It’s undoubtedly the case that some long-running regattas, whatever their history and illustrious heritage, can on occasion become a bit ‘samey’, lacking surprise and the excitement of the unexpected. Having recently celebrated its 28th edition the Superyacht Cup Palma might seem a possible candidate for such an unwelcome label… But in reality in 2024? Not a chance!

On the ‘unexpected’ side there were one or two occurrences not predicted in the brochure, and the event once again delivered competitive racing and a jubilant social side ashore to maintain its ‘unique vibe’, as one skipper put it. In short: fun.

To start at the beginning, the first day of racing in the latest instalment of Europe’s longest-running superyacht regatta got off to a flying start with the trio of J Class competitors demonstrating their enduring appeal for sailors and spectators alike with two windward-leeward races out on the Bay of Palma. The always-competitive Svea took both race wins – ahead of the newly refitted Rainbow and the veteran Velsheda in each case – to make a clear declaration of intent.

“It was light out there today but there were two proper races and the race committee did a great job in getting us away,” said Grant Simmer, strategist on Velsheda. So far, so good.

Maximus in full flight with over 3,000m2 of sail set. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

However, the untypically overcast skies during Wednesday’s opener did prove to be something of a harbinger for what was to come.

During the afternoon photos of an increasingly orange sky over Palma filled social media, turning darker and browner into the evening and overnight. Welcome to Mallorca’s ‘Martian’ sky, aka ‘calima’ or dust in suspension. Unsurprisingly #SaharanDust was trending, and then falling in large quantities with rain to cover all below in a thin layer of mud.

Velsheda is made to feel small crossing Maximus. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Mud wrestling

While not a disaster the rare, though not unknown, deluge inevitably gave all the Superyacht Cup Palma crews a large chore to complete before racing resumed on the Thursday, when brighter skies and a bigger breeze greeted the arrival of the full SYC fleet to the action.

In Class A the 39m cruiser-racer Cervo marked her SYC debut appearance with a first race win, albeit benefitting from an early start penalty given to the mighty 59m ketch Maximus, which dropped her and her 50-strong crew to second just in front of the Hoek Truly Classics Vijonara and Atalante.

The Wally 80 Rose maintained her winning ways. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Defending SYC title holder Rose maintained her winning ways in Class B, ahead of the Nautor Swan pair Umiko and Dark Horse – who were only 51 seconds apart after more than two and a half hours of racing – with the new Y8 Calabash rounding up the group. All change in the J Class though, with Velsheda taking the win in front of Rainbow and Svea to leave everything to play for.

And then came a second twist of fate. One of SYC’s most enduring and endearing features has always been the seemingly uber-reliability of the Palma sea breeze, ever-present, built-in, a racing certainty. And in fairness to the wind gods, in 2024 the sea breeze was there. Aboard the camera RIB we found a solid 12-15 knots in the south of the Bay of Palma. Unfortunately, a northerly Mistral gradient wind, which is extremely rare for the time of year, stopped it going any further into the bay for the racing fleet.

‘The trio of J Class demonstrated their enduring appeal for sailors and spectators alike’. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

And so it was for the first time since Superyacht Cup Palma moved to its now familiar June schedule 17 years ago, a day of racing was lost.

“We have perhaps been very fortunate over many, many years,” said SYC event director Kate Branagh. “We’ve had to shorten a couple of courses since we moved to June dates back in 2007, but this is the first time we had a day without racing results.”

Classic finale

Perhaps predictably, classic conditions returned for the finale of Superyacht Cup Palma 2024, with bright sunshine and a steady 10-knot sea breeze helping to deliver a pair of noteworthy outcomes – all set in motion with an unusual downwind start.

Beamy! The new Y8 Calabash made its racing and SY Cup debut. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Firstly, the nimble and well-sailed 24m Wally Rose became the first successful SYC title defender since 2002, a tribute to the level playing field and fair competition the regatta relentlessly delivers. Her skipper, the affable and splendidly bearded Ben Potter, commented: “The whole day was magic and we could not have asked for better conditions, and the downwind start was something a bit different and really exciting.

“Of course it was great to be able to defend our title. We knew we had a lot to do and the rest of the fleet did not make it easy, but we got away well and it was just a case of making up time around the course. We’ll be back at the Superyacht Cup Palma next year I’m sure – we love the vibe and the organisation, which is great.”

Secondly, a remarkably close finish saw the giant new Vitters ketch Maximus take the Class A win from Cervo thanks to a win by a single second in the second and final race, the tie decided on countback. Evidence for the efficacy of the ORCsy rating rule doesn’t come much stronger than that outcome.

Rose’s crew celebrate the successful defence of their Superyacht Cup title. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Over the moon

“Everyone is over the moon, it was fantastic,” said Maximus’s delighted skipper Lars Loftus. “We had a plan to sail the boat hard and clean, and we stuck to the plan and it paid off. There wasn’t one leg we weren’t pushing and I said to the guys ‘it isn’t over until it’s over, keep pushing’, and we did.

“It’s a testament to the guys who we brought on the boat that we have had the success we have had – a cast of thousands,” he joked in reference to the 15 permanent and 35 additional SYC crew on board. Given that racing Maximus is akin to having two superyacht sloops bolted together, you can see the need for the number of crew.

For the record, Svea recorded her third win to take the J Class in front of Velsheda and Rainbow. Level on points Velsheda went ahead of Rainbow on countback, though the latter’s welcome return to racing after a lengthy layoff was celebrated with the Spirit of the Event award.

So ‘unexpected’ aside, Superyacht Cup Palma again showed it has the knack of delivering a celebration of sail that owners, captains and crews just enjoy taking part in. Maybe the enduring appeal really is that simple – it’s fun.

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Palma is arguably the greatest place to arrange a sailing event in Europe. Why? Reliability. It boasts a wonderfully consistent warm seabreeze in the summer and there is easy access from the city’s big marinas onto the Bay of Palma, so you can be sailing in minutes. It also has a well-served airport hub, from which it’s only a 20-minute journey into these marinas.

And then, post sailing, you’re in the heart of a beautiful old city with its abundance of tapas bars and restaurants, where a quick sundowner can often lead to a memorable night.

Small wonder sailors return there to cruise or race every year and why it’s grown to become the superyacht mecca over the last couple of decades with its famed refit services surrounding the port. For sailing events, such as PalmaVela, one-design championships and the burgeoning Palma Yacht show, it’s ideal. And as far as the Superyacht Cup is concerned, the organisers have known all this for three decades of course.

They also know late June is the best time to run their friendly superyacht regatta, capitalising on those sea breezes and long balmy days. With the America’s Cup starting nearby in Barcelona later this summer, there’ll be an extra buzz to the event. “It’s going to be a special year for sailing in this part of the world, and we are all set to play our part in making it one to remember,” says SYC event director Kate Branagh.

Superyacht Cup Palma provides a stunning spectacle of superyachts being driven hard. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

As well as those lucky enough to crew aboard for the racing, the Superyacht Cup makes for quite the spectator event for those out day sailing. To see a J Class thunder past you a few boat lengths away while displacing 180 tonnes of the Med, is a sight to behold. The Superyacht Cup is a regular draw for the dazzling J Class, as the calmer waters of the bay help the crews fine-tune their favoured windward-leeward courses. This year the fleet is also preparing for the special America’s Cup J-Class regatta during the Cup in Barcelona in early October.

Velsheda, a past overall winner of the Superyacht Cup, is a stalwart of the event, while Svea, the newest and most tricked-up of the class, is the scratch J to beat. And it will be fantastic to see Rainbow back on the Palma racecourse after many years away and now fresh from a refit. The Js will have an extra day’s racing and do the timed fleet starts in a mix of windward-leeward and coastal races.

Other fine sights and matches to look forward to this year include a pair of Andre Hoek’s flagships from his much revered Truly Classic series. Rarely do eyes stray from the J Class when they’re in flight, but these supremely elegant TC128 sisterships will turn heads. Atalante and Vijonara, hulls numbers one and two from this spirit of tradition series, will line up for the first time against each other.

Both are more accustomed to cruising – indeed Atalante’s captain Michael Elias says they’ve been largely cruising the oceans in the eight years since their last visit to the Superyacht Cup.

J Class Svea will be back at the Superyacht Cup Palma and is always a contender for silverware. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Maximum effect

The Superyacht Cup has a big pool of regulars, but this year there will be five debutants. The latest and greatest (by far in terms of size) is the new Vitters launch Maximus, which is as mighty as her gladiatorial name suggests. The 59m Frers design only finished sea trials in November, but has since completed two Atlantic crossings and competed in the St Barths Bucket in March.

Her towering ketch rigs can set over 3,900m2 of sail area – hence 50 hands are needed on deck to get Maximus around a track. Kate Branagh, who was one of those aboard in St Barth, confirms that all 50 are busy once on the race course!

Maximus’ owner was inspired by the timeless lines of the Frers/Pendennis ketch Rebecca and wanted a larger version. This new ketch has been optimised for performance by Frers, Southern Spars and Doyle to help it win regattas.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Another brand new yacht and SY Cup debutant to look out for is Calabash, the super stylish first of the new Y8 series from Y-Yachts. Two elements that make this particularly entrant an interesting bet are that it was designed by Mallorcan local Javier Jaudenes, whose Win Win project is a past SY Cup winner, plus it was built for the yard’s founder Michael Schmidt who is a highly experienced racing sailor.

The 28th Superyacht Cup Palma runs from 19-22 June. It is hosted from the Real Club Náutico de Palma, including the club’s expert race management, with the overall prizegiving taking place at the centrally located and lavishly equipped clubhouse.

It promises to be quite the way to kick off a huge season of big boat racing in the Med.

The 12 stunning superyachts set to compete in the Superyacht Cup Palma

Atalante

Stats: 38.8m/128ft Sloop
Design: Hoek Design
Build: Claasen Shipyard 2015

One of the largest of Andrew Hoek’s revered spirit of tradition Truly Classic range, and the first in the particularly successful five strong TC128s, Atalante will be up against sistership Vijonara. This is Atalante’s first SY Cup in eight years after a prolonged period of long distance cruising and has a family and friends-oriented crew.

Photo: Tom Nitsch

Borkumriff IV

Stats: 51m/166ft Schooner
Design: Dykstra & John Alden
Build: Royal Huisman 2002

A late entry, what a sight this will make: a real pedigree classic schooner from a powerhouse of a design and build team, with lines by schooner specialist John G Alden, naval architecture by the Dykstra experts, and a polished mahogany panelled John Munford interior. Skippered by the affable and experienced Wijnand ‘Boogie’ van den Boogaard, she’ll want some breeze to stretch her legs.

Calabash

Stats: 23.99m/80ft Sloop
Design: Surge Projects
Build: Y-Yachts 2024

The brand new Y8 is built for the yard’s founder Michael Schmidt and is the new Javier Jaudenes-styled version. Minimalist inside and out – there’s no backstay even – beamy (6.6m) and powerful, this carbon composite fast cruiser weighs only 37 tonnes lightships. Schmidt is both a veteran boatbuilder and highly experienced racer, from Admiral’s Cup days to current Dragon campaigns, so will have firm eyes on the prize and he knows Palma inside-out.

Cervo

Stats: 39m/128ft Sloop
Design: Bill Tripp Design
Build: Vitters Shipyard 2009

The former Cinderella IV and G2 has some signature Bill Tripp styling, especially the squared deckhouse and the performance hull shape, which is all in carbon fibre and sports a lift keel. Her second deckhouse aft was removed during a major refit at Pendennis in 2017. Cervo has mainly cruised thus far, other than one Superyacht Challenge, but now has a keen owner-driver and a crew including the likes of North Sails’ Jens Christensen for tactics and Mike Joubert as crew boss – so they mean business.

Photo: Alex Turnbull

Dark Horse

Stats: 25.1m/82ft Sloop
Design: German Frers
Build: Nautor Swan 2013

One of the SY Cup debutants this year, the former Chessie competed in the Ibiza JoySail regatta last year so has some form in these waters. One of the 14 Swan 80s built, Dark Horse will be racing against her similarly-sized Swan stablemate Umiko, 13 years her elder. “The event is well known for its high-quality racing and fun ashore,” says her Maltese captain Sacha Pace. A dark horse for this event indeed.

Photo: Michael Kurtz

Maximus

Stats: 59m/194ft Ketch
Design: Frers Design
Build: Vitters Shipyard 2023

The aptly named Maximus makes quite the sight. She carries more in her tanks alone than the Y8 Calabash displaces, and nearly twice that weight in her keel. Described as a performance ketch, she has a keel that drops to 8m, Southern Spars masts and ECSix rigging – with main, square top mizzen, mizzen staysail and A2 flying she sets well over 3,000m2 and can do 16 knots upwind. Skippered by Lars Loftus, who many in the industry will know from his years of looking after Velsheda and Bystander, you can be sure this will be crewed by an army of highly experienced big-boat sailors.

Photo: Jesus Renedo

Rainbow

Stats: 39.9m/131ft Sloop
Design: Burgess/Dykstra
Build: Holland Jachtbouw 2012

The Dykstra-updated replica of the Starling Burgess JH2 is one of the newest crop of Js with a comparatively clean deck layout, but hasn’t been racing for some years now – indeed it’s been 10 years since she last raced in Palma. She surrenders nearly 4m in length to Svea. Rainbow only recently emerged from a major Dykstra refit which included an optimised deck layout, and a new Southern Spars rig. Her crew comprises a mix of veterans, ex-AC sailors and Kiwis, led by Erle Williams on the wheel, the former helm of Ranger.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Rose

Stats: 24m/80ft Sloop
Design: Farr Yacht Design/Luca Bassani
Build: Wally Yachts 2006

The overall SY Cup winner last year, Rose is one of the lightest and most nimble yachts of the fleet, so this pre-preg carbon Wally has some manoeuvrability advantages over the rest of the fleet. She was campaigned heavily under her former name Tango and now under her current keen owner, who recently competed here at PalmaVela. The mix of experienced British and German crew will go all out to defend the trophy.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Svea

Stats: 43.6m/143ft Sloop
Design: Tore Holm/Hoek Design
Build: Bloemsma/Vitters Shipyard 2017

While under the new custodianship of a Swedish syndicate ownership Svea has built up and maintained a consistent crew of top-level pros, a race crew directed by the masterful Bouwe Bekking. Paul Kelly remains the long-term skipper and YW readers will be familiar with the many sailing successes of co-owner driver Niklas Zennstrom and his Ran racing yachts. Svea recently did PalmaVela and is competing at the Maxis and AC regattas this autumn. This, the fastest, youngest J is in hot form and always tough for the other Js to match on the water.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Umiko

Stats: 24.4m 80ft Sloop
Design: German Frers
Build: Nautor’s Swan 2000

Previously called Maligaya, this classic example of a Swan 80 has competed here twice since her 2017 refit, which included a new North Sails wardrobe. Another of the smaller and more nimble yachts and well sailed, she will be looking to improve on her mid-fleet results last year.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Velsheda

Stats: 39.2m 129ft Sloop
Design: CE Nicholson/Dykstra
Build: Camper & Nicholsons 1933

This is the third successive SY Cup for the timeless, tireless Velsheda, a past winner here and the only J to do the Atlantic circuit this year. Will Gibbon, the former long-term mate, is now skipper, while Barney Henshaw-Depledge remains aboard as race coordinator, managing a diehard crew of vets including the wiley Tom Dodson and Don Cowey and many others who have been with this Dutch owner for over two decades. This skilled owner-driver and drilled crew rarely put a foot wrong, getting the most out of this original, stunning J. Always a good bet for a podium finish.

Photo: Michael Kurtz

Vijonara

Stats: 39.4m/128ft Sloop
Design: Hoek Design
Build: Pendennis Shipyard 2018

This cutter-rigged sloop, fitted out in Pendennis’ Falmouth yard, was the second model of Andre Hoek’s successful TC128 series. Back on the regatta scene again after a few years of cruising, she performed well in St Barth with a second in class. A couple of differences over her sistership Atalante should help during competition: a bowsprit for setting Code sails and having the wheel forward of the aft deckhouse for clearer visibility. Will they get the upper hand? Either way, these Truly Classics will be a favourite with the photographers.

Superyacht Cup Programme

Wednesday 19 June
1000-1200: registration
1300: race start J Class
1800: captains’ briefing

Thursday 20 June
1300: race start/Pantaenius Day
1800: daily prizegiving

Friday 21 June
1300: race start/Jaquet Droz Day
1800: daily prizegiving

Saturday 22 June
1300: race start/St Regis Day
1830: Overall SY Cup prizegiving

Full details: thesuperyachtcup.com

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The post The 12 stunning superyachts set to race one another this summer appeared first on Yachting World.

Lying beneath the limestone mountains of Mallorca, the Bay of Palma draws in a sea breeze almost every afternoon in summer. It builds lazily through the morning and peters away in the late afternoon. But it has its idiosyncrasies, as any racing tactician or a race organiser will know. Sometimes it can be patchy across the course, or streaky, or have dead zones, or even be very breezy.

What it will do is give a sailing crew a quiet morning ashore followed by a sporting afternoon’s racing – with a dash of uncertainty. Palma is always a favourite venue for sailing.

Nevertheless, the Superyacht Cup Palma, the longest running big boat regatta in Europe and now in its 27th year, was a slimmed down event in June 2023. With just nine entries it was still feeling the pandemic’s disruptive effects. So this year’s fleet was split into two classes, which lent themselves to a subdivision of rivalries that organiser Kate Branagh called ‘dance partners’.

Comparable yachts such as the two 33m Vitters-built Malcolm McKeon designs Ribelle and Pattoo raced with an eye on each other. A pair of older 36m Dubois designs, Miss Silver and Lady M, which have enjoyed a career of cruising, mustered crews of friends and experienced pros for another amicable clash. A match also developed between the 24m Farr-designed Wally Rose (formerly Tango) versus Swan 100 Onyx and Swan 80 Umiko.

Foredeck crew grapple with a headsail on Rose. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

Getting the advantage

Setting courses for such a diverse fleet is a testing exercise. The mighty J Class yachts are in their element on windward-leeward courses. Beamy, lighter designs such as the Swans and McKeon designs are powered-up reaching machines. Everyone is looking for a course that gives them a fair crack.

Together with the Real Club Náutico de Palma’s race management, the organisers have a way of giving every crew a first taste of advantage: a staggered start order each day. “On day one, the start order is based on racing handicap, and each boat’s start is followed by a two-minute gap, so the slower boats benefit from clear air. On day two, we take the results and reverse the order so the first is last, and vice versa,” explains Kate Branagh. “That way everyone has a go at having the advantage and can sail to their best performance.”

Aboard the Wally 80 Rose, tactician Jesper Radich was among many who found the opening day taxing. Conditions made it, he said, “hard to decide on the right call. It was shifty and really challenging. You had to make the right decisions on every leg.”

The beautiful 33m carbon composite Pattoo on a reaching leg. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

For the owner of Rose, an experienced and lifelong sailor, and captain Ben Potter, the Superyacht Cup was to be a proving ground. The Farr-designed yacht, launched as Tango in 2006, had originally been aggressively and successfully raced, but lay dormant before being sold a few years ago.

Rose is based in Palma and her first regatta under new ownership was the Superyacht Cup last year. A propulsion issue on day one led to a DNS they could not recover from. This time, they wanted to show what a comparatively older boat could do with some upgrades and well-practised crew work.

Their win over Swan 100 Onyx, whose afterguard included match racing champion and America’s Cup sailor Gavin Brady, amounted to only five seconds in the final race after two hours of racing, and gave them an unblemished score.

They finished with three 1sts, after some very tight racing. “It was amazing: windy, sunny and shifty – really challenging,” commented tactician Jesper Radich.

Rose’s captain Ben Potter said: “There were some lighter breezes, which suit the boat. We can sail into the dying breeze in the afternoon to the finish. And we made the right decision about the sails.”

Regatta rules say each yacht is allowed to register two spinnakers in advance and will take a percentage penalty for each additional flying sail they carry; Rose’s crew opted for the minimum.

Lady M in full flight. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

A brace of J-Class yachts

The supermodels of the event are the magnificent J Class yachts. Their immense power and adversarial style of racing are heart-thumping. Just as in their 1930s heyday, the Js are owned by captains of industry, raced by the best sailors in the world, and minutely prepared with no expense spared.

With only two, Velsheda and Svea, racing this year, it was not possible to have a separate J Class, so they were placed in Class A with Ribelle and Pattoo.

A full house on the J Class Velsheda. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

JS1, Svea, has new syndicate owners from Sweden who have deep racing experience; particularly Niklas Zennström. The Skype founder has sailed since childhood and made his mark in Mini Maxis and TP52s – he is a double Maxi World Champion. “If I get into something, I get drawn into it and get pretty addicted,” he has said.

In opposition, Velsheda, JK7, recently emerged from an eight-and-a-half month refit, “a full cosmetic refit of the boat, a new deck, paintwork, a topsides and rig paint, full varnish re-do, and a lot of things to juggle,” says skipper Barney Henshaw-Depledge.

In preparation for their world championships in Barcelona next year, most of the J Class teams have been looking at how to play with their ratings. A focus has been put on reducing waterline length. Velsheda’s keel and hull have been re-faired and some 2.6 tonnes of ballast removed. According to the rumour mill, even more has been stripped from Svea, making her much quicker downwind.

But it doesn’t always work out.

A skilled job at the sharp end of Svea. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

“With the two minute gaps in starts, sometimes you were sailing in a completely different breeze,” says Svea’s captain, Paul Kelly. “We were up against Ribelle and Pattoo and at a couple of marks we were getting rolled. Ribelle was sailing higher and faster. They can sit on top of you and go over you going 2-3 knots faster.

“From a racing point of view that can be very frustrating but from a perspective of training and crew work and owners’ driving, it was time on the water, which counts for everything. You need to be minimising mistakes so it was invaluable.”

Velsheda claimed victory with two race wins, finishing a point ahead of 2nd placed Svea and the McKeon designs Ribelle and Pattoo.

Owners like to return to the Superyacht Cup because the racing is in earnest but the vibe is friendly, and the city has every yachting facility one could want, at hand.

Ribelle, the 33m Malcolm McKeon design, gliding along under A-sail. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

“In other places of the world you might have one or two days when you are not racing, with either no wind or too much breeze, whereas here you have guaranteed racing,” says Bouwe Bekking. “The level of racing on some boats is really high end with a lot of professionals aboard, then there are cruiser-racers with owners who want to compete. You can sail against similar types of boats and if you do a good job you can win.”

“It is the first time I’ve done one of these types of events,” comments Gavin Brady. “It’s very neat. It’s not often that we all get together – there isn’t often a chance to mingle in events like the TP52s. This is competitive but it’s also very social.”

The 24m Wally Rose had a close battle with Swan 100 Onyx in Class B. Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

The lure of the Cup

Next year’s Superyacht Cup may be back to full strength as yachts that have been off cruising or stayed close to their home base migrate to the Med and the gatherings planned around the 37th America’s Cup in October.

“Next year is looking really big again. Many yachts have been in the Pacific or the US, and are coming for the Cup,” comments organiser Branagh. “Already 17 have expressed an interest – we have never had this number so far out. The new Nilaya [a 47m Reichel/Pugh design launched this winter from Royal Huisman] is keen and there are several other new builds, and others that are going to be out of big refits.

“I think people are back to planning long term and it could be a bumper year.”

J-Class developments

In the rarefied world of the J Class, a little more speed costs a huge amount of money and demands the highest degree of expertise. Almost 100 years on from their origin, the Js still extract near America’s Cup levels of development, and huge refit programmes are undertaken to gain fractions of speed.

Sails are a perennial area of development. The class favour North 3Di sails, but strict firewalls keep individual build details a closely guarded secret. “Sail development is very, very expensive, so we certainly keep our cards close to our chest; we are in it to win it,” says Paul Kelly, captain of Svea.

Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

Deck chutes have been in development since Bouwe Bekking introduced the idea to Lionheart a few years ago. He is now tactician on Svea, which was using one at the Superyacht Cup for the first time. Chute retrieves have slashed the time it takes to douse the gargantuan spinnakers by as much as a minute. “You can pretty much carry them right to the mark,” says Steve Branagh of RSB Rigging, who was crewing on Velsheda.

“You also haven’t got 15 people on the foredeck doing it, which presents its own problems as you round the mark and is extra weight,” adds Svea’s Paul Kelly. “When it all goes to plan it’s amazing how quick it is. But you do also have to be aware it mightn’t go to plan and you could hear the dreaded words ‘Manual drop!’”

Power and hydraulic systems are critical for driving winches with ultra-rapid line speeds. “For a heavy air gybe-set we have everything going. If we have hydraulic failure it is race ending; top-handling winches is over,” says Kelly.

Photo: sailing Energy/The superyacht cup

Every spectator and every cameraman loves the sporting action of the racing Js, the foredeck crew in helmets being doused by bow waves. Each yacht races with over 30 people – 34 on Svea, including owners. “We have seven or eight on the foredeck, four on the winches at mast base, four on pit. People can’t believe 34 people have a job but it is a fact,” says Kelly. “You still need six guys to move the spinnaker pole because it’s 100kg and 16m long.”

This year is effectively a work-up to the peak of racing activity, the J Class World Championships held during the America’s Cup in Barcelona in 2024. Besides Velsheda and Svea, the soon to-be-relaunched Rainbow should be there, plus Topaz and Shamrock, currently being refitted in the UK.

The coolest thing about the Js, though, are what they can do when you don’t see them. After racing they may go off low-key cruising with their owners. Following the Superyacht Cup, Svea was converted to cruising mode and set sail for Naples. With a comfortable interior that can sleep 11, she, like her rivals, is far more bluewater capable than you might imagine.

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The post A stunning superyacht showdown in Palma appeared first on Yachting World.

The St. Regis Race Day finale delivered another instalment of the excellent race conditions that the Bay of Palma is famed for, with 10 to 12 knots of wind and bright sunshine, which saw Rose declared the winner of the Superyacht Cup Palma 2023.

With two wins in Class B already on account, Rose began the final day in pole position and was able to claim a third race victory — but only by five seconds on corrected time in front of the well sailed Swan 100 Onyx, who finished second in class.

Speaking at the celebratory Prize-Giving on the terrace of the Real Club Náutico de Palma Rose’s tactician Jesper Radich said: “This year was amazing for us — at times it was difficult but by the end we had super conditions. It was windy, it was sunny, it was shifty, so not a straightforward course and you really had to make decisions on every leg.

“So really challenging and we came out on the winning side. Today we only won by five seconds, and it doesn’t get any closer than that after two hours of racing. I’ve done a lot of match racing and that was what it was like out there, a lot of fun.”

Photo: Sailing Energy

Meanwhile in a similarly closely contested Class A the venerable and elegant J Class classic Velsheda claimed victory with two race wins, finishing a point ahead of her J Class rival Svea, who posted a 2-2-2 scoreline. Both were clear of the modern 33m Ribelle — who won day 2 — and her Malcolm McKeon-designed Vitters Yard stablemate Pattoo.

“We have just come out of a major refit, so it was great to be here, one hundred percent,” said skipper Barney Henshaw-Depledge.

“We had a good first day and then the second was more painful as we were OCS, but today I guess we got lucky. We have had ups and downs in Palma but it’s great and the conditions are so good. It’s been great.”

Announcing that Superyacht Cup Palma 2024 will be held between June 19 to 22 next year, and reflecting on this year’s 27th annual celebration of sail, SYC Event Director Kate Branagh said: “We have had a fabulous few days with fantastic racing and great weather, and everyone has enjoyed it. It’s been terrific to again welcome boats back to Palma and we are looking forward to seeing them again next year.”

Branagh also repeated her gratitude for the support of long-running partners such as Preferred Hotel Partner St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Destination Partner New Zealand, and Official Timepiece Jaquet Droz.

Other SYC Partners and Friends also include Silver Partners Pantaenius, Astilleros de Mallorca, Hill Robinson, RSB Rigging, RigPro, Southern Spars, North Sails, Marinepool, and Friends Baltic Yachts, Marina Port Vell and Hoek Design.

You can see all results at the Superyacht Cup Palma website.

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The post Rose declared winner of the Superyacht Cup Palma appeared first on Yachting World.

All eyes will turn to Mallorca from 21-24 June, when the world’s most beautiful yachts will be seeking glory in the Superyacht Cup Palma. Nine yachts were on the entry list for the 2023 event when we went to press, including a brace of timeless J-Class and the 39m Dubois sloop Lady M. By the time owners and their crews have gathered at the Real Club Nautico on 21 June, the crew list will number in the hundreds and include some of the world’s most competitive big-boat sailors.

Now in its 27th year, the Superyacht Cup is the doyenne of superyacht regattas, with a reputation for relaxed socialising and meticulously managed racing. Though the entry list is a little thinner than last year, event director Kate Branagh is still looking forward to some close battles on the water. “Everyone has a dance partner, this year,” she says, referring to the two J-Class, Velsheda and Svea; and to the twin 33m Malcolm McKeon yachts Ribelle and Pattoo.

“There’s also Miss Silver and Lady M, two Dubois designs built in New Zealand; the two Swans (Onyx is bigger and has a more powerful sail area than Umiko, but they’re a similar breed); and Rose and Umiko are the same size.”

It should make for exciting racing for the owners and crews, who will be squaring off against a specific opponent. And because all the boats are broadly comparable – sloop-rigged cruisers between 24m and 44m LOA – the organisers can set an optimal course.

“You try to have an equal amount of upwind, downwind and reaching; when the boats are very similar, that’s more easily achieved,” said Branagh. “They can all sail in their favourite conditions.”

Racing kicks off on Thursday 22 June, although the event begins the day before with registration, skipper’s briefings and welcome drinks on the terrace of the race manager, the Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP). By then, the predominantly hot, dry weather of the summer should have imposed a sea breeze you can set your watch by: rising steadily in the morning and blowing at 10-14 knots throughout the afternoon. In the sheltered waters of the Bay of Palma, it offers the potential for sweet-spot winds in nearly smooth water.

Photo: Nico Martinez

Rivalries old and new

Last year saw Svea, the latest of the majestic J-Class yachts, miss out on overall victory by a single point after 46m Ganesha won the final race of the event. But she led the Js by a country mile, even though it was her first race with a new crew under a syndicate of three new Swedish owners.

“We’d sailed back from Charleston in the middle of May,” remembered Svea captain Paul ‘PK’ Kelly. “Then we hauled out the next morning to try and get the boat ready for the regatta. It was pretty frantic. We did nine days of training with 99% new crew, so I had no idea what to expect.”

With veteran Dutch round-the-world sailor Bouwe Bekking aboard again this year, he’s hoping to retain the same pitch of high excitement with a crew that has now experienced a season of winning and is looking for outright victory in Palma. “It’s a young, eager and professional crew of people who are so excited to be on a J-Class,” said Kelly. “It’s us and Velsheda fleet racing with the rest. She is very well sailed and has just had an extensive refit, so interesting to see how they come out of that. It’ll be a very, very good training exercise for us.”

Above: she may be 90 years of age, but Velsheda is still the J-Class to beat. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Velsheda herself is an original grand lady from 1933 celebrating her 90th birthday this year. She won’t be looking her age, however, after getting new teak decking, new hydraulics and having work to her deck gear. And with the most seasoned owner-driver at the wheel and a veteran crew led by wily Kiwi tactician Tom Dodson, Velsheda is always the J to beat.

Ribelle and Pattoo are near identical 33m Vitters-built cruiser-racers with clean, modern lines from the pen of Malcolm McKeon, and will be keenly competing against each other. Ribelle is back after a hiatus with a new owner, while Pattoo (previously Missy) has raced here on and off over the years since she was launched in 2016.

For the 28m Swan Onyx, it is all new, however. “This will be a Superyacht Cup Palma baptism for Onyx, but an event we are all expecting will be one of the highlights of our season,” said skipper Sam Forbes.

The 46m Ganesha won last year’s event by a single point. Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Safety first

Starts are staggered at two-minute intervals – important to prevent expensive contacts between boats in the box.

“The start can be a pretty terrifying procedure for those that aren’t used to it, hence the intervals,” explained Branagh. “There’s also a minimum 40m separation around the course, and more at key water marks. Setting up to tack and bear away takes a long time – it’s not like easing the sheet on a little boat. The equipment takes such huge loads, we try to avoid areas of extra stress. It’s just as competitive and much safer.”

Branagh is not only an experienced event organiser but also an experienced sailor, with more than 250,000 sea miles under her belt, so she knows exactly what it takes to appeal to owners. And one of the key principles of this laid-back Med regatta is that any type of superyacht can be competitive under the handicap system.

“Some boats make massive, specific preparations for racing; others were literally cruising last week and, apart from handing out new uniforms, everything stays the same,” she said. “Both approaches are perfectly acceptable, and that’s what makes it interesting. It’s not the same arms race as you get in fleet racing.”

Besides the hull and rig of the boat itself, the handicap takes into account the age and use of sails, whether you’ve got full water tanks or not, and items of windage such as radomes. The idea is to level the playing field and encourage owners who baulk at the idea of stripping down the yacht for racing.

With new owners of long-standing boats, as well as new boats altogether, all bets are off for the results of this year’s Superyacht Cup. But the experience on the water is just one part of what makes the event such a fixture in the superyacht calendar. There is also a strong social programme for owners and crews, which exemplifies the relaxed atmosphere that the organisers have fostered. And this year, the Race Village will extend from the RCNP clubhouse terrace to the dock for happy hours and parties.

“Back in the old days, that’s just what we had: the dock party on the back of the boat,” says Branagh. “It creates such a nice atmosphere when people come in after the day’s racing. Otherwise, a few people sneak off earlier for a beer, while others get roped into the longer jobs aboard.

“As ever, one of the pleasures of being involved with Superyacht Cup Palma as we go into its 27th year is welcoming newcomers and greeting old friends once again,” said Branagh. “We’re also delighted that we’ll be returning to our base at the prestigious Real Club Náutico de Palma, our long-standing race management partner.”

Superyacht Cup Palma entries

Photo: Christopher Scholey

Lady M

LOA: 38.9m/127ft | Design: Dubois Yachts | Build: Fitzroy Yachts 2006

Previously Ganesha, this is an example from the heyday of Dubois/New Zealand partnerships. Launched as a competitive cruiser, she is built in aluminium and has previously competed at Dubois and Loro Piano superyacht regattas. The largest volume competitor here, but her current form is unknown.

Photo: Andrea Francolini

Miss silver

LOA: 36m/118ft | Design: Dubois Yachts | Build: Alloy Yachts 1995

Having won all her races in the Millennium Cup 2021, the near 30-year-old Miss Silver has since had an extensive refit last year, including new interior, decks, rigging, sails, mast service etc. and with an experienced owner with a history in dinghy sailing, she could make an impressive SY Cup debut.

Photo: Gianfranco Forza

Onyx

LOA: 30.2m/100ft | Design: German Frers | Build: Nautor Swan 2006

An example of the Finnish yard’s Swan 100 series, and the first to feature a semi-raised saloon, Onyx had a complete refit by Baltic Yachts in Palma two years ago, which included everything from new machinery, electrics and plumbing to new sails. Although a first timer at the SY Cup she will doubtless know these waters well.

Pattoo

LOA: 33m/108ft | Design: Malcolm McKeon | Build: Vitters Shipyard 2016

Conceived initially for cruising only, complete with a glazed decksaloon, the yacht formerly called Missy has since become a regular at the SY Cup. She had a tied class win last year and will be gunning for the overall trophy this year.

Ribelle

LOA: 32.6m/107ft | Design: Malcolm McKeon | Build: Vitters Shipyard 2017

A contemporary cruiser racer with carbon hull built at Green Marine, then topped with a glazed saloon and infinity style teak transom. She can clock over 20 knot speeds, competed regularly in her first couple of years and was sold in 2021. Should be the quickest on the water.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Rose

LOA: 24m/80ft | Design: Farr Yacht Design/Luca Bassani | Build: Wally Yachts 2006

One of the smallest but by no means least potent contenders, this lightweight pre-preg carbon build raced heavily under her former name Tango. Now a local to Palma, under a keen skipper and owner, she will be out to improve on her third place in class last year.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Svea

LOA: 43.6m/143ft | Design: Tore Holm/Hoek Design | Build: Bloemsma/Vitters 2017

This time last year, no one knew the form of the newest J, after it was bought by a syndicate of Swedish owners and underwent a big refit. But when one is the highly experienced owner-driver Niklas Zennström and Bouwe Bekking is whispering tactics, it’s perhaps no surprise that it beat the three other Js here last year and went on to win its class at the Maxi Worlds. This longest J is very much on form.

Photo: Christophe Jouany

Umiko

LOA: 25m/80ft | Design: German Frers | Build: Nautor’s Swan 2000

A fine example of the thoroughbred Swan 80, previously called Maligaya, Umiko had a full refit in 2017 including new rigging and a full wardrobe by North Sails which helped her to record a second across the line in the ARC 2018. She returns to the SY Cup after her debut in 2021.

Photo: Sailing Energy/The Superyacht Cup

Velsheda

LOA: 39.2m/129ft | Design: CE Nicholson/Dykstra | Build: Camper & Nicholsons 1933

This original J may look smaller and more cluttered on deck than her modern competition, but she is always well sailed by a skilled owner-driver and long term crew led by Tom Dodson. Following a big winter refit, including hydraulics and new deck gear, she’ll be out to prove to Svea that age can still triumph.

Superyacht Cup Palma programme

Wednesday 21 June

Superyacht registration – RCNP Sala Magna

Thursday 22 June

Pantaenius Race Day 

North Sails/Southern Spars Happy Hour
and prize giving, RCNP dock

Friday 23 June

New Zealand Race Day

North Sails Happy Hour, prize giving and Owners’ Summer Barbecue 

Saturday 24 June

St Regis Race Day

Prize giving, RCNP Terrace

Full details: thesuperyachtcup.com

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The post Superyacht Cup Palma: Battle of the giants appeared first on Yachting World.

The Superyacht Cup, Palma has come to a close with a testing final day in challenging conditions seeing the fight for the title going down to the last race and finally won on countback.

Once all results were in, the awe-inspiring J Class contender Svea and the elegant 46m Class B sloop Ganesha finished level on points with identical score lines. With a certain Hindu deity perhaps tipping the balance, Ganesha emerged the overall victor thanks to her last race win, with Svea taking second in hers.

Ganesha‘s delighted owner Dr. Peter-Alexander Wacker said: “It is a great moment as we really didn’t expect it at all, but we worked hard for it and I am glad we are a winner today.”

And looking ahead he added: “It’s not my first time here – I have just bought a house here in Palma, so I am going to be a Superyacht Cup Palma regular for sure.”

46m sloop Ganesha won Class B at the Superyacht Cup, Palma. Photo: SAILING ENERGY

His sentiment was echoed by Ganesha‘s skipper Alex Pamment: “It was a bit of a surprise win and we certainly weren’t expecting it, either the class or the overall.

“It was very, very close. Yesterday we came second by one second, but today the weather gods were with us and we were able to get a result. The tacticians had it tough, but we were able to make the right calls.”

Svea meanwhile could take some consolation after emerging the worthy winner of a hard-fought J Class contest. There were cheers and hugs after she crossed the line of the final race, securing the class victory by two points from Ranger, who won the final race on corrected time.

“We are thrilled, delighted to have won our class – we are over the moon,” said co-owner Niklas Zennström. “It is the first regatta with the boat for the new team and the new owner group, and we came to this event having put in a training week before to get to know it, as many of us have never sailed a J Class before.

“What’s fascinating with this class is that it is very, very close racing. To win the class is very special, much more than we expected as this was going to be a learning regatta. Racing is about minimising mistakes and the team did not make many of them and did a very, very good job.”

As a further indicator of the competitive nature of Superyacht Cup Palma, the Class A contest was also decided on countback, with the striking high-performance Malcolm McKeon designed Pattoo taking the class from Kiboko Tres, with her last race victory settling the outcome.

Skipper James Waugh said: “We’re a new team but we were able to hit the ground running here with a couple of days training, and each day we got to know the boat better and went from strength to strength.

J Class, Svea lost the win on countback. Photo: SAILING ENERGY

“We had exactly the same results as Kiboko Tres, and I guess we were a bit lucky, but we are over the moon about it. We loved Superyacht Cup Palma, the organisation is great and so is the atmosphere.”

A second day of a prevailing north easterly wind had seen the Bay of Palma become a challenging arena once the opposing sea breeze tried to dominate, with two separate wind bands presenting a tactical challenge as the yachts negotiated their racecourses.

One yacht to fall foul of the difficult to predict wind was the modern classic Savannah, which had gone into her final Class B race in pole position for the overall SYC prize – not least thanks to her one second victory over her rival Ganesha yesterday – before becoming becalmed in the bay. Ganesha went on to win the race, Class B and the title.

St. Regis Race Day followed on from one of the highlights of Superyacht Cup Palma, the exclusive Owners’ Summer Barbecue at Mallorca’s best address the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, which featured an impressive fireworks display, live music and exceptional food.

Photo: SAILING ENERGY

Following racing, and speaking before the celebratory prize-giving at the Real Club Náutico de Palma, also catered by the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, SYC Event Director Kate Branagh said: “Superyacht Cup Palma has always offered friendly but competitive racing, and this year has delivered that in spades.

“Having the overall winner in doubt until the last moment makes for incredibly exciting racing, and we hope that all the owners, captains and crews have had a great time whatever their finishing position.

“We look forward to welcoming them all back in 2023, and offering them the chance to win the Superyacht Cup Palma Trophy.”

SYC organisers have announced that next year’s event will be held from 21-24 June.

And Branagh added: “I would also like to say a big thank-you to all our partners and friends who have helped make this such a great regatta.”

See all the results at the Superyacht Cup website.

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The post Fight for the spoils goes down to the wire at the Superyacht Cup appeared first on Yachting World.

The Superyacht Cup Palma has long proven one of the litmus test regattas in the modern generation of the J Class – a fleet popularly regarded as the finest in our sport. In 2013 and 2014 when five Js lined up on the Bay of Palma, the spirited, close and even fleet racing which was enjoyed by Ranger, Hanuman, Velsheda, Rainbow and Lionheart marked the start of the build up to 2017’s all time pinnacle events – Bermuda’s America’s Cup Invitational Regatta and the inaugural J Class World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island.

With an all time record sized fleet of seven boats racing in 2017, including the newest launches Svea and Topaz in the mix plus Rainbow (present but watching from the sidelines), Bermuda and Newport marked the twin peaks of recent J Class activity.

However, in the immediate aftermath there was a prolonged dip in racing activity and it’s only now that the fleet seems to be on the rebuild. That reduction in racing can be accounted for by a variety of reasons. Hanuman and Lionheart – arguably the top two, best resourced teams – put their programmes on ice and in Lionheart’s case, went cruising. And John Williams, the enthusiastic owner who commissioned and built Ranger in 1999, sadly passed away in 2018.

However, this spring and summer marks a very definite upturn in J Class racing activity. The St Barths Bucket in March saw the return to racing of Ranger, now in the ownership of a passionate young American. And then in April Svea passed into the well funded, safe hands of a syndicate of experienced Swedish owners.

So the Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 will now see its biggest fleet of Js in eight years, when Velsheda, Topaz, Ranger and Svea answer the starting guns. Also, the word from the J Class Association is that Rainbow looks set to change hands, likely to an owner who wants to go racing. Things are very definitely on the up.

Big changes in the J Class

Svea will start the Superyacht Cup on the strength of only a week’s practice in Palma, having sailed back to Europe in early May from the US. So the expectations of her team are firmly in check.

Full glam of the J Class. The return to racing of Ranger will help boost the class. Photo: Martinez Studio

Completed in a record time of just 17 months in order to be ready for the 2017 Bermuda events, Svea has had multiple, successive changes since she was launched. She has not raced since a collision with Topaz in Antigua 2020. Alterations since then include moving the forestay aft to try and correct persistent, remaining lee helm and trim issues. That has also meant re-cutting headsails.

“We will certainly have some work to do in a short space of time but we are looking forward to being back out on the race course,” enthuses Paul ‘PK’ Kelly, who has been Svea’s boat captain since the yacht was in build.

“But we will have a completely new crew and the boat has changed hands. One of the issues for us has been that because we’ve made so many changes – from ballast to changing trim to adding jib tracks for example – we have very little in the way of base data from the same configurations and so we are aiming to achieve that.”

“Palma will be about learning as a team,” Kelly continues. “It will be awesome having Bouwe [Bekking] with us and one thing we learned from him and the Lionheart crew is that success is about consistency [Bekking was a long term tactician aboard Lionheart]. They won the worlds in Newport not winning a race but made as few crew changes as possible year-on-year. But right now it will be a huge learning curve.”

Svea’s return should help ignite the class once again. Photo: Claire Matches

The new custodian of Ranger, meanwhile, a first-time big boat owner, enjoyed a dream racing debut at March’s St Barths Bucket.

With America’s Cup winner Ed Baird sailing and steering a J Class for his first time, and a crack crew including fellow Cup winners John Kostecki on tactics aided by Jordi Calafat, Ranger sailed a solid first outing to win on their competitive debut.

“They are amazing machines, and I can’t help wondering how on earth they did this 100 years ago?” Baird enthused in St Barth “They are so big and there are so many things to be coordinated.”

Article continues below…

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Inside J Class yacht Svea – what it’s really like to race on board the newest member of the fleet

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J Class Ranger returns

As the slowest rated boat but with just a few days of crew practice, Ranger was able to hang on close enough in the brisk Caribbean tradewinds and lumpy seas to win overall. While she sailed smart and clean, there was a reminder that although these giants are often handled like modern inshore TP52s, pushing them too hard can result in costly penalties.

Team Hanuman, which has lost major regattas before because of rules transgressions, was given two penalties, for example, which effectively terminated their chances of a winning return.

Greg Sloat, who runs the Ranger programme was especially pleased to win off the bat in St Barth. “We wanted to put together a crew which got on with the job. It has never been about themselves but about the team and so it was not ‘shouty’.”

“Winning was a reward for three years of hard work, of long days and nights working on the boat. But we have a very happy owner. We worked a lot on the hydraulics so we have much more winch power than before.

Racing at the Superyacht Cup Palma. Photo: Claire Matches

“We worked on weight distribution and removed about six tonnes for the same righting moment. The main thing was to get weight forward as Ranger has always sat stern down, so with tankage, removing batteries and a lighter rudder we focused on weight out of the back.”

He believes the best of the updated Ranger is yet to come, perhaps ever more so on the flatter water and sea breezes of Palma. “St Barth conditions are not our best. We get slaughtered in the waves because we are so heavy and with the pitching moment. So I think we can do well in Palma in less swell.”

Ranger’s new owner was obviously delighted with the performance and recalls how he fell in love with the boat and the J Class history: “I saw Ranger first when the America’s Cup came through New York City. The previous owner did a wonderful job of building her and carrying on the historic tradition of (the original) Ranger and I followed and stalked her for years. When she became available we were able to navigate the purchase process. Then she went in for a long refit to really renew and refresh a lot of the infrastructure. It was a labour of love.

“It was a funny thing – very rarely do you get to match your aspirations and your passion with actual execution. This is one of these moments and I’m incredibly grateful for it. I love the history, the lines, the beauty, the tradition. It is about the special nature of the J Class and the special nature of Ranger.”

We haven’t seen four Js or more at the Superyacht Cup for eight years. Photo: Michael Kurtz/Pantaenius Yacht Insurance

A new era

The tradewinds in St Barth were most often around 20 knots, the action spectacular, the racing close. There was a reminder, welcomed or not, of how physically tough and uncompromising these boats are to get around a windward-leeward race course.

The atmosphere ashore was encouraging, even if there was still some social distancing. And most importantly owners, crews, umpires and the J Class representatives led by new class secretary, Stuart Childerley, opened proper dialogues and talked of how to build a more sustainable, inclusive long term future for the class.

Managing owner expectation and satisfaction is key. After the high octane, high pressure 2017 season there was some burn out. The Lionheart programme under Bouwe Bekking won most consistently but they were a crew who practiced longest and hardest with pre-season sessions.

They were visibly well drilled, briefed and debriefed and were rewarded with the immense satisfaction of becoming world champions. However, Lionheart’s owner has since chosen to cruise with the boat extensively. Svea’s new syndicate of owners are reportedly looking forward to cruising her in the Med this year too.

Photo: Sailing Energy / SYC

The level of optimisation and the pressure that the rule was put under saw Lionheart and Svea retaining designer Juan Kouyoumdjian to help with optimisation, while Hanuman worked with Judel/Vrolijk. Certain modifications and choices patently designed to improve handicaps riled other owners whose disposition was aligned more to racing their J Class ‘as it comes’.

“Looking back I think the intensity was too much for some and it was not sustainable or enjoyed by everyone,” recalls the J Class Association’s long serving measurer, Andrew Yates. Lionheart set the bar high but that was partly because the goals of a world championship title and America’s Cup J Class title were heady ones.

Photo: Michael Kurtz/Pantaenius Yacht Insurance

Now, double Olympian, one design keelboat world champion and international race officer Stuart Childerley is determined to work with the owners, boat captains and afterguards to map out the itinerary through to 2026 and beyond. It looks very much like this will include a major event at the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona, where the new class secretary reveals a vision of having all nine existing J Class yachts mustered there.

“I think the important thing is to avoid periods of no activity and to put in place some long range planning,” Childerley explains. “For example one thing on the table we are being asked about is 2026 when it will be the 150th anniversary of Cowes Week. They’d like to invite the J Class to be there.” The pinnacle event of this season will be the week-long Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in September in Sardinia where the Js will race as a class.

ull concentration on Topaz as helmsman Peter Holmberg tries to get the better of Velsheda. Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Velsheda remains quietly consistent and within the fleet is widely considered to be the benchmark boat in terms of crew work and performance. They, and Topaz, have continued to race over the last couple of years.

Velsheda missed a number of key Kiwi crew due to travel restrictions – such as tactician Tom Dodson – but they are back in force this season and have retained British Olympian Andy Beadsworth in the afterguard to work alongside Dodson and navigator Campbell Field.

Since launching, Topaz has sought to keep a very consistent team under skipper-helm Peter Holmberg and has benefited by making steady incremental gains each season. They were crowned IRC class winners when racing at Voiles de St Tropez last year.

Fresh blood and wide-eyed enthusiasm is in rich supply right now. So many of the crew of Ranger and Svea in particular have sailed together or against each other week-in week-out on different grand prix boats. That alone should be a step towards the shared vision of competitive, fair racing on the water and shared ‘after work’ beers on the dock.

Velsheda’s veteran crew keep aerodynamic. Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Improved handicapping

Another vital ingredient for the future is the new version of the J Class handicapping rule, which has been devised by guru Chris Todter, a leading America’s Cup design director. The task of fairly handicapping a small but diverse fleet, which ranges from the original 1933-designed Velsheda to the 2017-built Svea, has been problematic.

But Todter has fully revised a new Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-based VPP, which accounts for many more of the speed and drag producing elements of the hull and foil packages, and is now increasingly looking at seakeeping ability. It is thought that the CFD package produces a more accurate performance profile of each boat in different conditions. The results are computed by the analysis of successive six-minute strips of real time weather and performance data provided from each boat’s performance analysis systems.

Seconds have often divided this modern generation fleet of Js, so we will see what these handicapping updates mean in reality as the four line up in Palma at the end of June. As ever, when you get a collection of the world’s most iconic yachts together, it promises to be an unmissable spectacle.

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The post Return of the J Class yachts appeared first on Yachting World.

Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 got off to a flying start Wednesday 29 June with a quartet of J Class yachts competing in some stunning conditions out on the Bay of Palma to launch the latest edition of Europe’s longest-running superyacht regatta.

Two windward-leeward races in near perfect sailing conditions of 10 to 14 knots, saw the awe-inspiring 40m-plus J Class yachts – Ranger, Svea, Topaz and Velsheda – put on a masterclass of close-quarter racing, slick crew work and active tactical decision-making that saw the lead on the water changing on almost a leg-by-leg basis.

In the opening race the competition within the class was self-evident from the off, with Ranger over the line early in the fleet start and having to recross the line. At the top mark Topaz narrowly led Svea and Velsheda, with a hard-charging Ranger hot on their heels amid a determined fightback.

The decisive moment in the race came at the end of the first lap of two, with Topaz and Svea neck-and-neck but rounding opposite ends of the downwind gate, with Svea‘s decision to take the left hand side of the upwind leg giving her a clear lead she was able to hold to the finish, taking the first race win ahead of Topaz, Ranger and Velsheda.

“The race win was a bit of a surprise, but we were very happy with that,” said Bouwe Bekking, tactician on Svea. “We were in the mix and that is the most important thing for us – we have no expectations being on the boat for the first time with a new team.

Photo: SAILING ENERGY / Superyacht Cup

“But we were very happy the way we got around the track. We passed some boats, which is always good, so the crew work is going well and it all came together. The last race we were all within 20 seconds, and we lost out, and that’s sometimes the way it goes.”

With Palma’s fabled sea breeze now fully up and running, race two delivered a second instalment of top-line racing in brisk conditions, with correctly calling changes in the direction of the wind again proving the key to success. This time it was Velsheda that edged out a lead at the top mark, one that she was able to hold on the water to what was a tight fleet finish.

However, when the J Class rating system – designed to level the playing field for yachts of varied age, weight and construction – came into play it was Topaz that took the win with Velsheda second, followed by Ranger and, in a brisk change of fortune, Svea.

Topaz‘s delighted race manager Tim Kroger said: “It was absolutely wonderful out there today, Palma at its best, Superyacht Cup at its best. It was a cool start off for us with the Js, and being together again with four boats on the startline is just a wonderful experience. We are all chuffed and blessed, and it’s really great.

Photo: SAILING ENERGY / Superyacht Cup

“We had very, very close racing, not just on the water but also on corrected time and there were just seconds between us.”

And he added: “It is important to sail really, really well if you want to win. It’s not easy out there, all the boats have magnificent crews, very polished, very good guys. We are very humble in our approach, so it will be a hard battle to the last day.”

Overall the J Class leaderboard has Topaz on top with three points, Svea second on five, and Velsheda and Ranger tied on six points. Thursday sees the J Class foursome join the rest of the Superyacht Cup fleet for three further days of intense racing when they will be racing for the overall Superyacht Cup 2022 trophy.

“We knew that the J Class was going to bring a special element to Superyacht Cup Palma, and today has demonstrated that, it has been fantastic to have the fabulous four getting the whole event underway,” said SYC Event Director Kate Branagh.

“Tomorrow the rest of the fleet will also be in action, and we expect that the other two classes racing will be equally competitive, with all aiming for the overall Superyacht Cup Palma trophy.”

Back ashore and the highly valued social side of Superyacht Cup Palma got underway courtesy of SYC’s long-term race manager partner, and now host, the Real Club Náutico de Palma.

The captain’s briefing in RCNP’s Great Hall was followed by the Welcome Cocktail presented by SYC’s Destination Partner New Zealand and DYT Yacht Transport on the RCNP terrace.

Keep up to date with the latest racing at the Superyacht Cup Palma website.

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The post J-Class yachts kick off Superyacht Cup Palma in style appeared first on Yachting World.

While it may have been a slightly subdued 25th anniversary last year for the Superyacht Cup Palma, held during socially distanced times, organisers are confident the Mediterranean’s longest running superyacht regatta will be back to its spectacular best this year. And when you have four yachts from the world’s most revered sailing class lining up, that’s all but guaranteed.

The return of the mighty J Class yachts is a huge draw for an event which was put back a week especially to accommodate them (from 22 June to 29 June start). Ranger is back to her best and Svea, the newest J recently under new ownership, is Palma-bound.

Her entry will make it four Js. “To have Ranger and Svea both with new owners is great,” enthuses event director Kate Branagh. “I think it will put some new life into the class, which could soon even get back up to five or six boats – it’s nice to have a change of dynamics.”

Blue skies and fantastic breeze makes for some great racing. Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

The Superyacht Cup has always welcomed an eclectic mix of classes. From a regular band of modern classics such as the Hoek Truly Classic fleet, to five Js in 2013 and 2014, and an unrivalled collection of seven schooners for an exhibition race to help celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary in 2016, this event has always showcased the beauty and skills of big yacht racing at its best.

Location and reliable weather help enormously. During the long, late June days Palma is typically bathed in blue skies. As clouds build over the mountains to the north, a metronomic-like afternoon breeze begins to build at a socially acceptable post-lunch hour, and ideal windspeeds in the mid to late teens typically materialise over the flat, deep blue water of the expansive bay.

For the competitors it’s a short motor out from the city’s protected marinas, and holding it within walking distance of the atmospheric old town and its lively apres sailing tapas bars will always get the seal of approval from the participants.

Branagh, who has guided the growth of the regatta over two decades, confirms that all bar one of the main Superyacht Cup Palma sponsors have returned this year. The event also welcomes a new official timekeeper sponsor in Jaquet Droz, the first yachting endeavour for this Swiss watchmaker founded in the 18th Century.

Rockstar crews on the J Class. Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

J Class at the Superyacht Cup Palma

The regatta has long been run over three days of 20-30 mile courses, using a staggered start, pursuit racing format. The Js will have a slightly different racing format this year. While they’ve always had an extra day before the other superyachts to make it a four day series, this year they’ll have their own fleet start before the rest of the superyachts set off in the normal sequential intervals. The idea is that they’ll effectively be sailing the same course as the other yachts.

The first day of J racing will be for its own trophy, but the following three days will form part of the Superyacht Cup, hence a J can win the overall trophy, Branagh explains. “I like the idea of incorporating them, which we can do as a matter of points while still using the J Class rating.”

Quite how that will play out will depend on the class breaks, which are only decided shortly before the event. Branagh predicts there will be an A and B fleet as well as the Js, the former for the performance yachts such as Win Win and Kiboko Tres, and the latter for the larger, higher displacement boats including the 20-year old 43m Dubois La Belle.

Stunning Palma provides the perfect backdrop. Photo: Nico Martinez/Martinez Studio

Both these superyacht classes will race as usual under the ORC SY handicap format. There are other options for class breaks too, including Performance and Corinthian divisions. “For me it’s much more important for the owners to be happy with what class they’re in,” thinks Branagh, who says she’s also had pressure recently to include multihulls too.

The move from the event’s decade-long base in STP/Moll Vell to the Real Club Náutico de Palma (RCNP) is being repeated following its success last year.

RCNP has been responsible for the professional race management for the Superyacht Cup Palma for over 10 years. Its yacht club in the heart of Palma can fit five or six entrants on its fuel dock. The remaining yachts will either return to their own docks or be berthed in the surrounding Palma marinas that are a short dinghy ride away.

“It’s a shame not having everyone together because you lose some of the spectacle,” Branagh concedes, “but the boats have got bigger and deeper and the marinas haven’t! The Js in particular used to struggle with depth issues on the dock at Moll Vell.”

Superyacht Cup excitement

With this in mind, the social programme has been kept simple – collective post-race drinks in the yacht club before crews head to their own team dinners in the city.

The exception will be the owner’s barbecue on the penultimate night in the exclusive venue of preferred hotel partner St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort. The Saturday night prizegiving will also be held at the RCNP yacht club. “It’s the first time of having a proper Superyacht Cup and clubhouse and being back to having sponsors and an event programme,” says Branagh. “It’s all the excitement around the event that we couldn’t do last year. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Superyacht Cup Palma entries

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Archelon 37.6m/123ft Sloop
Design: Humphreys Yacht Design
Build: Oyster/Pendennis 2019

This project began life at Oyster on the banks of Lee-on-Solent as the first 1225 and was later fitted out by superyacht specialists Pendennis in Falmouth, Cornwall. This will be the first regatta for the boat and owner, but the predominantly British crew is led by the experienced skipper James Micklem. Archelon is a modern, powerful 155 tonne twin rudder design, but her form is unknown – expect a cautious outing.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Ganesha 46m/151ft Sloop
Design: Dubois/McKeon
Build: Vitters 2014

Ganesha is well versed in superyacht regattas, but after a break from racing (cruising around the world), she returned last year, with the owner saying it would be his last event. After coming 2nd in class… they are back again this year! Easy to spot in a fleet thanks to her bright orange spinnaker with Hindu deity motif, she is always well sailed. Crewed largely by sailors who reside in Mallorca, under the direction of long term skipper Alex Pamment, Ganesha makes a safe bet for more silverware.

Photo: Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy/Southern Wind

Kiboko Tres 32m/105ft Sloop

Design: Farr Yacht Design
Build: Southern Wind Shipyard

The third and largest Southern Wind for this owner, Kiboko Tres is a carbon performance machine. Palma is her home and she is well sailed by an experienced Spanish skipper and crew. The owner raced his previous SW94 here in 2015 and 2016, but this latest model is a much more powerful contender. Kiboko, Swahili for hippopotamus, was a name chosen to reflect speed and power – certainly two of the most dominant impressions I had when I was lucky enough to helm her in 2019.

Expect a ruthless hunt for home spoils.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

La Belle 42.9m/140ft Sloop

Design: Dubois Naval Architects
Build: Vitters Shipyard 2002

Built in aluminium for bluewater cruising, this Dubois design competed many times under her former names including Koo and Red Dragon. She was sold two years ago to a new owner who has yet to race her which, together with a new crew and Greek captain, makes her form a little unknown. However, with Doyle Sails’ MD David Duff putting together the race crew, expect a competent showing in the higher displacement class.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Pattoo 33m/108ft Sloop

Design: Malcolm McKeon
Build: Vitters Shipyard 2016

Formerly called Missy, this striking McKeon design was conceived for cruising, complete with a formidable glazed decksaloon, but her owner quickly got the bug for racing. A bowsprit and suit of racing sails were soon added and she has competed many times on both sides of the Atlantic since. She came 2nd in class last year, but her original skipper Matt McKeon has now left so we are yet to know crew details. No doubt Pattoo’s owner will be going for gold this year.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Ranger J5 41.6m/137ft Sloop

Design: Burgess/Stephens/Studio Scanu/Reichel Pugh
Build: Danish Yachts 2003

The first of the modern generation of replica Js, Ranger is the heaviest, the only one built in steel (subsequent models are aluminium). She is easily identified by her snub nose and spoon bow and has always been fast in flat water. Following the passing of long term owner John Williams four years ago, she has a new American owner and has undergone an extensive refit. She showed real potential at the St Barths Bucket in March, beating Hanuman and Velsheda. Her crew includes an afterguard of John Kostecki, Jordi Calafat and Jules Salter. A joy to see one of the stalwarts of the modern J generation competing again.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Rose 24.0m/80ft Sloop

Design: Farr Yacht Design/Luca Bassani
Build: Wally Yachts 2006

Hull number five of the successful Wally 80 line, Rose may be the smallest entrant this year but lacks little in potency. She has a strong, light pre-preg carbon build, and was the first cruiser racer to feature a full-width main saloon glass ceiling. Under her former owner and name, Tango, she raced heavily. New skipper Ben Potter says her current owner, who bought her two years ago, races with keen friends and plans on doing lots of regattas including the Maxi Worlds this year.  

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Savannah 27.4m/90ft Sloop

Design: David Pedrick
Build: Concordia 1996

Shorter but arguably as pretty as the Js with her flush teak deck and skylights, sweeping sheer and elegant, long overhangs that are reminiscent of classic yachts from a century ago. However, Savannah is a modern classic in that she is built in carbon, kevlar and glassfibre composite by Concordia in the US in the mid 1990s to a David Pedrick design and has a fin keel and tall fractional carbon rig. Flying the white ensign and RYS insignia, this UK-owned and crewed yacht is normally based and raced out of St Tropez.

Photo: Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy

Svea JS1 43.6m/143ft Sloop

Design: Tore Holm/Hoek Design
Build: Bloemsma/Vitters 2017

The most modern of the J Class fleet, Svea was modified by Andre Hoek from an original 1930s Tore Holm design that was never built. She is an ultra clean beauty, with a low, single doghouse and vast diameter wheel. Svea was heavily campaigned around the America’s Cup J Class regatta in Bermuda 2017 but hasn’t raced since her collision with Topaz two years ago. Still skippered by Paul ‘PK’ Kelly, she has since had a huge refit at STP in Palma and is now under new Swedish syndicate ownership. Her race crew will include the tremendously experienced Bouwe Bekking. A tantalising prospect.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Topaz J8 42.7m/140ft Sloop

Design: Frank Paine/Hoek Design
Build: Bloemsma/Holland Jachtbouw 2015

Topaz succeeded Ranger as the biggest J afloat on launch, with the longest LWL and smallest wetted area at the time. She has kept a very consistent team under skipper-helm Peter Holmberg, the Olympic and America’s Cup veteran from the US Virgin Islands, and made steady incremental gains each season. The supreme Francesco de Angelis is calling tactics in Palma with local legend Nacho Postigo as navigator – what a combination!

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Velsheda JK7 39.2m/129ft Sloop

Design: CE Nicholson/Dykstra
Build: Camper & Nicholsons 1933

The most regularly campaigned J in the modern generation and the only original one actively racing. Identified by her iconic dark blue hull, sharp bow and comparatively busy deck layout – as well as her classic blue, white and red kite. Her Dutch owner-driver is in his third decade of hard racing and cruising Velsheda and retains a loyal long term crew, led by affable skipper Barney Henshaw-Depledge. Her skilled helmsman and experienced crew work (including a wily afterguard back to full force) always make her the one to beat, whether amongst Js or superyachts – indeed they were overall SY Cup winners in 2018.

Photo: Sailing Energy/SYC

Win Win 33m/108ft Sloop

Design: Javier Jaudenes
Build: Baltic Yachts 2014

Designed by Mallorcan local Jaudenes, this black and electric green carbon Baltic rocket competes most years and has lived up to her name by winning the SY Cup overall twice, including in 2019. Always well sailed, she is now in the hands of skipper Will Glenn, son of Yachting World’s former editor David Glenn. Can she be the first in 25 years to lift the trophy three times?

Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 calendar of events

Wednesday 29 June

Superyacht registration and J Class races 1 and 2

Thursday 30 June

Pantaenius Race Day & J Class Race 3
North Sails & Southern Spars Happy Hour RCNP terrace

Friday 1 July

New Zealand Race Day & J Class Race 4
North Sails Happy Hour & prizegiving RCNP
Paddleboard Challenge
Owner’s barbecue at St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort

Saturday 2 July

St. Regis Race Day & J Class Race 5
Prize giving RCNP  terrace

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The post Superyacht Cup Palma: stunning fleet assemble appeared first on Yachting World.

Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 is set to get underway in Mallorca’s capital from June 29 to July 2 with an ever expanding entry list and an impressive four J-Class yachts signed up it should be an impressive sight.

As ever, the fleet will be a blend of regular participants and first timers attracted by Superyacht Cup Palma‘s well-deserved reputation for excitement and entertainment both on and off the water.

Few boats can beat the J-Class‘ mix of history, classic beauty and luxury. Despite a resurgence in the class in recent decades through a variety of rebuilds, restorations and new builds based on original plans, and something of a racing circuit, it is still a rarity to see several of these old stunning yachts out racing on the water in one place.

J-Class entries this year are: Svea – the newest J based on drawings from 1939; Velsheda – a 1933 J-Class which was rescued and restored in 1984; Topaz – built to a Frank Paine design from 1935, optimised by Hoek Design, and launched in 2015; and Ranger, a 2003 replica of the America’s Cup Defender which was first built in 1937 but later scrapped.

A headsail trimmer gets close to the water in J-Class Ranger. Photo: Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy

Though these four yachts will draw signifiant crowds the rest of the fleet is, as ever, packed with some of the most stunning superyachts in the world at the moment.

Most recent entries include: the high-performance 32m Farr designed Kiboko Tres, whose owner will be familiar with SYC having raced Kiboko Dos in 2015 and 2016, the 27m David Pedrick designed modern classic Savannah, the 46m performance cruiser Ganesha, last seen in 2011 and 2021 respectively, and the elegant 40m ketch Huckleberry, which was awarded the inaugural North Sails Boat of the Day award at her last SYC appearance in 2019.

46m performance cruiser Ganesha took part in the Superyacht Cup 2021 Photo: Sailing Energy / The Superyacht Cup 

Plus, also featuring this year will be the stunning 122-foot Archelon, which was delivered in 2019 by the UK-based Pendennis Shipyard, and built for Oyster Yachts in a collaborative partnership.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to go one better than last year, when we came second in Class B behind the overall Cup winner Ravenger,” said captain of Ganesha, Alex Pamment. “Superyacht Cup Palma is always a great event and Ganesha has been a regular presence over the years, so we can’t wait for the end of June to come around.”

SYC organisers are confident of seeing at least a 12-15 strong fleet, including of course the four J-Class entries who will be racing on their own dedicated course and with an extra day of racing on Wednesday 29 June.

And as in previous recent events the SYC offers owners, captains, and crews of modern high-performance superyachts the option of competing in a Performance Class, with a separate mass racing start and bespoke racecourse, taking advantage of the outstanding race management expertise provided by SYC’s long-term partner the Real Club Náutico de Palma. The iconic club is also acting as the event venue for a second year.

Kiboko Tres is another stunning superyacht taking part in 2022. Photo: Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy

The Performance Class is one of a trio of options alongside the long-standing Superyacht Class and the non-spinnaker Corinthian Class. Introduced in 2017, it allows SYC to offer something for everyone.

“There is a great energy emerging around this year’s event, and optimism” said SYC Event Director Kate Branagh. “The level of interest has been inspiring, new entries are coming in on a regular basis, and we are very excited to be able to welcome back and showcase the delights of our Preferred Hotel Partner, the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International.

“Mallorca is readying itself for the highlight of the Mediterranean superyachting season, and the boost in profile for our sport in Spain following the wonderful news that Barcelona is to host the America’s Cup in 2024 is absolutely great. The event is always a major draw for the world’s superyacht community!”

Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 will open with superyacht registration and the captain’s briefing and Welcome Cocktail presented by Destination New Zealand and DYT Yacht Transport on Wednesday 29 June, followed by three days of racing concluding on Saturday 2 July.

Find out more at the Superyacht Cup, Palma website

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The post Superyacht Cup Palma: Fleet of Js set to race appeared first on Yachting World.

With less than a month to go to the start of the landmark 25th anniversary Superyacht Cup Palma, final preparations are falling in to place to for the 2021 event.

The celebration of Europe’s longest running superyacht regatta from June 23-26 has been carefully planned to adapt to local pandemic restrictions in Mallorca.

The new-look event’s primary focus will be on the action out on the Bay of Palma where a fleet including many of the world’s most spectacular superyachts – some regulars and some new – will enjoy competitive, safe, and fun racing.

Photo: Sailing Energy

Ashore, the centre of the Superyacht Cup operation has moved to the world-famous Real Club Náutico de Palma in the heart of the city. The increased involvement of the RCNP – SYC’s long-standing race management collaborator – will allow flexibility with social events should pandemic restrictions be eased or lifted.

In any case the prestigious club will provide an elegant and historic setting for SYC’s unique trademark brand of fun and informal gatherings.

“Superyacht Cup Palma has always put people first on and off the water, and never more so than at this anniversary event,” said SYC Event Director Kate Branagh.

Photo: Sailing Energy

“The success of Superyacht Cup Palma over the past 25 years is in large part down to our ability to react and respond to circumstances and the changing requirements of the superyacht community, including owners, captains, crews and our commercial partners, and we have had to pull out all the stops this year!

“We are confident 2021 will be a safe, enjoyable and above all stimulating return to competitive yacht racing.”

The latest addition to the entry list is the elegant 46m Scorpione – last seen at SYC in 2018 – who will join another returnee the 34m Nilaya, who came second in Class A in 2019 to overall SYC winner Win Win, with both flying the flag for Baltic Yachts, a friend of the Superyacht Cup.

Photo: Sailing Energy

Also making a welcome return to Palma are the awesome 47m Perini Navi creation Aquarius – currently the largest entry – the sleek 34m sloop Baiurdo VI, the stylish and powerful 46m Ganesha, and the elegant, low profile 33m Missy.

Set to join them are a trio of first timers comprising the 35m Frers-designed Shamanna and Swan 80 Umiko – both from the iconic Nautor stable – and the 43m Ravenger (ex-Sea Eagle) from Royal Huisman.

“Superyacht Cup Palma’s reputation for superb sailing and a great atmosphere is well known, and it’s wonderful that Ravenger will be taking part this year,” said her captain Lars Klische.

“It has been on the must-do list for a while and the fact this is a big anniversary year makes it a particularly special occasion. We can’t wait to join the fleet out there.”

Alongside returning superyachts SYC is also grateful for the continuing support of its many commercial partners, friends and suppliers including Destination Partner New Zealand and an array of Silver Partners comprising Southern Spars, Rondal, RSB Rigging, Marinepool, Vitters Shipyard, Evolution Sails, North Sails, Pantaenius Yacht Insurance and Astilleros de Mallorca, the latter two now entering their third decade of support.

Racing will begin on Thursday 24 June with the Pantaenius Race Day, all going well blessed by the Bay of Palma’s reliable sea breeze, with the action continuing with the New Zealand Race Day on Friday. The final results will be decided on Saturday 26 June, with the prize-giving to follow at the Real Club Náutico de Palma.

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The post All set to celebrate 25 years of Superyacht Cup Palma appeared first on Yachting World.

From the towering masts of the 52m schooner Meteor to the carbon bladed racing Baltic 108 WinWin to the fabulous J Class, the 13 yachts taking part this week in the Superyacht Cup in Palma illustrate the extraordinary diversity of superyacht racing.

Big boat racing has become more serious and polished as crews push some of the world’s purest pleasure machines to their maximum. It is not only a fantastic spectacle in Palma Bay, it is also a demonstration of some finely honed skills, no less than one would see in the most elite areas of the sport.

Watch the video edit here >

The fleet is studded with talent from former Volvo sailor to ex America’s Cup crews. This is a realm in which wide experience, especially on maxis and big boats, really counts. Many of these race crews have been together for decades.

Dutch sailor Bouwe Bekking, who has raced in no less than eight Volvo Ocean Races, is helmsman on the 34m Baltic 112 Nilaya. He and a regular race crew are intent on sailing the boat to her optimum, and he is adamant that the skills are little different to any other top race

“The only thing different is that these boats are heavier, you sail with way more crew and of course some things don’t go so fast. Otherwise you race as hard as any other boat. And I think that’s the attitude you have to have,” he says.

“They say you earn your trophies during the training and in the racing you pick them up. In big boats you have to train a lot and go for the manoeuvres and do them a lot of times. That’s where you make gains.

“A Volvo Ocean Race boat is maybe more agile because it’s lighter but the racing is the same. It’s still people management and communications that are important.

“On the big boats, I have a comms system, the bowman had a comms system and two people in the pit. I have to be sure when I ask for something that the message is getting back to everyone.”

Nilaya has two big rivals in her class: the always well sailed Baltic 105 WinWin, and Wally 107 Open Season. WinWin won today and looks set to triumph in her class for the third year running.

On board is British navigator Mike Broughton. Ask him what the differences are between superyacht racing and any other kind and you get a similar answer to Bekking’s.

“Absolutely nothing,” he says.

“I am spared a bit more time to concentrate on the refinements of data. If you’re on the rail of a Fast 40, you’ve got a lot of things going on.

“You’re thinking: are we losing guage? Does the bearing and the course over the ground match? Is the wind shifting in a tack? I’ve got a little bit more capacity to work on things.

“But the real answer is nothing – in a dinghy or a superyacht. Just on a superyacht you have a few more toys.”

Working as a team

But there are some key differences, ones that might actually make this style of racing more challenging, in a few different ways. For one thing, race crews are joining the permanent crew, and owners’ friends and family. To race well, they all have to gel, and work effectively as a team.

“We have six permanent crew, and the owner has seven or eight friends,” says Bekking.

“I have been sailing with [the owner] since his Swan 56, 18 years ago. One of his friends is helping with the spinnaker, another helping upwind, one is number three on the foredeck, so they all have jobs, and they enjoy themselves; they are all good sailors. And it’s their holiday.

“That’s the really important thing you have to find the balance of. It’s always nice to integrate people who are maybe not professional sailors into the crew. For myself as well as the owner: make it a good team.”

The sheer numbers of people on board these large yachts make communication important, and equipment, protocols and practice are vital.

Nowhere is this more so than on the J Class yachts. These empresses of the race course are superb sights, elegant and refined, but beneath the picture perfect image are yachts that top helmsman Peter Holmberg describes as “beasts”.

Holmberg is steering Topaz, the new J Class built to a 1935 Frank Paine design and launched in 2015. She is one of two in this year’s Superyacht Cup, the other being the superbly raced Velsheda, considered by aficionados to be a benchmark in the class.

“There’s 30 crew so you have to orchestrate carefully to do every manoeuvre,” explains Holmberg.

“The boat is a traditional, full keeled, hung rudder boat that has very limited feel to it so just getting all the bits right – the timing, the orchestration, the decision – and then sail the boat to its peak potential is one of the hardest possible boats to do that.”

The mighty J Class

When Holmberg got the call to steer Topaz, he thought about the experience he could bring to bear in this most famous but idiosyncratic class.

“The foremost thing is how difficult it is, and that’s what we enjoy about it. It is such a difficult machine to sail safely, and then to reach its full potential. We love that challenge of how to figure out how to make it go fast,” he says.

“Figuring out how to manoeuvre this thing properly, accurately, is the ultimate challenge.

“They act so slowly. The response time of a turn on the wheel, you’ve just got to guess where the boat’s going to turn. You have a sense of what you can do, so when I try to miss them or round a mark I’m really guessing and trying to accurately predict how this beast is going to behave. It’s like dogfighting in 747s.

“But we put it right in there, we’re metres apart in these big things.”

He also emphasises the importance of communication – radio loops are a must on yachts of this size.

“In the big boat world communication is so important, and on this boat it is twice as important. I have a speed loop and a manoeuvre loop that I switch between and so the speed guys are always talking to themselves and I’m 99% there, but on any manoeuvre I switch over with the bow team and mast team. I tell them what I’m doing so they know what’s coming next,” he explains.

But the beauty of superyacht racing is, as any bystander can see, the impressive scale, polish and elegance of so many of these yachts. The J Class are perhaps the epitome, turning heads wherever they go.

“There’s the racing, and then there’s the nostalgia,” says Holmberg.

“Today’s world is moving too fast. So every chance I have to sail and do something that has true sailing skills, and the history of our sport, it’s incredible.

“Interestingly,” he adds, “all my mates…. You know all these high performance boats we race? This is still our top boat. It’s the joy of racing this beautiful machine of the past and doing it right.

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Palma Bay witnessed the superlative sight today of seven classic and replica schooners gathering, together with one Fife gaff cutter, for an exhibition sail, that resembled a friendly match. Glorious sunny weather and a sea breeze of 12-15 knots set this extraordinary fleet off to perfection.

Biggest ever ‘Big Class’ schooner gathering at Superyacht Cup in Palma

Even at classic regattas, such a fine selection of large schooners is seldom seem, not least because some of these yachts have never raced before. Germania Nova, a replica of the 1908 classic Germania, was one such. They assembled for a special spectacle to preface the 20th anniversary of the Superyacht Cup.

The first finisher of the match, if you can call it this, was the extremely well-sailed Mariette, an original Herreshoff design which celebrated her centenary last year. This is the yacht that the late Tom Perkins restored back in the 1990s using original drawings from the MIT library, and which has been looked after handsomely for many years by her current owner and captain Charlie Wroe.

Mariette‘s smaller ‘sistership’, the recently restored Francis Sweisguth designed Kelpie of Falmouth, which was originally built in 1929, was also taking part.

So, too, was Naema, a 137-footer inspired by a 1937 Alfred Mylne design and built and launched by Hodgdon Yachts in 2013, Shenandoah, the 178ft three-masted schooner, the huge 180ft Elena, a replica Herreshoff design, and Eleonora, the 162ft replica of 1910 Herreshoff’s design Westward, built in 2002.

The odd one out, if you could really call her that, was Moonbeam. Although clearly an eligible member of the ‘big class’, this 115ft William Fife design from 1914 is a gaff cutter and has been a well-known sight at classic yacht regattas.

Here is a short video that captures a little of the magic of this fantastic fleet under sail.

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A building sea breeze gave the 21-strong fleet of yachts in the annual Superyacht Cup perfect racing conditions today in Palma. The race today was over a 25-mile course and featured a staggered start to condense finishing times into a spectacle procession of some of the world’s finest and most immaculately maintained sailing superyachts.

The fleet ranges from the 24m Truly Classic Heartbeat to the mighty new 60m Perini Navi Perseus^3, whose carbon rig towers over her competitors. She now famously boasts the world’s largest sail, a massive 2,600 square metre A2 spinnaker, built by Doyle.

In between is a great array of yachts in every style, from neo-classics such as the 55m Hoek Design ketch Marie to more outright performance sloops such as the Wally Cento Open Season, the sublime-looking new 33m Baltic Yachts WinWin and Inoui, a bright green Briand-designed sloop that has become a regatta regular.

In winds that built steadily to 16-17 knots through the afternoon, the fleet enjoyed a final run and beat to the finish that saw victories in the three classes for Marie, with America’s Cup veteran Tony Rey aboard calling tactics, the superbly well-sailed 45m Baltic Yachts Visione, and Inouï.

Clive Walker, captain of WinWin enthused: “I’ll tell you what, with the building breeze all day and excitement escalating throughout the whole race it was pretty spectacular and the second upwind leg we had probably nine superyachts all lined up, heading at a similar speed, just charging, charging, charging towards the shore.”

Below are some photos of the action today by Claire Matches.

The beautiful Spirit Yachts 100 Gaia

Chasing hard: Southern Winds 94 Kiboko

The 24m Wally Tilakkhana working her way up the first beat

The glorious sight of the 55m Hoek Design ketch Marie at a mark rounding

Crew on the rail of the Briand-designed Perini Navi sloop P2

The indomitable and very hard raced Visione, which won her class today

The 33m carbon composite Briand-designed sloop Inouï

Another view of Wally Yachts Tilakkhan

A tight reach on board the 27m Frers design Odin

Ready for the hoist on the 46m Dubois design Ganesha

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Hanuman proved that Friday’s third race and false start was just a minor glitch in an otherwise dominating string of races (seven wins from the last eight J-Class races in Palma and St Barths). Although Lionheart and Ranger led on points and could have challenged her for an overall win in Saturday’s final race, the Puma boys showed their skills and just how quick this recently optimized boat is, taking the race and J-Class win.

(Hanuman’s owner Jim Clark gives the thumbs up after winning the J-Class. Photo by Ian Roman)

And it was a cracking day for the 15 ‘normal’ superyachts too, split into two classes. P2 has been a model of consistency this week, and took home the Yachting World starters prize last night for the best starts of the regatta (5 seconds and under – impressive for staggered starts). The performance Perini enjoyed a close duel with Salperton and Rebecca in Class 1 – a perfect layline call on the final gybe helping them to achieve line honours over Barry Houghton’s 45m Dubois sloop. The dazzling blue Frers designed and Pendennis built ketch Rebecca had her best day yet under the expert guidance of helmsman Stan Pearson, leading the fleet for much of the race and it was a treat to see her back in European waters.
The wind was up and down, strong at the start but dropping down and averaging out at 14 knots from the south. Once times were corrected out however it was Highland Breeze with her second race who were Class 1 victors ahead of Salperton and Rebecca.

In Class 2, the stunning Classen built Heartbeat, one of six Hoek designs and one of two Truly Classic 78s (along with Drumfire) racing, carried the overall lead going into the final race. And although Maria Cattiva used her superior (40m) length to make it around the seven leg course the quickest, once the time correction handicaps had been applied, using live wind data feedback from each leg (for the first time at a superyacht regatta), it was Heartbeat that took the win. Together with her consistency of a second and a third, this was enough for the popular crew on Heartbeat to take the class and overall regatta win from Maria Cattiva.

(Heartbeat crew: Photo by Clare Matches)

Determined not to be trapped in again by her fellow Js meanwhile, Hanuman kept well to the pin end of the starting area, and were only just finishing hoisting their foresail as they squeezed inside the mark on the gun – a trick helm Ken Read used apparently to confuse his opponents. Lionheart and Ranger were alongside to windward, but the former got trapped, had to eat Ranger’s dirty air and fell off behind Hanuman’s stern, from where Ranger were able to keep a cover on them and their race became a battle for 4th with HJB built Rainbow.

(A sight to behold: five Js on the start with Velsheda to windward and Hanuman sneaking in at the pin end. Photo by Ian Roman)

The only original J competing, Velsheda, had a flyer, the most spectacular start of the week, crossing the line at full pelt right as the hooter sounded. Yet despite sailing their best race this week, they could still only watch Hanuman slip higher and faster away. A perfect one-tack layline call also helped the Royal Huisman built Hanuman win the crucial fight to the first windward mark, and after that they would never be challenged.
Despite Brad Butterworth joining Ranger for the final race, their consistent racing and third place was how they finished up overall on countback to second placed Lionheart, who have once again looked impressive and fast despite being the only other J alongside Velsheda to be owner-driven.

With a mass of sunburnt smiling faces present, the prize giving dinner was held last night at the spectacular old town setting of the Es Baluard Museum.

Full results and more at www.thesuperyachtcup.com

(Opening aerial picture of Heartbeat courtesy of Ingrid Abery)

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Palma, Mallorca 25 June 2012 – A jubilant owner and crew of the 40m Royal Huisman Maria Cattiva
celebrated winning the overall Superyacht Cup Palma 2012 as the event
drew to a close over the weekend. In 2^nd place came Atalante followed by Highland Breeze in 3^rd.

Taking the stage at the prize giving ceremony on Saturday evening, the owner and crew of Maria Cattiva
owner were awarded the coveted ‘Big Ben Cleat’ and thanked their fellow
competitors for a fantastic week promising to return next year to
defend their title. The yacht was also presented with a beautiful hand
crafted 3D nautical chart of Mallorca supplied by event sponsor Latitude
Kinsale.

The final race of the event on Saturday was delayed
to a complete shift in wind direction from a northerly to southerly
direction. The fleet finally crossed the line as the staggered start
sequence commended just before 1400. Both classes headed upwind to the
first mark in the center of the bay, after which the faster boats in
Class 1 also had to complete an extra reaching leg before rejoining the
Class 2 fleet on the final downwind leg to the finish.

The breeze peaked at 17 knots but remained consistent at around 12-14 knots. It was regatta winner Maria Cattiva that held their position to cross the line first followed by Atalante and Highland Breeze flying their prominent GAASTRA spinnaker.

David Glenn, Editor of Yachting World magazine was also sailing aboard This is Us finishing 3^rd in class and 6^th overall for the regatta;

“Despite an understandably smaller fleet this year,
SYC Palma was as enjoyable as ever and blessed with near perfect
sailing conditions. Owners and crew warm to this regatta because the
conditions ashore and afloat are conducive to enjoyment for all. What I
was particularly keen to hear was owners expressing their desire not
only to return next year but in years to come, some with firm plans for
new and larger yachts.”

The event closed with the spectacular prize-giving
ceremony on the terrace of the Es Baluard Museum overlooking the bay of
Palma. The event also presented a cheque of €6,000 to the long running
event charity Joves Navegantes who are celebrating their 20^th
anniversary this year. Guests enjoyed a magnificent spread of local
food and live music as the sunset drew a close to the 2012 regatta.

For some, however, the racing season continues as
they prepare for the first Superyacht Cup Cowes due to take place from
22-25 July in the UK being held this year as a celebration of the London
2012 Olympics. Currently a 13-strong fleet are expected in Cowes
including the 62m Holland Jachtbouw Athos and the Dykstra/Pendennis 55m Adela, both competitors at the Palma Superyacht Cup 2011.  HRH
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will also be visiting Cowes on 25 July
with a planned parade of sail by the Superyacht Cup fleet.

Overall Results

Overall Winner

1^st Maria Cattiva

2^nd Atalante

3^rd Highland Breeze

Winner Class 1 – Highland Breeze

Winner Class 2 – Maria Cattiva

Yachting World Performance (best starts) – Ivanka

RCNP Seamanship Award – Saudade

Hoek Award – Atalante

Best Fancy Dress – Ivanka

For more information, visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com

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CLICK HERE to view a selection of images from the Superyacht Cup, Palma, courtesy of Ingrid Abery.

www.ingridabery.com

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This raw footage was shot onboard the yacht Saudade in Palma de Mallorca on the last day of the Superyacht Cup 2010 (click on video tab above).

Saudade was second across the line after P2. Sorry about the audio here – we did not have proper mic cover.

For more about the event, visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com.

Video

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There was the usual amount of grumbling about the ratings, apparently inevitable with such a wildly diverse fleet, and the competitive nature of owners and sailors – making poor Jim Teeters surely at once the most beloved and most hated man in the large yacht world. By the end of the day, however, after a good long race, the happy feel of the entire regatta resounded throughout the village with echoing Hurrahs, champagne cork gasps, back slaps and smacking kisses.

The results ended as they started, with Scorpione dei Mari gleefully sweeping in to a cumulative First in Cruising Class and a convincing win overall. Gorgeous Royal Huisman Gliss, always a strong performer, brought in second Place overall, and also a second in the Performance Class. Jongert Ithaka proved her Dutch creds by coming in third overall and second in Cruising Class.

Exemplifying the international nature of such events, the wins were rounded out with Alloy Irelanda sneaking into third Place in Cruising, while P2, Perini Navi’s lovely baby, of course ended up on the podium with a third in the Performance division.

Large yacht regattas are invariably sentimental and close-knit affairs, bringing together sailors from all over the world, some always sailing on the same teams, and many acting as hired guns, sharing their expertise on a different yacht each time, but the team spirit is part of the joy on every yacht.

It was the end of an era on Destination Fox H’br, as affable owner Ron Joyce, a veteran of many Superyacht Cups, Buckets and other races brought together his loyal crew for one final race, as his comfortable yacht will soon be handed over to a new owner. Also a bittersweet day for his brokers Annie Avery of N&J and Dubois’ James Troup, who announced that he is retiring from yachting after this race. They have successfully collaborated on several deals recently – proving that not all yacht brokers are ruthlessly selfish, and James’ wide smile will also be sorely missed.

Yet another yachting legend, the newly-named CBE Peter Harrison, owner of Sojana, honored his frequent team member, young Frenchwoman Alexia Barrier, to make Day Three of the Superyacht Cup on Sojana 4 My Planet Day, in recognition of her recent solo circumnavigation to raise environmental awareness – Bravo to both.

There was a whole lot of celebrating going on at the Prize Giving ceremony, held once again at the spectacular Es Baluard Museum, without a doubt one of the loveliest party venues anywhere. Scorpione dei Mari once again took up residence on the podium when they were awarded the Best Team Costume for their wacky Western-theme gear. Event Director Patrick Wetter did his usual excellent job of starting and finishing the awards ceremony quickly enough to allow the entire happy crowd plenty of time to celebrate together the end of yet another fantastic Superyacht Cup. The full moon shining on the huge group of race fans wildly dancing and singing to the tunes of the Red Sox perfectly rounded off another weekend to remember in Palma de Mallorca, where hospitality is warm, the sailing is hot, and the fun is unlimited.

For more, visit www.thesuperyachtcup.com

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This is what the Superyacht Cup Palma base should like in June when the regatta moves to its new location at the Muelle Viejo dock close to the cathedral and the old city centre known as La Lonja.
The Superyacht Cup Palma is due to run from 24-27 June and there are currently 14 yachts registered as provisional entries, including well known names like Windrose, Hyperion, Ganesha, the new 45m Wally Saudade, the new Perini Navi sloop P2, the refitted Sprit Yachts 100-footer Gaia and other top yachts. Check out the next issue of Supersail World (April) for full stories on Saudade and P2.
The event’s change of location will bring the regatta village closer to the popular hotels, restaurants and bars in Palma and the fabric of the dock should be an improvement on the commercial wharves which served their purpose for two years but were remote from the city and lacked atmosphere.
This year’s regatta will also use the Bucket Regatta rating system, perfected on the other side of the Atlantic by Jim Teeters at the St Barths and Newport Bucket regattas. “We are looking forward to close racing (the end of sandbagging) and far more course variations than in previous years,” said race director Patrick Whetter. “We will also offer an IRC Class should demand be sufficient,” he added.
The Superyacht Cup report that they have 22 berths available in the new location and that registration and the Notice of Race for the regatta are available online at www.thesuperyachtcup.com

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A new location in the heart of Palma, introduction of the Bucket Rating system, better dock facilities and a change to the prize-giving format are just some of the improvements proposed for this year’s Superyacht Cup in Palma, Mallorca from 24-27 June.

Following support from the local Government and Port Authorities, the Superyacht Cup has been granted permission to use the centrally located Muelle Viejo dock for the four-day event. The yachts will be moored adjacent to the historic ‘La Lonja’ area of the City, directly opposite the spectacular Cathedral and the glamorous shopping streets of the Borne and Jaime III as well as excellent restaurants and hotels. The Muelle Viejo is a 10-minute drive from the airport.

The SYC dock area will accommodate around 22 yachts (depending on beam) and a shaded bar and entertainment area will create an informal atmosphere for the yacht owners, sponsors, guests and crew to relax and enjoy the surroundings each afternoon after the racing. The opening cocktail party and final prize-giving evening will be held in nearby historic buildings with views of the harbour, yachts and City of Palma.
Another popular change for the racing format will be the adoption of the Bucket Rating system. The system was used very successfully at the recent Superyacht Cup Antigua and heralded a major step forward, creating the closest finishes in 14 years of Superyacht Cup racing. Developed by Jim Teeters and used at the St Barth’s and Newport Bucket regattas for the past few years, the system is constantly being improved and developed to allow for the many factors influencing accurate ratings.

There will, subject to sufficient demand, also be an IRC class. The two classes will offer owners the choice of two of the most popular and successful rating systems for superyachts and produce the fairest and most exciting racing for everyone. Both classes will be able to benefit from more technical race courses, which can be set according to weather conditions.

The Superyacht Cup is pleased to welcome the return of its sponsors including (to date) Main Partners Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Gold level sponsors Camper and Nicholson’s International and Slam, as well Official level sponsors Astilleros de Mallorca, The Rolling Stock Group, Holland Jachtbouw, North Sails, Ship Equip, Reckmann, Dohle, Atollvic, Pantaenius, Pendennis and Claasen Jachtbouw.
For the list of provisional entries, entry forms and the notice of race please visit our website: www.thesuperyachtcup.com

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The organisers of The Superyacht Cup regattas in Antigua and Palma have joined forces with the organisers of the St Barths and Newport Bucket Regattas to adopt the ‘Bucket Rating’ system. The system was developed by Jim Teeters, Associate Offshore Director at US Sailing, and has been refined by Bucket Regattas over the last six years, creating an accurate and transparent system for rating superyachts of all designs and sizes.

Hank Halsted, Bucket Race Committee Chairman, has welcomed the move. “It is a great opportunity to bring the four regattas together on the same standard for pursuit racing, streamlining the application process and bringing parity to the regatta results,” he said. “With nearly a hundred superyachts in the system, the Bucket Rule has truly hit its’ stride.”

The goal of the Bucket Rating system is to provide starting times for each yacht that result in the entire fleet converging on the finish line at the same time, and do this for a variety of courses in any wind speed. The Bucket Rating process is simple, only requiring measurements for length, weight, draft, ballast, rig and sail characteristics. From this, the yachts’ VPP (Velocity Prediction Programme) is calculated and combined with some ‘Observed Performance’ adjustments to produce a combination of technical capability and real sailing performance.
This system has been modified over the years and proved itself with the results of the 2008 St. Barths Bucket where the first 10 of 26 boats finished within 150 seconds in a two hour race, with many of them overlapping.

“The Bucket Rating system has shown over the past few years to provide one of the fairest and most accurate ways of rating different style and size superyachts over a varied race course” commented Superyacht Cup Event Director, Patrick Whetter. “We want our events to continue to be fun regattas, where owners are familiar and confident with the rating system. By adopting the Bucket Rating we can bring the Superyacht Cup Palma and Antigua, and St Barths and Newport Buckets, closer together to help build the data and continually improve the system. We know how competitive everyone gets out on the water and we believe this system is the best possible option for fun, safe, fair and competitive superyacht racing.”

The next Superyacht Cup Antigua, December 9th – 12th 2008, will use the Bucket Rating for all classes, whereas the Superyacht Cup Palma will consider an IRC class in addition should there be sufficient demand.
For more information and the Notice of Race for The Superyacht Cup Antigua visit: www.thesuperyachtcup.com

Superyacht Regatta Calendar

2008
The Superyacht Cup Antigua, Dec 9-12, 2008
2009
St Barths Bucket, March 26-29th
The Superyacht Cup Palma, June 24-27th
Newport Bucket, July 17-19th
The Superyacht Cup Antigua, Dec 8-11th (tbc)

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Superyacht Cup officials told Yachting World at the Monaco Yacht Show today that four J Class yachts, including Jim Clark’s new Huisman-built Hanuman, have communicated their intention to participate in the June 24-27, 2009 event in Palma Majorca.

This is a major coup for the regatta which has moved location within the Port of Palma and settled on new dates at the end of the month.

The four yachts are Ranger, Velsheda, Shamrock V and the aforementioned Hanuman which is a modern version of T.O.M. Sopwith’s Endeavour 11 from 1937. She is about to launch at Royal Huisman in The Nertherlands and will undergo trials in the New Year. It will be her first opportunity to race against other Js, the handicap system for which is now managed by the Wolfson unit at Southampton University.

Shamrock V, the wooden hulled J, is now back in the racing fold and although she is one of the shortest Js at about 119ft loa the handicap system should provide her with a chance of honours.

The only other threat to this mouth-watering get together is the possible sale of Ranger which is currently on the market for about Euros 18 million. However, with the yacht’s new found performance edge and a number of new Js about to join the fray, it is thought that her owner John Williams is unsure about disposing of her. Watch this space?

The Superyacht Cup are reported to have at least 10 entries for next June’s event and there are eight or nine entries for the Superyacht Cup Regatta in Antigua (9-12 December) which has attracted Perini’s new P2, which has America’s Cup helmsman Peter Holmberg in the afterguard and possibly Albert Bull’s new Tripp designed Wally 148 Saudade.

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For the first time in its 12 year history The Superyacht Cup Ulysse Nardin, currently underway in Palma, offered an IRC rated fleet start for the performance division of the regatta with John Williams’ J Class Ranger pulling off a convincing corrected time win over the 28m Wally, Open Season and the Royal Huisman built 32m sloop Gliss.

When 52 yachts turned up in Palma just ahead of the America’s Cup match in Valencia last year there was hope that perhaps half that number could be attracted back for 2008, but with no Cup and a competing event in Sardinia in a week’s time, numbers have been diluted.

Nevertheless 11 yachts including Mari Cha 1V, now named Senso One, and Hyperion enjoyed a sparkling opening day’s racing in Palma Bay. GWM Racing, the newly appointed race organisers, divided the fleet for a classic pursuit start and the aforementioned IRC start, sending the yachts on a 23-mile triangular course in the Bay of Palma.

The Judel Vrolijk designed sloop Anny which proved herself a dab hand at the pursuit event last year, again came good to win her class from Hyperion whose afterguard includes Harold Cudmore and a team of top sailors from Cowes, and Ganesha the 39m Dubois/Fitzroy sloop.

Your author enjoyed a day aboard the smallest yacht in the fleet, Simon Lambert’s Marten Yachts-built, Judel Vrolijk-designed 80-footer Nimrod and while we brought up the rear on the water in the IRC fleet we managed a corrected time win over Scorpione dei Mari. The picture shows Simon Lambert weaving his way through the fleet on an interestingly crowded start line!

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It was one of those days when the sea breeze seemed to be effecting the front of the boat while the land breeze played havoc with everything aft of amidships – day two of the Superyacht Cup Ulysse Nardin in Palma, sponsored by Astilleros de Mallorca, started with a blast of a fetch, was turned upside down as the sea breeze fought a north easter, and finished with a classic beat in ‘billiard table’ sailing conditions.

Aboard Charles Dunstone’s 35m Hamilton 11 it would have been easy to put down our 4th place to a stroke or two of luck but some canny sailing brought us through one of the most extraordinary melees I have ever seen at a race mark. Afterall with the likes of Peter Morton, David Bedford, Neil ‘Strapper’ Mackley, Sir Keith Mills (pictured right) and the yacht’s designer Philippe Briand aboard we really had to be in with a shout!
Looking good after a blast of a fetch to the first mark, during which we picked off a number of yachts, things took a nasty turn for the worse as the land and sea breezes started to cancel each other out.

We could only look on as Timoneer, skippered by Cup specialist Phil Wade and Eleonora, with the likes of Tom Perry and Jason Beaver masterminding their comeback, powered past us to the right, followed by the J Class Velsheda. To seaward another group, including the mighty Maltese Falcon, tried their luck, in vain as it turned out, looking for the new sea breeze. Our tactician Peter Morton and race skipper David Bedford kept their nerve as we meandered down the middle and eventually picked up the land breeze which we managed to hold right to the aforementioned mark.

A crucially timed gybe and neat A sail drop brought Hamilton into the right side of the mark which by now had become a parking lot for almost half the fleet. We threaded the needle between Timoneer, now looking dead in the water, and Borkumriff 1V, somehow avoiding her vast wind shadow, and turned inside Harold Cudmore aboard Hyperion before virtually taking the paint off the stern of a Wally as we executed our exit strategy.

Yachts were coming into the mark under almost every sail configuration, pointing in all directions and generally making the Bay of Palma look like a bad day in mid-Solent during Cowes Week. How collisions were avoided I’ll never know but it was a fantastic spectacle for competitors and spectators (also in the middle of it all) alike.
The smiles aboard Hamilton broadened measurably as we maintained our momentum and wriggled out of the mass in third place on the water behind Arrayan, whose Olympic crew had pulled out a massive lead. Kokomo of London had also done very well to get round the mark clear ahead.

We set off on a great beat to the finish but could do nothing as Hasso Platner’s mighty Visione (147ft) powered past us to windward looking a real treat. Interestingly both Visione and Hamilton were sporting the same retro-fitted Future Fibres PBO rigging and America’s Cup style inflatable ‘air’ battens in their blade jibs, features becoming increasingly popular in the superyacht fleet. Visione also managed to pick off Kokomo of London, right on the line, while we managed to hold off Hyperion.

It was a job well done and I wondered whether Sir Keith Mills, aboard prior to being in Valencia for another important event this week end, was eyeing up some of the afterguard, to say nothing of the foredeck ‘union’ who had done sterling work up front on a very varied but enjoyable day!
 

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