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The Superyacht Cup Palma 2024 is all set for lift-off

17 June 2024 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain -  With essential preparations completed, Superyacht Cup Palma is into the final countdown to another eagerly anticipated edition of Europe's longest running superyacht regatta.

The owners, captains and crews have now been able to review the class splits — which divide the fleet according to their ORCsy rating which takes into account each superyacht's special characteristics — and assess who is their immediate competition.

This year will see Superyacht Cup Palma's defending champion, the 24m Wally yacht Rose , likely to see some determined if friendly opposition to her retaining the title coming most immediately from her similar sized classmates — Umiko and Dark Horse from the Swan stable, and the brand-new Y Yacht Calabash .

"It was an amazing year for us in 2023 and really close and challenging — we only won the last deciding race by five seconds," said Rose’s tactician Jesper Radich .

"Looking at the immediate competition in our class, this year looks like it is going to be even more of a contest — we’re really looking forward to getting out there!"

Equally, however, the challenge may come from the second class where the Hoek Classic duo of Atalante and Vijonara , the Tripp designed Cervo , and the imposing 59m ketch Maximus will all be out to show that a long LOA and eye-catching looks do not rule out speed around the Bay of Palma racetrack.

Then there is the J-Class triumvirate comprising the former SYC overall trophy winner Velsheda , the always competitive Svea , and the newly refitted and revitalised Rainbow — J-KZ1 —which will be making her first racing outing in 10 years and no doubt out to make her mark.

"Superyacht Cup Palma has always delivered fun, fair and competitive racing, and 2024 is all set to deliver the magic once again," said Event Director Kate Branagh .

"We have some fantastic yachts, with their owners and crews already gathering here in Palma, and we look forward to formally welcoming old friends and new, and celebrating another festival of sail."

Adding to the atmosphere will be the striking schooner Borkumriff IV , which will be in attendance though not competing, and the impressive Vandal Marine built Explorer , with the 14m all-aluminium foil-assisted catamaran operating as SYC's media boat during Friday's racing.

Racing gets underway on Wednesday 19 June with the J-Class yachts getting the ball rolling with windward-leeward races. The following day sees the whole fleet out on the water for the first of three days of racing. Superyacht Cup Palma concludes on Saturday 22 June with the prize-giving at the prestigious Real Club Náutico de Palma, SYC's long-standing race management partner and event host.

Who will take the top spot on the podium at that celebration remains to be seen.

Click here for the Sailing Instructions and Class Splits.

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Superyacht Cup Palma 2024 all set for lift-off

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Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 Day #1

The battlelines have been drawn at Superyacht Cup Palma with the unveiling of the class divisions for the 2023 celebration of sail, with racing set to get underway on Thursday 22 June with the Pantaenius Race Day.

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With a carefully crafted victory in Saturday’s final 25 nautical mile coastal race, the Swedish flagged Svea won the J Class at The Superyacht Cup Palma.

Counting three race wins and a third, Svea won by three points. Highlighting just how close the racing was over the three days of competition on the Bay of Palma, Velsheda may have pipped the debuting Rainbow team, but it went to tie break.

It was soon after the downwind start that the Svea crew made their winning move. On the short initial downwind they were able to extend just enough to gybe in front of their two rivals and so lead around the leeward mark. With the wind averaging 10-13kts and peaking at a sporty 16kts just before the finish, Svea were able to control the race from that first turn and so clinch their third race win from four starts.

“The regatta turned out really close even if we had a nice win today,” Svea’s navigator Steve Hayles affirmed. “The downwind start today made it interesting. It all came down to a few metres and we just made the cross we needed to lead around the first mark and then we sailed a really strong race from there. But it was touch and go to start with.”

Led by Erle Williams with six times America’s Cup winner Murray Jones as tactician, Rainbow showed all of the potential expected of her. Three second places and a third, achieved with less than a week of sailing time together as a team, is a powerful message for the future.

Svea execute

Rainbow’s navigator Simon ‘SiFi’ Fisher loved his return to the J Class fray: “Well, they threw us a little curve ball with the downwind start! That made it quite exciting with all three boats lined up trying to get to the leeward mark first, but Svea executed best, they did a nice job of extending forwards so she could gybe and cross us and Velsheda. And they extended from there. But it is all pretty new to us, we had a few small issues on board but we got round the course in good shape and every day sailing for us is a big plus because this is our first week with the boat. Now to have a regatta under our belt with all the learning that has brought is a great achievement for the team so hats off to them.”

Velsheda 1, 2 on the coastal races

Second place overall for Velsheda is a timely confidence boost to the class’s most experienced crew and a reminder that if they can get in front off the start line they will be contenders at the J Class America’s Cup regatta in October.

Velsheda strategist Grant Simmer said, “Second overall is good after getting those two third places on these first two windward-leewards. Svea is fast and they are sailing well. Rainbow is going pretty fast but it’s the first time they have raced the boat. But all in all, it is looking good for Barcelona we are going to have a nice event.”

A good thing

Obviously it is very early days but the new ORCj VPP rule – utilised for the first time at this event – achieved high praise from all the teams, as did The Superyacht Cup race management on the water.

Hayles commented, “It was so nice to have the three Js racing around. We obviously want to build the class and have more boats. And this was a nice, solid start to a new rule. Everybody had their moment. No question about it. If you can get your nose in front, these are tough boats to sail past.”

And Rainbow’s Fisher concurs. “It has been a great fun regatta. It was a shame to lose yesterday (no racing no wind). We have had some great racing and it so special to see the Js out racing again. And whoever wins on the water wins the day. I think the class have good job of implementing this ORC rule and it is scientific, equal and fair for all the boats. Once there is some wind pressure, we are all quite even on rating and that reflects performance on the water. Hopefully it is a good thing.”

The Superyacht Cup Palma, J Class Race 4 Results:  (Coastal)

1 Svea elapsed time 2hrs 42mins 48secs 2 Velsheda +2 mins 40 secs 3 Rainbow +7 mins 31secs

Overall Results:  (after four races)

1 Svea 6pts 2 Velsheda 9pts 3 Rainbow 9pts

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First established in 1996, the Superyacht Cup Palma is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Organised by race officers and the team at Real Club Nautico de Palma, the annual Superyacht Cup Palma is held over five days in Mallorca . It provides a combination of competitive sailing and social events, where participants can relax and enjoy the casual on-dock atmosphere.

Taking place annually in June, the regatta always benefits from warm, early-summer conditions and reliable sea breezes. The Bay of Palma, in fact, offers some of the most idyllic racing conditions in the Mediterranean.

Over the years, the Superyacht Cup Palma has attracted more than 200 of the world's most prestigious sailing yachts , and the local government has long recognised the value it brings to the Balearic Islands . Promoting the facilities, infrastructure, beauty and diversity of the region, officials are keen to help develop the Spanish archipelago into one of the best charter destinations in the world.

Racing usually falls into two categories: superyachts and the J-Class. The main superyacht racing takes place over three days and yachts are usually divided into four classes. In 2018, a more relaxed Corinthian class was introduced to help attract first-timers and owners new to the regatta scene.

The fixture presents an ideal opportunity to undertake a regatta charter. Or, you may prefer to watch from the sidelines on a luxury charter yacht before exploring the island for the remainder of your vacation.

All the competing yachts gather at the Superyacht Cup Regatta Village at Muelle Viejo when not racing, while crews and owners head to cocktail parties, happy hours, barbecues, and other social events.

If you're interested in taking part in The Superyacht Cup Palma, or if you would like to add it into your itinerary, please contact your preferred  yacht charter broker .

Alternatively, view the entire fleet of superyachts available for Spain yacht charters . 

The Bay of Palma, in fact, offers some of the most idyllic racing conditions in the Mediterranean

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Superyacht Cup Palma: stunning fleet assemble

• Toby Heppell
• June 17, 2022

An eclectic mix of superyachts, which includes four J Class, should ensure a prize Superyacht Cup Palma, writes Toby Hodges

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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!

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.

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 Jun e

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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Prada’s Space-Age Bid for the Most Elusive Sporting Trophy in History

In pursuit of the America’s Cup, the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team is taking sailing out of the water—literally.

Only four countries have ever won sailing’s America’s Cup, the longest-running sporting competition in history. For more than 120 years, in fact, there were only two contenders—America and the United Kingdom—racing on average every four or five years. But the UK never won; it lost the very first race to the New York Yacht Club’s schooner the America in 1851. Sailing has come far since then.

For Patrizio Bertelli, Prada Group Chairman and himself a passionate sailor, it’s been a long road since the first Luna Rossa race team was announced in 1997. Five campaigns to challenge for the cup have seen Prada race off against the holders twice, most recently in 2021. But like the Brits, they have never won the “Auld Mug,” as the trophy is known. Now in his sixth campaign, Bertelli’s determination is undimmed.

“It’s the difficulty of winning it that makes the America’s Cup so fascinating,” he says. “It’s unique—a difficult, complex challenge. It involves building a group of highly specialized people coming from different fields, people capable of working together harmoniously for months with very intense rhythms. It’s a difficult mechanism to set up, but even more difficult to manage. It takes perseverance, determination. You can’t give up; you must keep trying.”

For almost all of its history, the America’s Cup was, by its nature, closed off to the greater public. Races were generally held a good way from shore and were stately in pace, though not without their occasional upsets. But in 2012, everything changed with the debut of foiling. Foiling is the use of advanced physics to allow keelless sailboats to fly on carbon-fiber foils above the waves. How’s that? Think of a sailboat as a vertical airplane wing. Wind over the sail creates thrust. But the water creates drag. Lots of drag. The foils, however (space-age hydraulically powered legs cocked alternately depending on the angle to the wind), create enough lift to raise the entire hull out of the water, reducing drag to a minimum. Speeds, of course, rise exponentially—if you can keep it up on the foils, that is. It’s a knife-edge balancing act that makes for very, very good TV.

“In Barcelona, as in the last edition of Auckland, with only the rudder and the side foils in the water, these flying boats are capable of sailing at more than fifty knots,” says Bertelli. “There are no more sail changes, the crew is composed of eight people, the races don’t last more than forty-five minutes, the tactics and strategy are transformed. A whole different world, but that’s the America’s Cup, the most advanced expression of this sport.”

For Max Sirena—a veteran Luna Rossa skipper who has raced in five previous Prada campaigns and is team director and skipper of this, his sixth—the process of harmonizing high-tech equipment with a human crew is a long and delicate process. “The boat is so complex and fragile at the same time,” he explains, “so you need to learn how to use it at its best. In terms of control, we are more advanced than with the last generation of boat. There is way more technology applied to the performance of the boat. We have a better idea on how best to use the boat. The biggest challenge is us. The main thing is to be prepared. The strength of the team really comes out during the down moments. When you win, it’s easy. I spend a lot of time to ensure the team remains strong when things aren’t going our way.”

Space age and transformative for sailing though foiling is, that didn’t prevent Miuccia Prada from following storied nautical tradition back in April and smashing a bottle of bubbly over the bows of the latest Luna Rossa AC75 boat—in this case, using Cantine Ferrari’s Maximum Blanc de Blancs. For fans of the famous Linea Rossa, the red stripe that has graced Prada sportswear since the first America’s Cup campaign, a small collection of technical gear as worn by the team on the water is available online now . This is no mere merch opportunity, however. In partnership with Woolmark, a body set up to protect and promote the use of fine-quality wool, the clothing is made using merino wool. It’s not perhaps the first thing you would associate with such a high-tech sport. But mindful of sustainability, Prada joined with Woolmark to exploit the natural breathability and performance capabilities of merino for wind- and waterproof sailing gear and jersey training clothes that look every bit as good on the street.

Back on the water, currently the America’s Cup boats are nudging fifty-five knots (or more than sixty mph) on a good day, though most sailors will tell you that it’s consistency, not top speeds, that wins races. Sailing at this level is increasingly likened to Formula 1 on water. And the fast new physics of foiling has coincided with huge advances in the media technology to cover it, a move that is bringing new interest from global audiences and luxury brands as sponsors, not least Louis Vuitton, which sponsored the qualifying round robins from the early 1990s until 2017. This year, after a brief hiatus, it’s back and this time it’s sponsoring the America’s Cup itself, too.

“I believe that today, thanks also to Luna Rossa and its six challenges, the fame and the draw of the America’s Cup have increased greatly, and holding it in Europe is certainly an added value,” says Bertelli. “This is why more and more luxury brands identify with it.”

Race days at Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s base, in the harbor of Barcelona, are a family thing. Support staff, friends, and kids gather en masse on the dock’s edge, decked out in the team’s iconic silver-gray gear, waving giant Italian flags and singing along with the Italian pop blasting out of the speakers as the team makes final preparations to Luna Rossa before slipping the lines and heading out to the waters of Barceloneta. While all the teams have their fan base, none, it seems, are louder or more emotional than Luna Rossa’s. You’d be forgiven for thinking this is an Italian-only affair. But while national pride is certainly at stake, building a viable team means drawing on expertise from all over the globe.

“We have nineteen nationalities amongst us,” says Bertelli. “It is unthinkable today to want to form a group with so many specializations and with such a high-level drawing only from a single country. In the regatta, however, they are all Italians except James Spithill, who is in his fourth campaign with Luna Rossa and therefore is truly one of us.” “Jiiimmmeee,” as the mainly Italian crowd hails the Australian co-helmsman of Luna Rossa, is as much of an Italian hero as Francesco “Cecco” Bruni, his Palermo-born counterpart.

In the Louis Vuitton Cup’s fleet races, held from late August, Luna Rossa soared out to a commanding lead on points before a late rally from veteran sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia pipped them. But still, they were through to the semis, which began over the weekend. If, as it appears, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli and INEOS Britannia face off in the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup, it will be a nail-biter. As we go to press, after today’s racing, the standings are 4–1 for both in their respective semis—the UK against Switzerland’s Alinghi Red Bull Racing, Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli against American Magic Team USA. Each front-runner has to win only one more race to go through to the final of the Louis Vuitton Cup in late September. The semifinals continue Wednesday. And each has ample reason to hope for a win.

For more info and how to view, go to americascup.com .

Nick Sullivan is Creative Director at Esquire, where he served as Fashion Director from 2004 until 2019. Prior to that, he relocated from London with his young family to Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. He has styled and art directed countless fashion and cover stories for both Esquire and Big Black Book ( which he helped found in 2006) in exotic,uncomfortable, and occasionally unfeasibly cold locations. He also writes extensively about men’s style, accessories, and watches. He describes his style as elegantly disheveled.

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Beadsworth Snatches Closing Seconds Race Win While Gilmour Consolidates Overall Lead On Day Four Of The Kinsale Dragon Gold Cup 2024

With four races down and two to go Australia’s match racing legend Peter Gilmour sailing JPN56 YRed continues to hold a narrow lead at the Kinsale Dragon Gold Cup 2024 supported by Astra Construction Ltd. Race four got underway after an initial general recall and a line reset in glorious sun and a squally north westerly that ranged from the mid-teens to the mid-twenties. It was a cracker of a race with the results only decided right on the line.

Peter Gilmour took an early lead but was then constantly pressed by Portugal’s Pedro Rebelo de Andrade in POR89 First Things First, Belgium’s Xavier Vanneste in BEL82 Herbie, Britain’s Andy Beadsworth sailing TUR56 Provezza, and defending Gold Cup Champion Lawrie Smith in GBR815 Alfie. As the boats approached the finish line Gilmour looked good, but the day still had surprises in store, as Andy Beadsworth’s tactician Simon Fry explains:

“We had a very good start at the starboard end with Gilly [Peter Gilmour] and Lawrie [Smith]. The Aussies [Grant Alderson] made gains out to the hard right and a couple of people made gains out to the left. Gilly went to the top left and we kind of played the middled and rounded the top mark fourth. Luckily, we were on the inside, it favoured the gybe set so we got the gybe in. Then us and Gilly got away a little bit, but Xavier [Vanneste] was on our hip. If I’m honest we could have done with sailing a little bit lower and attacking Pedro [Rebelo de Andrade], but Xavier was thinking he would attack us. So Gilly escaped to about a 60m lead.

“We had a good second beat, closed in on Gilly, we both gybed and we beat him to the gybe back. We decided right gate, he went left. Coming away from the bottom mark, it was a small lefty, so we were straight back onto port and rotated inside Gilly. It became clear Gilly was a little bit exposed and we were worried about Pedro and the Aussies. Luckily Gilly dragged it back into the middle, because I think he was worried about Pedro, so it became a little bit of a shepherding job. Approaching the line a right came in and we were lucky enough to be on the right layline under Gilly and it was thanks very much and have a Guiness!” – Simon Fry, TUR12 Provezza.

As they came across the finish line Beadsworth narrowly pipped Gilmour for race victory with Alderson third, Andrade fourth, Vanneste fifth and Smith sixth.

In the overall standings Peter Gilmour has increased his lead over Lawrie Smith to six points. Today’s race win jumps Andy Beadsworth up into third, but tied on points with Michael Zankel who drops from third to fourth, while Pedro Andrade remains fifth.

In the Corinthian Division Spain’s newest Dragon team, ESP9 helmed by Javier Chacartegui, had a superb day to lead the Corinthians home and take eleventh overall. Jono Brown’s GBR753 Fit Chick was second with Dublin’s Neil Hegarty aboard IRL225 Phantom third.

After racing ESP9 crew member Leonardo Armas talked about his first Gold Cup experience – “We did it, we had a good race. A little bit windy, but we had a lot of fun. It’s our first Gold Cup and our first regatta in the Dragon Class. It was so hard because the wind was so strong, but I think we are improving a lot. We are trying to learn as much as possible, and we are sure that in the next regatta we will do it much better than this one. We’re looking forward to taking part in the Palma winter series, and our next big target is the Vilamoura Worlds next year.”

Also taking part in his first Gold Cup is Grant Alderson “This is my first Gold Cup. I’ve done a couple of local regattas at home, but nothing overseas. Today was interesting, we were able to just get off the line cleanly, play the shifts, play the compass and were able to be in the top bunch the whole way round the race.” His crew Emma Shand added, “We got lucky in some of the shifts. What’s wonderful about the Dragons is that the places change quite often within the fleet and that’s what keeps it interesting for the fleet and spectators, but we were really pleased with the result today.”

The Corinthian racing was somewhat marred by two of the teams being caught up in an incident at the first mark. Cameron Good’s IRL211 Little Fella and Colm Dunne’s IRL181 Ghost were on the starboard layline when another boat attempted but failed to force its way in on port. Dunne had no option but to take avoiding action and, in the process, caught Good’s backstay, bringing down the rig and leaving the two boats entangled. Both boats protested and requested redress, and each was given 10 points.

In the overall Corinthian standings Cameron Good has now moved into the lead ahead of Jono Brown with overnight leader James Matthews dropping down into third. Fortunately Good was well on the way to replacing his rig by the end of the day so he hopes to be back on the race course tomorrow.

One of the highlights of the Dragon Gold Cup is the Nations Cup team competition. After the first race the three top scoring boats from each nation are selected to represent their country. With four races completed the British Team of GBR402 Meteor (Peter Cooke), GBR815 Alfie (Lawrie Smith) and GBR610 Rackham (Mark Dicker) currently lead the Nations Cup by just nine points from Germany’s GER62 Desert Holly (Stephan Link), POR90 Easy (Michael Zankel) and GER1075 Grace (Hannes Hollander). In third place are the Netherlands team comprising NED309 Furie (Guus de Groot), NED393 Cobweb (Richard Blickman) and NED352 Hestia (Frank Van Beuningen).

There are a number of beautiful Classic Dragons racing this week, including the famous GBR192 Bluebottle, which was raced by the late Duke of Edinburgh. But perhaps the most interesting Classic Dragon on the water here in Kinsale is IRL45 Titan, which was built in 1969 by Borresens as DK450. Exactly fifty years ago this year she won the Dragon Gold Cup in Le Harve in the hands of legendary Dragon sailor Nick Truman. Gerry Owens brought her to Ireland in 1975, racing her regularly both at home and abroad for half a century, including winning the 1983 Irish National Championship. She underwent a partial refit in 2012 and was then purchased by her current owner Ben Cooke in August 2020 who undertook a major restoration, relaunching her in 2021. Sadly, Nick Truman passed away earlier this year, but we are certain that he would be proud to see Titan racing again in a Gold Cup half a century after his victory.

The conditions this week have been pretty extreme for a classic, but asked about how Titan’s regatta is going Ben said, “She’s staying mainly in one piece. We were pretty much last round the first mark today because we went the wrong way, and we got back up to the late 30s, so we count that as a success. Nothing broke, although it was pretty much on the limit for us, as we start to run out of boat stiffness at around 25 knots and she just bends, so the pumps get a workout. Owning a boat like Titan is a real honour and I like to think that her previous owners would be delighted to see her still competing on the international circuit.”

Two races remain to be sailed in the six-race series which concludes on Friday 13 September and with just 14 points separating the top five boats in this no discard series it’s still all to play for. The forecast for the penultimate day is for more potentially blustery north westerlies and sunshine, so the race committee has announced its intention to start race five at noon.

PROVISIONAL OVERALL TOP FIVE AFTER FOUR RACES

1st – JPN56 – Yred – Peter Gilmour – 7, 1, 4, 2 = 14 2nd – GBR815 – Alfie – Lawrie Smith – 4, 8, 2, 6 = 20 3rd – TUR12 – Provezza – Andy Beadsworth – 6, 13, 7, 1 = 27 4th – POR90 – Easy – Michael Zankel – 13, 3, 3, 8 = 27 5th – POR89 – First Things First – Pedro Rebelo de Andrade – 2, 21, 1, 4 – 28

PROVISIONAL CORINTHIAN TOP FIVE AFTER FOUR RACES

1st – IRL211 – Little Fella – Cameron Good – 20, 17, 18, 10(RDG) = 65 2nd – GBR753 – Fit Chick – Jono Brown – 37, 10, 11, 14 = 72 3rd – IRL219 – TBD – James Matthews – 26, 16, 5, 26 = 76 4th – NED309 – Furie – Guus de Groot – 10, 25, 25, 18 = 79 5th – GER1075 – Grace – Hannes Hollaender – 26, 9, 25, 29 = 89

FULL RESULTS

NATIONS CUP RESULTS

EVENT WEBSITE

All images copyright Yochi Yabe Photography

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Superyacht Cup Palma confirmed for 2021

Organisers of the Superyacht Cup Palma have confirmed that the 25th anniversary edition of the regatta will go ahead this year.

Racing will take place in the Bay of Palma from June 23-26 and will see the inclusion of a new Superyacht Performance Class on a separate course.

The new class will take place alongside the original Superyacht Class and non-spinnaker Corinthian Superyacht Class, which was first introduced in 2017.

Organisers said they had already received an “encouraging level of interest” from owners and skippers including yachts, such as the 46 metre Ganesha , 30 metre Magic Carpet3 and 40 metre Huckleberry .

“We had a great time at our first ever Superyacht Cup Palma and we have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to repeat the experience,” said Huckleberry captain Carlos Potier.

“This year the event will of course be a bit different, but the sailing weather is reliable and the racing out in Palma Bay is always outstanding, so we are counting the days to the start.”

Organisers have again teamed up with shoreside venue Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP), which will keep some berths free for visiting competitors.

Speaking about the regatta, SYC event director Kate Branagh said: “We know there is a yearning for competitive sailing after what has of course been a challenging time for everyone.

“By keeping the focus out on the water, we know we can meet all local pandemic restrictions, keep owners, skippers, crews and our partners safe, and deliver exciting superyacht racing on what will be our 25th anniversary at the home of Mediterranean superyacht sailing.”

It comes after the 2020 edition of the regatta was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic .

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