Unfurled showed an impressive turn of speed as she took the upper hand and hit the fourth mark ahead of Saudade and Win Win. She then went on to cross the finish line one minute and 4 seconds ahead of the 45m Wally Saudade.

In Class B the 38m P2, known for smoking it on the race course, managed to slip away from the chasing pack and rounded the third Porrasa mark first, one minute and 45 seconds in front of the 35m Sojana, also no stranger on the regatta scene. She continued to power around the fourth mark as well as over the finish line ahead of the 46m Ganesha, who's sailed in most of the major regattas and has taken her fair share of podium glory.

In Class C the freshly launched 27m Firebird held her own and charged around the second and third mark first, leaving both Thursday's and Friday's Class winners, Tempus Fugit and Kiboko Dos, trying to hunt her down. Yesterday's champion however, the 28m Kiboko Dos, managed to reel her in and rounded the fourth mark one minute and 44 seconds ahead of her and subsequently stormed on to cross the finish line first.

The 27m Tempus Fugit certainly combined speed with style as she took today's race and Class win. ©www.clairematches.com

Class D saw the regular racer Mariette of 1915 round the first two marks ahead of Naema and the 60m Germania Nova. The latter however proved unstoppable as she closed in fast and hit the third mark two minutes and two seconds ahead of the 41m Mariette. She continued to sail a solid race, gunning it around the fourth mark and the finish, crossing three minutes and 49 seconds ahead of the 41m Herreshoff designed classic. The seasoned sailors on Germania deserved their day in the sun as they took a detour on day one and suffered from a spectacular spinnaker blow the second.

After corrections were applied the final calls were made and in Class A it was the 45m Unfurled who kept their focus under the weight of final day pressure. However it was the fiery Win Win who claimed the Class win. In Class B the 38m powerful P2 repeated her stellar performance from Thursday and yesterday and consequently took both the race, as well as Class victory. Slick crew maneuverings and smooth sailing in Class C saw the 27m Tempus Fugit scream home to champion during the race and in her Class overall, while the 41m Mariette again, was top dog in Class D.

A big, loud cheer goes out to the Baltic Yachts built 33m Win Win, who, devoured the race course during the first two days and, is officially the overall winner of The Superyacht Cup 2016!

This 20th regatta was topped off with a spirited prize-giving ceremony, which saw hundreds of happy owners, friends, captains and crew concentrated in The Superyacht Cup's main tent, still enthusiastically discussing today's exhilarating racing.

The 41m Mariette of 1915 triumphed in today's race and claimed first in Class. ©www.clairematches.com

As first, second and third prizes were awarded in each class, big groups of grinning sailors took to the stage to a soundtrack of loud whistles and woo's from the convivial crowd. Competitors were thanked for the past three days of close action and promises were made of a return to fiercely defend their hard-fought titles. Highlight was without a doubt the official announcement of this edition's overall winner, the 33m wild card Win Win. The coveted, newly re-styled and revamped, 'Big Bent Cleat' was held high with victor's pride by her beaming owner, to the roaring applause of the world's biggest fans of racing.

The Superyacht Cup also presented a cheque of 11,000 Euros to the long running local charity Joves Navegants. Initiated by an enthusiastic group of sailors, the foundation reaches out to the island's underprivileged boys and girls through the practice of sailing. Last year's donation enabled eight young adults, who are in a drug dependency recovery programme, to set sail on the beautiful 21m Galaxie: getting stuck into everything from boat maintenance and sail preparation to all sorts of exciting maneuvers at sea. No doubt, this year's contribution will be put to equally good use.

As the sun sets on the SYC Regatta Village on this last day of racing, owners, race crew, industry titans, family and friends shake hands and congratulate each other on a job well done. Certainly all will be taking home some lasting memories of what has proved to be yet another successful Superyacht Cup, filled with sunshine, tight racing, and plenty of smiling faces.

For high res images contact Claire Matches at mail@clairematches.com

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Sat, 25 June 2016

More Spectacular Sailing on Race Day Two at Palma's Superyacht Cup

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The Superyacht Cup's social scene, known to rival the insane on-the-water action, has already lived up to its reputation as last night's après-race partying went on long after the sails had been packed away. Apart from a lively atmosphere and full dance floor, this year's '20 Years of Rock' theme showed some sailors' hidden talents of playing air guitar and being able to rock back-combed hair. Especially team Tenaz made a fantastic effort. Furthermore, yesterday's shindig saw sailors involved in cheerful banter and enjoy what was probably the world's largest paella, to the soundtrack of Mama Kin's retro tunes. Apart from a great ending to a beautiful first day of racing, legendary memories have been made of another epic Superyacht Cup party.

The day dawned with clear blue skies and what promised to be another sun drenched day and saw the Regatta Village bustling bright and early with the owners, crew, friends, and guests of this year's 22 spectacular superyachts, spiritedly discussing today's tactics and keen to get their sail-hungry boats back out unto the bay.

Today's custom courses for Classes A, B and C, D were spread over 21.1 and 14.3 nm respectively and took advantage of today's conditions which had been predicted to be similar to yesterday's, with the sea breeze in the lower numbers, around 8 - 11 knots. Racing was scheduled to get underway at 13.00 and it was, again, the Farr designed 32m Sea Wave that crossed the line first, followed by the 45m Mari Cha III and the fiercely green-hulled 33m Inouï. New standards were being set at the start line with boats crossing one to three seconds off the gun. The aforementioned Inouï had a flyer, crossing the line at full pelt, bang on start time.

More spectacular sailing on race day two at Palma's Superyacht Cup. ©www.clairematches.com

The first mark saw the 32m Southern Wind Sea Wave round ahead of the fleet, chased by yesterday's Class A victor, the Baltic built Win Win and the exciting Vitters built Inouï. Although Sea Wave continued to lead and hit the second mark first, she was under pressure from the highly competitive Win Win who rounded 37 seconds later. Shortly afterwards, this light-weight racer managed to reel in Sea Wave and started to pull out a big lead rounding first the fourth and then the fifth mark first. She continued to smoke it and crossed the finish line first in Class A, eight minutes and 53 seconds ahead of the Vitters built 45m Unfurled on corrected time.

Class C saw some nail-bitingly close action with five boats (Stay Calm, Heartbeat, Firebird, Kiboko Dos and Tempus Fugit) rounding the first mark within one minute and nine seconds between each other. Incredible. It was however the 28m Southern Wind Kiboko Dos who snuck past her class competitors and screamed around the course leaving the 24m Swan Stay Calm fiercely trying to hunt her down. Kiboko Dos' sharp maneuvers and serious sailing secured the crew with a first bullet in Class C. A grinning Raimon Pascó, captain on board Kiboko Dos commented: "We had the same good feeling as we had with the boat yesterday, but today we're happier, obviously. I think the circuit was better and more interesting for us with more beats and downwinds than the day before. We did some good maneuvers this afternoon, the boat performed fantastically and the crew is great, so 'Todo Bien'."

Kiboko Dos' sharp maneuvers and serious sailing secured the crew with a first bullet in Class C. ©www.clairematches.com

In Class B Perini Navi rocket P2 proved she was here again on her A game as she edged out the 35m Sojana hitting the third mark two minutes and 55 seconds before her. She continued to storm ahead towards the fourth mark with Sojana in hot pursuit and rounded two minutes and 14 seconds ahead of her. Clearly in gear today she also powered around the fifth, Bahia 1, mark and finished first, three minutes and 26 seconds in front of runner up Ganesha.

In Class D the classic two-masted gaff schooner Mariette of 1915 put in another peak performance leading both the 42m first-timer Naema and the 60m stunningly elegant Germania Nova around the race course. She finished nine minutes and 42 seconds ahead of the classically elegant 42m gaff schooner Naema on corrected time.

P2 and Win Win, in Class A and B respectively, go into the final race with a lead of three points. In Class C Tempus Fugit holds the trump card, but with only 1 point separating this tenacious team from the 28m Kiboko Dos. In Class D two points separate Mariette of 1915 from second placed Naema. 

After racing, crew made a post debrief lay line for the Regatta Bar sponsored by Southern Spars or indeed continued battle back in port through paddle power, as especially for this year's 20th event, premium partners Pendennis are hosting a relay paddle board race as part of the shore side entertainment. Fancy dress encouraged!

For this year's 20th event premium partner Pendennis hosted a relay paddle board race. ©www.clairematches.com

Yacht owners and their guests were brought to the exclusive St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort to enjoy a delicious dinner, celebratory drinks, and great atmosphere. All traveled in style by Transfer Class, the leading company in vehicle rental, as well as the top provider of limousines and buses in the premium segment. With one group of guests on the South-West coast of the island and all other sailors in Superyacht Cup central, we're certain in both spots all talk will feature tomorrow's final day of sailing, as everything will come to the clinch in Saturday's ultimate showdown.

Racing is set to continue tomorrow with the first starting signal scheduled for 13.00 and coastal courses on the cards for all classes.

Connect with us through Twitter #SYC and Facebook for real time updates of all the action on and off the race course and / or stay up to speed by following the race live via TracTrac.

For high res images contact Claire Matches at mail@clairematches.com

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Fri, 24 June 2016