“Competitive yacht racing, a relaxed informal social programme and the perfect location for superyachts – it does not get any better!”

The Superyacht Cup is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe, a favourite with yacht owners, friends, captains and crew who visit Palma de Mallorca annually for the four day event. With warm early summer conditions and reliable sea breezes, the Bay of Palma offers some of the most idyllic racing conditions in the Mediterranean. The racing is run by the highly experienced international Race Officers and the team at Real Club Nautico de Palma. The participating superyachts are all moored together stern-to in the Superyacht Cup Regatta Village located at Muelle Viejo with the iconic Palma Cathedral and Palm tree lined Paseo Maritimo providing a stunning back-drop.

Two Winners already !

We already have two winners before the racing has even started!

Unfurled has been named as” Superyacht of the Year”, The Frers designed, 150ft sloop rigged performance cruiser is the first yacht built by Vitters Shipyard to a design by Germán Frèrs.
Unfurled has won both the World Superyacht Award in the Sailing Yacht 45metre and above category, as well as the 2016 Sailing Yacht of the Year award.

Another winner is Atalante, the Hoek designed Claasen beauty who has won the category 30 mtr – 39.99mtr. We look forward to seeing them both on the race course this month in Palma !

Three Class Act Schooners to Compete in Palma

For 20 years now, the beautiful bay of Palma has been setting the stage for a mouth-watering selection of mega yachts to participate in a gripping superyacht regatta like no other. Most years, the Superyacht Cup draws entries from 300 tonne giants to sleek and slippery speed machines, but this year, this 20^th ‘vintage’ edition we will also see a selection of the iconic ‘classic’ schooners which grace the racing circuit.

At 101 years old, the 41m two-masted schooner Mariette of 1915 id one of the three taking part. She was drawn up by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, the renowned designer responsible for a whole array of unbeatable America’s Cup defenders. Although this seasoned sail yacht was built 100 years ago, she not only remains in fine form, (premium partners Pendennis‘ refit facilities keep her in tip-top shape), but also still races at the top of her game. She scored premium slot at the 2012 Pendennis Cup, and additionally claimed a respectable third place in last year’s Transatlantic Race, ahead of all-carbon racers Rambler and Comanche, no less.

The stunning Mariette of 1915 will be up against one of our newest SYC additions: the 60m traditional gaff-rigged schooner Germania Nova. She was built as a true replica of the classic 1908 racing schooner Germania, using the same hull lines, deck- and sail-plans as designed by the acclaimed Max Oertz. The original Germania was built to kick stern and with a top speed of 19 knots, in one year alone, came first in more than half of the races in which she competed. For the new Germania this will be her very first outing on the race course. We already know she is on a par with her predecessor’s beauty and elegance…but will she also be able to match this record-breaker’s winning ways?

Completing this jaw-dropping scene will be the 42m schooner Naema, designed by Hodgdon Yachts and built by Graafship NL.

We will be out on the water each day taking photos and will include a report in next month’s issue of The Islander.