super yacht race

SUPERYACHT RACING ASSOCIATION

New Leadership for the SuperYacht Racing Association

Shirley Robertson OBE made history by becoming the first British woman to win Olympic Gold Medals at consecutive Olympic Games and has become one of the most recognisable faces in the sport of sailing.

“We are delighted to have Shirley assume the role of Manager of the SYRA, taking the lead of an organization that is essential to superyacht racing,” said SYRA Chairperson Kate Branagh. “The last decade saw many crucial areas addressed to enhance safe sailing and fair racing in this unique segment of sailboat racing. The SYRA’s priorities have shifted in recent years to fleet building, achieving more broad-based participation and expanding membership in the association, areas that Shirley will excel in.”

Learn more here.

2024 – Looking at a Happy New Year

Robust racing fleets are the goal.

Regatta organizers and the SYRA are planning and preparing for great superyacht racing in 2024 . We plan for a continued emphasis on fleet building in 2024 with the goal of getting back to pre-pandemic levels.

The ORC, with input from the SYRA, is putting the finishing touches on the 2024 ORCsy VPP. Continuous improvement to the superyacht handicap rule has always been the objective, with fair racing ultimately playing a most impactful role in keeping superyacht owners in the game. The specific areas that ORC addressed this year are found in the Fair Racing/ Handicapping section of the website .

There are five annual SYRA Sanctioned Superyacht Regattas on tap for 2024. The rumored America’s Cup superyacht event in Barcelona is expected to become a reality. We will provide details when and if the regatta is officially announced.

The 2024 SYRA Annual General Meeting will again take place in St Barths on the Wednesday evening just prior to the Bucket (20 March). For those participating in the Bucket, please plan to attend. The link to the 2023 AGM Minutes, Agenda and Exhibits is here:  Member Meetings .

Breaking news for members is that there will be a new SYRA manager by the time we get to the AGM!  Jeanne Kleene and I have been active with the association since 2011, working closely with SYRA founders Ed Dubois and Barry Houghton in the early years, and a dedicated group of individuals since. I am confident that the association is ready to embark on an exciting new chapter under new leadership. This presents a great opportunity to unite our efforts, celebrate past achievements, and work towards an ever brighter future for superyacht racing. Look for the announcement about your new manager in the coming weeks.

We are all very much looking forward to a successful 2024 superyacht racing season. Please feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions. We welcome your ideas on improving the entire superyacht racing experience and especially that for the yacht owners.

All the best, Peter Peter Craig Executive Director SuperYacht Racing Association [email protected] +1 781-639-9501 Skype: petercraig.pri

2024 SuperYacht Racing Association Annual General Meeting

Date: Wednesday, 20 March, 2024

Time: 1700 – 1815

Location: Gustavia St Barthélémy

As in previous years, the AGM will take place on the Wednesday evening prior to racing. The meeting is open to all SYRA members and prospective members. There will be an opportunity for attendees to catch up over a glass of wine or beer immediately following the meeting. Details, including the AGM agenda and exhibits, are here .

Read more on the SYRA News page

2024 Video Wrap

Antigua superyacht challenge wraps up, 2024 class winners decided, dazzling competition, run like smoke n’oakum, stan pearson, thrills and spills, hetairos wins the round antigua race, stan the man & the magnificent seven, strong interest for 2024.

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By SuperyachtNews 22 Sep 2023

Superyacht racing returns to New Zealand

The new zealand millennium cup announces a number of new entries set to join the 2024 edition….

One of the world's most iconic, and southern, superyacht sailing regattas is returning with new entrants in 2024. Brand new to the racing is 60 metre Perini Navi, Perseus^3, with race watchers excited to see her unique features - including the tallest carbon fibre mast built and extensive sail area - put to use on the Auckland race course.

“Perseus^3 was built to race specification and we’ve enjoyed building her reputation on the course across the world’s great superyacht regattas. With a race crew which has become known for its spirit and camaraderie, we’re looking forward to bringing Perseus^3 to New Zealand’s waters and letting her show her ability during the New Zealand Millennium Cup,” says Burger van der Walt, captain of Perseus^3.

It will join other early entries to the race including Royal Huisman’s Sassafras, the crew of which is competing after the regatta’s two-year hiatus.

“The team on Sassafras is excited at the prospect of racing in the New Zealand Millennium Cup after a two-year hiatus. The Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf offer a world-class sailing venue, with the backdrop of the City of Sails, home of the holder of the America’s Cup. We look forward to competing with visiting yachts and crews, to make the New Zealand Millennium Cup 2024 the best yet,” says Matt Lovett, captain of S/Y Sassafras.  

Joining the race for the first time will be a fleet of multihulls. With a resurgence of cruising activity in the South Pacific, and growing numbers of the superyacht fleet forecast to arrive in the next seasons, this multihull class is set to offer a new aspect to the regatta’s racing with strong interest from Kiwi owners.

The regatta will take place from 23 to 26 February 2024 and will be raced on Auckland’s waters for the first time since 2013. It will form part of 2024’s inaugural Moana Auckland Festival; a celebration of the integral role of the sea in Auckland’s cultural and economic life.

The entry form and notice of race are available online now at millenniumcup.com. The regatta is comprised of New Zealand Millennium Cup, Multihull, and Corinthian divisions, with the role of principal race officer filled by Harold Bennett.

Join the discussion

Superyachts racing returns to new zealand.

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The 52 SUPER SERIES

world’s leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit

The series in detail

The 52 SUPER SERIES was established in 2012 and quickly became renowned as the world’s leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit. 2022 saw the tenth anniversary celebrations back in Barcelona where it all began at the Trofeo Conde de Godo regatta in May 2012.

And now 2024 sees the circuit as strong as ever with an extremely high level of very evenly matched competition at the front of the fleet but new teams still joining up to challenge themselves. In 2021 Thailand’s Team Vayu joined, Hong Kong’s Team Alpha Plus came in for 2023 and in 2024 we have welcomed two new teams France’s Teasing Machine and Brasil’s Crioula Team.

Originally the circuit grew from the ashes of the TP52 MedCup which finished in 2011 when the principal sponsor withdrew.

The 52 SUPER SERIES was developed as an initiative by three key stakeholders, respectively the owners of Quantum Racing, Azzurra and Rán Racing who enjoyed their racing in the TP52 so much, and could see a future in which the owners dictated the direction of the 52 SUPER SERIES; embracing all that they had enjoyed about the class and making racing for like-minded individuals and crews available in locations and venues enjoyed by all. Now the circuit usually consists of five regattas per season in Europe with regular early year events in the USA.

The TP52 came to Europe in 2005 when it was adopted by a group of owners who were disillusioned by IMS racing and the type of grand prix boats which the measurement system encouraged. These fast, light, very powerful monohulls felt more like high performance dinghies, raced in real time – first past the post wins – and yet complied to a box rule design. The box rule bound the boats to a set of key dimensions but still left the design offices and the race teams with scope to exploit their own ideas and initiatives. The careful management of the Box Rule has encouraged steady evolution of the TP52 so that it has progressively become faster and more exciting to sail with fewer crew, and fewer sails thereby keeping costs down.

It’s all about the people

The 52 SUPER SERIES is run by a relatively small and dedicated team of individuals who each have a long history of experience in grand prix sailing and other sports.

The management structure is typically flat with each department working closely with one another in a friendly and efficient environment, all sharing the same goals and vision. We are proud that the team remains very small compared with other major grand prix circuits.

52 SUPER SERIES Management:

Overall responsibility for the running of the circuit, delivering on strategic aims and financial and legal responsibility.

Race Management:

On the water management of racing is headed by Principal Race Officer Maria Torrijo and the fair and equable application of the Racing Rules of Sailing are managed by the World Sailing umpire team headed by Miguel Allen. To ensure the maximum continuity from event to event and season to season, the same core team operates from year to year with as few changes as possible.

Class Manager and Class Measurer:

Are responsible for ensuring the boats follow the measurement rules and prepare and deliver future strategy and direction for the class. Rob Weiland is the long serving Class Manager and Pablo Ferrer the even longer serving Class Measurer.

Operations:

Operations look after the planning and logistics, everything from shipping and the regatta site to branding, prizes and picnics.

Sustainability:

The 52 SUPER SERIES takes its commitment to sustainability seriously. Our Sustainability Officer is Lars Böcking.

Marketing and Communications:

The 52 SUPER SERIES marketing and communications is run by Jacaranda Marketing who initiated some of the concept for the circuit. The department is headed by Lars Böcking assisted by Andi Robertson, and country PRs Javier Sobrino (ESP) and Gabriel Lillo Cutini (ITA).

52 SUPER SERIES TV:

52 SUPER SERIES TV is delivered by German company Chimbovision headed by Michael Trapp along with core team Stefan Lehmann and Javi Salinas.

How it works

The format, ruleset and more

What is the 52 SUPER SERIES?

The 52 SUPER SERIES is an in-shore, monohull, fleet racing circuit. It is based on a tightly controlled, carefully managed box rule. This measurement defines certain key speed producing dimensions – such as sail area, hull length, beam measurements, displacement, keel depth, rig height and weight, but leaves enough latitude for designers and teams to express their own ideas. It can be considered to be similar to the Formula 1 of monohull yacht racing because teams can design build and campaign their own boat to their own ideas, as long as it fits to the ‘horsepower’ and build rules. So every boat is different, even if the evolution of the rule means the current boats are very similar and sail at almost exactly the same speeds.

But, unlike handicap racing, the 52 SUPER SERIES races are on a simple first-past-the-post format, real time racing with no post-race time compensation. Owners and crews love the high speeds, the exceptional power to weight ratio, the dinghy-like feel on the helm and the need to pursue small incremental advantages to win races. It truly remains a unique proposition within the sport of sailing. The 52 SUPER SERIES is the best monohull racing in the world.

Competition Format

Each of the five regattas consists of around ten races, with a mixture of windward-leeward and coastal courses depending on the venue. Usually there might be four days of windward-leeward races and one day of coastal courses, but this may be more in a location where the coastal racing is special. Over the course of the season all results stand – there are no discards – and typically that means around 45 to 50 races in the season.

Windward-Leeward Races

Each windward-leeward course usually consists of four legs of a ‘sausage’ shaped loop. The upwind-downwind axis will be 1.5 to 2.2 nautical miles according to the wind strength. The fleet starts upwind and usually finishes downwind. Duration of each windward-leeward is close to one hour, upwind legs slightly more than 15 minutes and the faster downwind legs a bit less.

A throwback to our past

The 52 SUPER SERIES is set up thanks to the initiative of the Roemmers Family (ARG, Azzurra/Matador), Doug DeVos (USA, Quantum Racing) and Niklas Zennström (Rán Racing) in collaboration with the TP52 Class Manager Rob Weiland (NED) and Lars Böcking (GER) of Jacaranda Marketing who put the concept together.

The ideal is to deliver a mix of venues and regatta styles that owners and crews enjoy sailing at and to pursue even, close, friendly grand prix racing. Four owners initially commit to the full season of five regattas in Spain and Sardinia, Azzurra, Quantum Racing and Rán and Tony Langley (GBR) of Gladiator 


The first event in this inaugural year is Barcelona’s Conde de Godó Trophy where the ‘core four’ are joined by Audi All4One. Quantum Racing win the top trophy. Quantum Racing win also in June at the Audi Sardinia Cup 2012, defeating the hosts’ Azzurra by three points after seven races. Six boats compete, the ‘core four’ have added competition from Paprec Recyclage (FRA, Jean Luc Petithuguenin) and Powerplay (BVI, Tony Cunningham).

The circuit travels to Palma for July’s Royal Cup back to back with the Copa del Rey. Eight boats race at the Royal Cup which is won by Rán Racing, newcomers are Aquila (AUT) and Ergin Imre’s Turkish team on Provezza.

Finally at the Audi Valencia Cup in September Audi Azzurra Sailing team win the last 2012 regatta. Quantum Racing in fourth clinch the first 52 SUPER SERIES overall title.

In 2013 the 52 SUPER SERIES goes global….In a bid to encourage the TP52 owners to travel, for Europeans to race early season in the USA and the American owners and crews to come race in Europe, the US 52 SUPER SERIES is set up. This spans two regattas – Key West Race Week and a 52 World Championship, in America in January and March.

Azzurra win the US 52 SUPER SERIES and are pipped in Miami on the last race by Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing which became 2013 World Champions. The core of the European circuit is formed by the popular events at known venues. Barcelona is followed by the Royal Cup in Ibiza, Copa del Rey culminating in the Audi Week of the Straits in September at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

Quantum Racing win in Barcelona ahead of Gladiator with seven boats racing, including Interlodge and Rio from the USA. Ibiza is a new venue for the 52 SUPER SERIES and Quantum Racing make it back to back wins in the eight boat fleet at these events. Gladiator are second again. At the Copa del Rey Quantum Racing extend their unbeaten record to three regattas with Rán Racing second and Azzurra third. Rio take fourth from a spirited battle with Provezza.

At the Week of the Straits a win by Azzurra on their home waters was not enough to stop Quantum Racing from being crowned 2013 52 SUPER SERIES champions after winning three from four events. The bubbling interest in the class is reflected in a nine boat entry. Rán Racing are third overall and Gladiator fourth.

Barclays and Zenith join the 52 SUPER SERIES as partners. The successful formula for the US 52 SUPER SERIES remains and seven boats race at Quantum Key West and at the 52 US Championship. Quantum Racing win both American regattas and the mini-series.

The Barclays 52 SUPER SERIES starts in Capri in light winds, where the 52s visit for the first time, travels to Sardinia for the Audi TP52 World Championship in June, the MAPFRE Copa del Rey in August in Palma culminating in the ZENITH Royal Cup Marina Ibiza in September. Twelve different 52s race in Europe and Quantum Racing win overall.

Azzurra open with a win in Capri at Rolex Capri Sailing Week ahead of Vesper (USA), Newly launched Phoenix, the first of the new generation 2015 boats for Brazilian owner Eduardo de Souza Ramos, wins the first race of the season and finishes fifth at their first regatta. Quantum Racing only pip Rán Racing to third place by one single point. From an exciting week in Sardinia Quantum Racing win the TP52 World Championship title ahead of Phoenix in second with nine boats racing.

At the Mediterranean showcase MAPFRE Copa del Rey Quantum Racing reign ahead of Rán Racing which won four races from the ten starts.

Finally in Ibiza Quantum Racing do enough to win the regatta ahead of Azzurra while Takashi Okura’s Sled – preparing for a full, new boat campaign in 2015 finish fourth.

With nine new boats launched for the start of the season, all faster and more exciting than ever, representing the very latest generation of designs to the carefully managed TP52 class rule, 2015 proved to be a landmark season in the history of the class and the 52 SUPER SERIES.

Five boats were built to Botin Partners’ designs – Alegre, Azzurra, Bronenosec, Quantum Racing and Sled and four to Vrolijk designs – Gladiator, Platoon, Provezza, Rán. They joined the 2014 Phoenix, XIO Hurakan which was formerly Quantum Racing and Paprec which was the previous Rán.

Because the new generation of boats were being built through the winter the 2015 season started not in the USA at Key West but instead was a conventional Europe only circuit comprising five regattas in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Quantum Racing, the winners of the back to back titles in 2013 and 2014, made changes. They fulfilled a desire to have their enthusiastic and skilled DeVos family members – the team owners – steering their boat as much as possible.

Father Doug and son Dalton alternated at different regattas – and actually split the Copa del Rey helming role. The changes early in the season were not easy and added another layer of challenge to the requirement for continuity and consistency.

The first regattas were all about getting up to speed and familiar with small details of each new boat as fast as possible.

The season opened in Valencia at the Ford Vignale Sailing Week where Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing won ahead of Andy Soriano’s Alegre which made a remarkable debut in the class, taking second place at just two points behind after 11 races.

Azzurra hit their stride on their home waters and won the Audi Settimana delle Bocche with a three points cushion.

But it was at Puerto Portals and the TP52 World Championships where they built a real points lead. Azzurra won the world title and their second regatta on the bounce but they were 14pts ahead of second placed Platoon at the end of racing.

Quantum Racing found their mojo at the 34th Copa del Rey where Terry Hutchinson sailed as tactician with Dalton DeVos starting as helm and Doug DeVos finishing the deal. Azzurra led until the final day when Quantum Racing won the Copa del Rey with a double bullet final day.

At the Cascais Cup in Portugal Azzurra clinched the season title with a day to spare and Quantum Racing won the regatta. Quantum Racing took second for the season and Takashi Okura’s Sled secured third on the final leg of the final race of the season.

The 52 SUPER SERIES is in tip-top health. More boats, a visibly higher standard. Better, closer racing. Some well-known faces come home. Great new venues. A fantastic, friendly atmosphere ashore. Tension until the end of the season as competitive rivalries peak and trough all the way through the fleet. The 2016 52 SUPER SERIES season will be remembered for all of these reasons.

This was a long season. Points racing at the five regattas may have started in May in Scarlino and concluded in Cascais in October, but preparations started in Valencia in March when teams got together for some informal training. Gaastra Palma Vela in late April had a full TP52 entry as crews sought to ensure they were fully primed and ready to hit the straps straight away in Tuscany.

The fleet size grew for 2016. Twelve boats raced in Porto Cervo at the Audi Settimana delle Bocche and at the 52 World Championship in Menorca.

After something of a sabbatical in 2015, Niklas Zennström’s Rán Racing returned for the full set of regattas. New teams to the circuit this season – Peter Harrison’s Sorcha (GBR) and Richard Cohen’s Phoenix (USA) – tested the temperature of the circuit at two events, enjoyed it, and sought to do more in 2017.

Doug DeVos’s Quantum Racing (USA) were convincing overall winners of the 2016 season title. Finishing second to Azzurra (ITA) in 2015 was a spur to raising the bar even higher. They made key crew changes – tough decisions, pre-season.

The hard-driving Terry Hutchinson marshalled the team throughout and profited from owner-driver DeVos steering three regattas. They came out of the blocks hard and fast. Winning in Scarlino, they proved furiously consistent. A run that saw them add three more regattas and the 52 World Championship to their belt.

Azzurra took second overall, winning the final regatta of the season, while the battle for third went to the wire, Rán Racing securing third overall on the last race of the last day.

It was long, it was tough, it was incredibly competitive, but most of all; 2017 was fun.

Perhaps for some teams, the highs were higher and the lows lower, but such is the nature of the 52 SUPER SERIES these days. Teams can take nothing for granted. When, even a year or two ago, there was a form book – a rough hierarchy. Now it is open season on podium places.

For the first time, the 52 SUPER SERIES championship title was decided over six regattas, two in the USA and four in Europe. The season started in January in Key West and finished in Mahón, Menorca in September. In theory, April and half of May should have been quiet and this year August was given over to a proper summer break, but for all, the season felt long and pretty relentless, a fine test of a true champion.

It proved to be a fascinating title race; one that really inspired interest and excitement from around the world. For the first time since the circuit started out with just four boats in 2012, there really were three teams fighting for the overall title, and it really did go to the wire.

Hindsight is 20/20 vision, but who on the dock in Key West would have put a sizeable bet on Platoon coming out as the most consistent team over the first half of the season? And who didn’t expect Quantum Racing to simply copy / paste their successes of 2016?

Five different boats won regattas. Only Azzurra won two events. Ponder that for a second. That is nearly half of the regular, core fleet proving they can win regattas. Beautiful self-contained Scarlino delivered a new World Champion in Platoon; Porto Cervo the most exciting, dramatic and unpredictable final day; Puerto Portals is always fun and good racing; and Mahón in Menorca brought the season to a fantastic finale on a suitably challenging race course, sailing from a popular location.

Rolex came onboard as sponsors. We delivered a great programme for guests from all over the world for XS Energy Drinks. We made sustainability entertaining, essential and informative, and live 52 SUPER SERIES TV was an outstanding success. Bring on 2018, sooner the better!!

The 2018 season proved to be a very strong year with nine new boats built, some on the strength of the announcement that the America’s Cup would be raced in monohulls. Quantum Racing worked as the core of the future American Magic team while the emblematic Prada team joined, cherry picking tactician Vasco Vascotto from the successful Azzurra team. Brazil’s Eduardo de Souza Ramos returned to the circuit with a new boat which he sailed with Brazil’s legendary Olympic medallist Robert Scheidt and a young crew. Hasso and Tina Plattner joined the circuit too, Ed Baird joining as tactician for Tina. The circuit visited Croatia, Zadar and Sibenik for the first time ever. Quantum Racing won in Sibenik at the first regatta of the season, Luna Rossa taking the honours in Zadar, narrowly beating Tina Plattner’s Phoenix who were in the match until the last races.

At the Rolex TP52 World Championship in Cascais Quantum Racing collected the title with Azzurra second and Alegre third.

In August Quantum Racing impose themselves in the sea breezes on the Bay of Palma racing out of Puerto Portals, winning again but only three points up on Azzurra.

The season finishes in the popular Spanish America’s Cup venue of Valencia where Luna Rossa sign off from the circuit with a win but in second place Quantum Racing win the 2018 circuit title, a winning swansong for the departing Terry Hutchinson.

The season started with a popular return to Menorca which served up an enjoyable variety of wind and sea conditions. Platoon served notice of the strength and depth of their title challenge by winning here in May from a close battle with Provezza, the Vrolijk designs taking first and second. Puerto Sherry in Andalucia is a new venue to the circuit and the Atlantic waters prove challenging to read as the tidal currents play a part and the breezes are hard to decipher.

Provezza follow up their second place in Menorca by winning on the Bay of Cadiz, rising to the top on a highly charged, super close final day, final race where any one of three boats could have taken the title.

It was breezy with some big waves in Cascais where Cameron Appleton found his winning ways as he new tactician on Quantum Racing, narrowly pipping Azzurra by one single point.

As the Rolex TP52 World Championship moved to Puerto Portals on the Bay of Palma, Platoon proved a cut above the rest and won the world title for the second time in three years, establishing themselves as favourites to win the 2019 overall circuit title.

But at a climactic Costa Smeralda where Takashi Okura’s Sled were unstoppable winning six races from nine starts, it was Azzurra who clinched the 2019 52 SUPER SERIES title on home waters.

The 2020 season saw the 52 SUPER SERIES break a new territory as the circuit visited Cape Town, South Africa for the first time ever. To see the international fleet lined up ready for Odzala Discovery Camps 52 SUPER SERIES the at the dock on the V & A Waterfront with the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop was a very special moment in the history of the world’s leading grand prix monohull circuit.

The regatta was partly facilitated by the Plattner family who had both the home town favourites Phoenix 11 and Phoenix 12 racing in the ten boat fleet which comprised teams from seven different nations.

The regatta delivered in every way. The legendary Cape Doctor breeze came in on cue. Hasso Plattner’s team gave home fans something to cheer about by opening with a 1,3,1 and leading the regatta but over the piece it was the consistency of the defending 2019 season champions Azzurra which was enough to see them win the Cape Town title with new tactician Michele Paoletti taking over from Vasco Vascotto in the afterguard of the Italian-Argentine team of the Roemmers family. Phoenix 11 took second and Quantum Racing third.

As the fleet left Cape Town all the talk was of the Rolex TP52 World Championship which was due to take place a month later. Little did anyone really know how the global pandemic would take hold……

The 2021 circuit was cut to just three regattas in the Balearics, confined to Menorca and the Bay of Palma. That in itself produced a very intense, compact high pressure season which went down to a thrilling last day which could not have been scripted better from the outset. The class and circuit came back with a bang in July in Puerto Portals, Mallorca. Celebrating two decades of the TP52 a 20th Anniversary Invitational regatta was incorporated into the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week. This wonderful initiative was not just to highlight and share the success of the class over the years, mustering as many teams of different backgrounds racing on boats built to different design generations, but it gave them a chance to experience the 52 SUPER SERIES at its best, in the hope that some might be inspired to join in in the future.

Nine boats raced in the 52 SUPER SERIES fleet and seven enjoyed racing in the Invitational regatta. Terry Hutchinson returned to the Quantum Racing crew joined by 34 year old Argentinian 470 Olympic medallist Lucas Calabrese as new strategist. Vasco Vascotto is back in blue, at the back of Bronenosec partnering Morgan Larson. On Gladiator there is a Best of British as Giles Scott sails with Paul Goodison in the afterguard. Tom Slingsby debuts on Phoenix which is helmed by Tony Norris as Tina Plattner has a back problem and travel out of South Africa is also very problematic. And back in the fold with the championship winning ex-Azzurra are Austin and Gwen Fragomen after a five years hiatus. Their new Interlodge has Tony Rey, Rod Dawson and Juan Vila in the afterguard. Seven teams answered the Invitation to race and celebrate the TP52s history in the Med. Perhaps the most successful global campaigners of recent years, Karl Kwok’s Beau Geste crew was led by Gavin Brady. Italy’s Marco Serafini’s XIO come as 2019 ORC World Champions triumphing in Sibenik ahead of Roberto Monti’s Air Is Blue which is also in the Portals fleet. Newcomers are the Thailand flagged Vayu on the former Team Vision Future. Finland’s Samuli Leisti leads an innovative programme which used their TP52 zer0emissions (formerly USA 17) as a billboard to spread sustainability messages as does Barclelona’s Tony Guillou on BlueCarbon.

The highlight of the week, of course, was a fabulous race Friday for the combined fleet of 16 boats all competing on the same race course. It was a truly stunning reminder of the fun of bigger fleet racing, a simple fun moment of celebration and reflection. Sled set out their stall by taking the Puerto Portals 52 SUPER SERIES regatta title. With Mr Okura unable to travel it was left to Murray Jones to steer with Francesco Bruni joining the crew fresh from the Luna Rossa America’s Cup. After more than 17 months with no circuit races and no training there was some rust evident to start but overall the level was higher and more even than ever before and in light winds consistency was hard to maintain, scores were very up and down. The foundations of the Sled win were a 1,1,2 in the middle of the tight, short, six race event but they collected some big scores too, notably a seventh in the last race. Nonetheless they won by a point over Quantum Racing whilst Phoenix marked themselves out as contenders with third.Karl Kwok’s Beau Geste won the Invitational by a comfortable margin.

To Menorca in August Phoenix have Ed Baird as tactician for a light winds week when only five races can be sailed. Andy Soriano’s Alegre team start super strong, winning three races on the bounce. Quantum Racing are over the start line and are not able to recover, their resulting 11th proves a heavy, heavy burden on such a short, sharp season. But nothing is easy, nothing can be taken for granted in this fleet on the Menorca track. Alegre go 7,10 on the last day leaving the door open for the well oiled German machine that is Platoon who win the Menorca title.

November sees the big finale, the Rolex TP 52 World Championship is at stake. Hosted by the RCNP the fleet find the Bay of Palma is nothing like we have known over the 10 years of the 52 SUPER SERIES. Tom Slingsby and the Phoenix throw down the gauntlet straight off with two stunning victories but they then falter a bit letting in Sled, who have a 5,1 middle of the week. With everything on the line Phoenix looked like they could steal both titles on the first race on the Friday when they were lying second, closing Quantum Racing fast but their kite blows up and they dropped from second to sixth. Sled finish with a race win Friday which gives them a lead of a single point going into the final day. But with 35 knots winds there can be no racing on the final day both titles go to Tak Okura’s jubilant Sled team. They win the Rolex TP52 World Championship by a single point from Quantum and Platoon tied on the same points. And the season title goes to Sled, also by one point, becoming only the third team ever to win the overall, finally breaking the Azzurra, Quantum Racing duopoly.

After a truncated, short 2021 season which, though light on events, proved compact and exciting with the circuit and world titles going to the wire, the 2022 52 SUPER SERIES did not disappoint, not by a long shot.

Ten years on from the first regatta in Barcelona the curtain was lifted at a new venue, beautiful Baiona in Galicia where the welcome was among the warmest ever. The race course area was bordered by verdant, green spring colours and the race area was challenging, offering options and opportunities to all.

We returned to Cascais, Portugal where the conditions were slightly atypical but it blew up big, on cue on the last day. Puerto Portals in late July was text book Bay of Palma sea breezes. For many the welcome surprise of the year was a breezy, boisterous September regatta back in Tuscany for the first time since 2017 at Scarlino. Then the late Autumn breezes struggled to be turn up off the Catalan capital where preparations for the 37th America’s Cup were starting to take shape. But Barcelona hosted a fabulous ten year anniversary dinner and prize giving which, most of all, proved a great opportunity to look back at ten wonderful years.

And the fleet has emerged from the last couple of years in very good shape. The commitment of our group of owners is undimmed, a testament to the competitiveness of the class, the warm convivial atmosphere on the dock, and a menu of different venues which are mix of new and old favourites. Significantly every team won races this season and more teams finished on the podium at different regattas which is probably the biggest, ongoing motivation.

Thailand’s Whitcraft family and their Vayu programme proved you don’t need a brand new boat and a team of America’s Cup winners to do well, to have fun, to keep learning and improving and to challenge yourself against the best monohull sailors in the world.

And it is delightful to welcome back the Petithuguenins and the French Paprec team. They laid the foundations for their 2023 season by competing in Barcelona with a modern generation boat which is new to them. And in Barcelona they too had every reason to look back fondly at ten years on the 52 SUPER SERIES and to look forwards too.

Baiona was worth the wait. A big local investment brought grand prix racing back to this area of Galicia for the first time, to a proud historic club which has three times challenged for the America’s Cup. The racing arena is ringed by high hills and islands and although it is located in the Portuguese trade winds, it proved a light, shifty racecourse with flat waters. Owners and teams certainly loved being somewhere new and different, authentic and down to earth. Vayu started with two back to back second places. The Plattners’ South African team on Phoenix, who came so close at the end of 2021, led after the first two days. But in the shifty conditions, which seemed not to maintain a pattern from one race to the next, they had a weighty mid regatta sequence whilst Doug DeVos and the Quantum Racing team strengthened their consistency. A win on the penultimate day, in part courtesy of intel from local knowledge ace Roberto ‘Chuny’ Bermudez, gave Quantum Racing the edge going into the last day. They took second behind behind Andy Soriano’s Alegre in what proved to be the final race on the Saturday, but endured a nervous period when a final race was started during which rivals Phoenix were initially leading and they were ninth. But the race was abandoned and the American flagged team won the ABANCA 52 SUPER SERIES Sailing Week, the first title of the season by seven points.

By design, the Rolex TP52 World Championship just down the coast in Cascais, followed hard on the heels of the Baiona opener. There was a huge sense of anticipation as the fleet returned back to the Portuguese sailing capital, minds filled with memories of big winds and waves on the open Atlantic.

After missing out because of the health situation when they did the double in Palma in November 2021, the Sled crew were determined to do all they could to retain the world title with Mr Okura back on the helm. But with some measure of real continuity guaranteed by Doug DeVos steering all of Quantum Racing’s 2022 regattas – with the exception of Portals – the US team were also at full strength.

Nine teams mustered in Cascais, three of them with experience of having won the worlds Quantum Racing, Sled and Platoon. The last time the Rolex TP52 World Championship were sailed in Cascais, in 2018 in big breezes it was Quantum Racing which prevailed, after winning also in 2014 and 2016. This time Cascais saved the big winds until the final Saturday showdown. Otherwise it was a light to moderate week. After the first four light winds races Quantum Racing had established a strong consistency with Platoon holding second. Vayu, as they did in Baiona, opened strongly and were third after the second day. The most obvious pattern over these first races was teams having one good result and matching it to a bad one.

But Quantum Racing carried a three points lead into the final day when the breeze really finally switched on and the surf rolled in. With a win and a sixth on the Saturday Quantum Racing improved their Cascais winning record, remaining unbeaten there on all three occasions the 52 SUPER SERIES has visited. But this was the first time that owner driver Doug DeVos was steering. Platoon took second, again seven points behind the winners whilst Andy Soriano’s Alegre maintained their good record in Portugal taking third.

To Puerto Portals in the height of summer and the Bay of Palma actually was unusually tricky. With exceptionally warm temperatures experienced over the previous month or so, the high sea temperatures affected the generation, and the mixing of the usually very reliable sea breeze. So whilst Mallorca for the 52 SUPER SERIES Puerto Portals Sailing Week might normally be considered the race area best known to the teams, it proved to be a much more challenging week than expected.

Arriving with a 12 points circuit lead over Platoon and back to back regatta titles, the impetus was very much with Quantum Racing. With DeVos absent, fulfilling his preferred annual commitment to compete on the Chicago Mac race, Tactician Terry Hutchinson spoke positively pre-regatta about how they had practiced pre-season in Valencia with him steering and Lucas Calabrese calling tactics and they had raced a J/70 class event at Charleston Race week to fine tune their comms.

But it was Tom Slingsby and the Phoenix team which proved unbeatable on the Bay of Palma where they had come so close at the end of the 2021 season. Day 1 shaped the week with the South African flagged team coming ashore with a first and a third whilst Quantum Racing languished in eighth, Sled matching Phoenix for points.

With Cameron Appleton calling tactics, Austin and Gwen Fragomen’s consistent Interlodge topped the table in the middle of the week, but on a breezy offshore final day, with the N’ly wind blowing to 25kts Phoenix’s two second places were enough to give them their first ever 52 SUPER SERIES regatta title. Their margin, 12 points, was the biggest of the season, finishing ahead of Sled and Provezza.

Returning to Tuscany in September for the Royal Cup for the first time in five years there was no clear feeling as to what the winds might do. And so it was something of a welcome surprise when the winds blew every day and the choppy seas added another testing dimension. Vasco Vascotto, three times winning tactician, joined Platoon as Harm Müller Spreer’s German flagged team sought to get their season title challenge back on track, whilst Australia’s young double Olympic medallist Will Ryan took over the strategist role on Andy Soriano’s Alegre after Ado Stead stepped down to spend more time with his family. On the Quantum Racing Doug DeVos was back on the helm, but their long time mainsheet trimmer Warwick Fleury was absent due to a health problem which was to rule him out in Tuscany and in Barcelona. Chris Hosking took on the mainsheet job whilst pitman Rodney Ardern was called home with a family member accident and was replaced by Curtis Blewitt. And the odds were not as strong for the team which had won in Baiona and Cascais.

Takashi Okura’s Sled sailed an exceptional regatta, the afterguard mix of Francesco Bruni and Murray Jones, backed up by navigator Andrea Visintini seeming to read the breeze and see things other teams did not, Visintini calling it a ‘special magic’. The 2021 circuit champions led Quantum Racing into the final day by one point. But once again the four times 52 SUPER SERIES champions had the edge and won the Royal Cup bu five clear points and headed to the season’s finale in Barcelona with a five points margin over Phoenix. Sled took second overall whilst Platoon finished strongly with a second and a first on the final to steal third step on the podium.

The atmosphere in Barcelona was electric for the big finale. Quantum Racing had the inertia, Phoenix were desperate to win a second regatta title of the season and wrestle the title from rivals Quantum whilst other top teams like Sled, Platoon, Alegre, Provezza were all keen to finish the 2022 season with a regatta win.

Phoenix welcomed back owner-driver Tina Plattner to the helm for her first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta since February 2020 in Cape Town. But while the scene was set for an historic showdown for at the tenth anniversary event, the winds did not really turn up to play their part as most had hoped. Slack, gentle breezes never really reach double figures over the three days racing was possible.

Quantum Racing won the one and only race on the opening day to extend their circuit lead. But a three race second day saw the Plattners team keep maximum pressure on Quantum with a first, second and third whilst the US crew amassed 14pts from the day. But with the pressure on Doug DeVos and crew won the only race of what proved to be the final race of the season whilst Phoenix jumped the start gun and could do nothing in the very, very light conditions to recover from tenth.

With four regatta titles from five in 2022 Quantum Racing extend their 52 SUPER SERIES strong of season titles to five, an appropriate and popular result for a team which was forced to work harder than ever for this title. Phoenix finish runners up by 12pts with Platoon third overall.

All about the class

The TP52 in Europe has come a very long way since it was designed to a box rule to produce a series of evenly matched lightweight high performance flying machine for the Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii.

In 2005 a group of renowned owners chose to build TP52’s to develop a new high performance class because they were no longer content to race on handicap.

It has become the de-facto top monohull inshore race class in the world appealing to the very top level professional sailors, discerning owners and teams. The all carbon fibre boats with powerful sail areas and deep slender keels remain very close in performance.

They are light, have a high power to weight ratio and most of all offer exceptional fun for the crews who enjoy the physical and mental challenge of the 52’s.

Downwind in stronger breezes they will regularly surf at well over 20kts.

The tight controls imposed by the design rules ‘box’ allow sufficient freedom for the different designers to express their ideas, yet the fleet has remained very closely matched.

Each year has seen subtle new ideas generated for each new design, ensuring that there is just enough incentive to keep building new boats. Over 60 have been built. And the purity of racing is in real time, first past the line wins is still at the heart of the new 52 SUPER SERIES.

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Hundreds of Sailors Ready to Race in the 60th Edition of Rolex Big Boat Series

One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay, is ready to turn it on for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11-15, 2024. The most prestigious regatta on the West Coast drew 71 boats and nearly 700 sailors to the docks of St. Francis Yacht Club, to hear what classes will race for Rolexes and perpetual trophies on Wednesday night, and to start preparing for the first race on Thursday, September 12. With a strong turnout in one design classes and ORC divisions, organizers are thrilled to welcome members and guests to be a part of the action on the water and shoreside.  

“Having been involved in this epic West Coast regatta for some four decades, it is my honor and privilege as Commodore to welcome our members and guests to the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series,” said Chris Perkins, 2024 Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club and a past winner of the event. “I wish the best of luck to our competitors who are here to compete in one of the world’s most spectacular racing venues. Sail fast and enjoy our outstanding hospitality.” 

Rolex Big Boat Series’ extensive history of champions is a tribute to the depth of talent that graces the event and this year, a solid fleet stacked with talented and tough competition is expected.  

“We have 30 J/105s starting again this year, which is great to see, and the ORC fleet is diverse and deep in talent with past winners returning to defend their titles,” says Felix Weidling, Race Director of St. Francis Yacht Club. “We always have our competitors’ best interests in mind and after taking in sailors’ feedback from last year, we continue to improve this important event which is a cornerstone of West Coast sailboat racing.” 

Perennial Rolex Big Boat winner in the J/105 class, Ryan Simmons and his well-seasoned team on Blackhawk are eager to see how the competition will play out in the competitive San Francisco-based J/105 fleet. Blackhawk took first in class in 2019, 2021 and 2023, and second in 2022. Simmons does not take for granted that his luck will bear out for another win, although he and his crew are talented enough—and hopeful.  

“We’re lucky, we have low turnover on our team—we’ve been sailing together a long time and it’s the big difference,” says Simmons. “Our competitive edge this year will be consistency. In the first two days of the regatta, you can’t lock in the win, but you can definitely take yourself out of contention, so sailing smart the first couple of days is key, but Saturday and Sunday are really where the championship will be won.” 

Hot to prevail against Blackhawk is NeNe , owned and skippered by Tim Russell who has played bridesmaid many times, often finishing in the top three. He’s currently leading the local J/105 fleet in the class championship series, making him a serious podium contender.  

“A first place on NeNe is alluding me!” says Russell. “You have to take chances and I usually approach every regatta being super conservative. On my starts I’m trying to win one end or the other and let our boat speed take care of itself and minimize mistakes, but in Big Boat you have to gamble.” 

Peter Wagner won last year’s ORC-C division on Skeleton Key, the J/111 he’s owned since 2015. Winner of the J/111 North Americans for two years in a row and St. Francis Yacht Club’s Sailor of the Year in 2023, Wagner is a tough act to follow. He’s been racing Rolex Big Boat Series for almost 25 years and is looking forward to the solid competition, great conditions and fun social gatherings. 

“It’s always one of the highlights of our season and certainly the highlight of racing on San Francisco Bay,” says Wagner. “In this particular event we’ve raced in various one design classes as well as ORR and now ORC and we’re really excited about the momentum around ORC. I think it will be a really competitive event. Some of the best, most reliable and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none and the social side is always spectacular. There is always a great group of sailors that convenes around RBBS.”  

Other boats returning to defend their 2023 titles include the J/88 Pelagia owned and skippered by Christos Karamanolis, Cape 31 M2 owned and skippered by Marc McMorris, and J/109 Reverie, owned and skippered by John Arens. Peter Wagner won last year’s ORC-C division on Skeleton Key, the J/111 he’s owned since 2015. Winner of the J/111 North Americans for two years in a row and St. Francis Yacht Club’s Sailor of the Year in 2023, Wagner is a tough act to follow. He’s been racing Rolex Big Boat Series for almost 25 years and is looking forward to the solid competition, great conditions and fun social gatherings. 

“It’s always one of the highlights of our season and certainly the highlight of racing on San Francisco Bay,” says Wagner. “In this particular event we’ve raced in various one design classes as well as ORR and now ORC and we’re really excited about the momentum around ORC. I think it will be a really competitive event. Some of the best, most reliable and most fun sailing conditions in the world are this time of year at this venue, the race management is second to none and the social side is always spectacular. There is always a great group of sailors that convenes around RBBS.” 

Other boats returning to defend their 2023 titles include the J/88 Pelagia owned and skippered by Christos Karamanolis, Cape 31 M2 owned and skippered by Marc McMorris, and J/109 Reverie , owned and skippered by John Arens.

TROPHIES & ROLEXES 

At the Competitors’ Briefing on Wednesday, September 11, at 1600, St. Francis Yacht Club announced which classes will be racing for the six perpetual trophies and two Rolex timepieces. 

J/105 

As the largest one-design fleet this year, the J/105s will compete for StFYC’s Commodore’s Cup. The top J/105 skipper will also receive a Rolex timepiece. 

ORC-A 

The St. Francis Perpetual Trophy, which was anonymously donated to StFYC in 1966 to encourage competition between large offshore racing yachts, will be presented to the winner of the ORC-A fleet. 

ORC-B 

The ORC-B division will be racing for the City of San Francisco Perpetual Trophy, which has been contested since 1968 and features one of the original spades from the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. The winner of this division will also take home a coveted Rolex timepiece. 

ORC-C 

The Atlantic Perpetual Trophy, featuring a ship’s bell from the 1905 Transatlantic-record-breaking schooner Atlantic, will go to the winner of the ORC-C fleet. 

EXPRESS 37 

The Express 37s will race for the Keefe-Kilborn Perpetual Trophy, established in 1976 to honor the memory of late StFYC members Harold Keefe and Ray Kilborn, 

The Richard Rheem Perpetual Trophy, named for longtime StFYC member and skipper of Morning Star—the yacht that proudly broke the Transpac course record in 1949 and 1953—will go to the winner of the J/88 class. The PCYA Jesse L. Carr Perpetual Captain and Crew Trophy will go to the winner of the top J/88 finisher. 

CLASSICS  

The Classics will compete for the Classic Cup Perpetual Trophy. 

ADDITIONAL AWARDS 

All three ORC divisions will also be contesting the West Coast Championship. 

The Storm Trysail Team Trophy to the three-boat team who have entered and achieved the best score. The team must be comprised of one boat racing in an ORC class, one from a one-design class, and one from any other class. 

“I’m excited to lead the Rolex Big Boat Series in its 60th anniversary year,” says Susan Ruhne, who chairs the regatta and is the 2024 Rear Commodore of St. Francis Yacht Club. “The event is such an important part of the StFYC’s history and a favorite for so many sailors and spectators to experience. There is nothing like watching 70-plus boats on three race courses duke it out on San Francisco Bay, including the classic downwind run from the Golden Gate Bridge back to the club. I am also very proud that we continue to maintain Rolex Big Boat Series’ status as a Clean Regatta, a foundation of the event.” 

The 2024 Rolex Big Boat Series is targeting Platinum Level Clean Regatta status, the highest distinction from Sailors for the Sea. A pre-regatta volunteer event with the Parks Conservancy was held at Crissy Field on Wednesday morning. Organizers have taken efforts to remove all single-use plastic from the event, and competitors spectators are invited to meet local non-profits who serve as Sustainability Partners for the event. Sail to Shelter will be collecting old sails on site to recycle into shelter for humanitarian aid.  

Quantum Sails will be hosting Daily Weather Briefings every race day at 0730. All sailors are invited to tune in for the forecast from experts at Sailflow Weather and to hear local knowledge about San Francisco Bay conditions and currents. 

Racing is set to begin tomorrow, September 12, at 1100 local time for most classes and 1300 for the Classics. 

Follow the action online on Instagram and Facebook . 

Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains

Head of Engineering, Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering, Solent University

Disclosure statement

Jonathan Ridley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Sailing used to be considered as a rather sedate pastime. But in the past few years, the world of yacht racing has been revolutionised by the arrival of hydrofoil-supported catamarans, known as “foilers”. These vessels, more akin to high-performance aircraft than yachts, combine the laws of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics to create vessels capable of speeds of up to 50 knots, which is far faster than the wind propelling them.

An F50 catamaran preparing for the Sail GP series recently even broke this barrier, reaching an incredible speed of 50.22 knots (57.8mph) purely powered by the wind. This was achieved in a wind of just 19.3 knots (22.2mph). F50s are 15-metre-long, 8.8-metre-wide hydrofoil catamarans propelled by rigid sails and capable of such astounding speeds that Sail GP has been called the “ Formula One of sailing ”. How are these yachts able to go so fast? The answer lies in some simple fluid dynamics.

As a vessel’s hull moves through the water, there are two primary physical mechanisms that create drag and slow the vessel down. To build a faster boat you have to find ways to overcome the drag force.

The first mechanism is friction. As the water flows past the hull, a microscopic layer of water is effectively attached to the hull and is pulled along with the yacht. A second layer of water then attaches to the first layer, and the sliding or shearing between them creates friction.

On the outside of this is a third layer, which slides over the inner layers creating more friction, and so on. Together, these layers are known as the boundary layer – and it’s the shearing of the boundary layer’s molecules against each other that creates frictional drag.

A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. The waves form two distinctive patterns around the yacht (one at each end), known as Kelvin Wave patterns.

These waves, which move at the same speed as the yacht, are very energetic. This creates drag on the boat known as the wave-making drag, which is responsible for around 90% of the total drag. As the yacht accelerates to faster speeds (close to the “hull speed”, explained later), these waves get higher and longer.

These two effects combine to produce a phenomenon known as “ hull speed ”, which is the fastest the boat can travel – and in conventional single-hull yachts it is very slow. A single-hull yacht of the same size as the F50 has a hull speed of around 12 mph.

However, it’s possible to reduce both the frictional and wave-making drag and overcome this hull-speed limit by building a yacht with hydrofoils . Hydrofoils are small, underwater wings. These act in the same way as an aircraft wing, creating a lift force which acts against gravity, lifting our yacht upwards so that the hull is clear of the water.

While an aircraft’s wings are very large, the high density of water compared to air means that we only need very small hydrofoils to produce a lot of the important lift force. A hydrofoil just the size of three A3 sheets of paper, when moving at just 10 mph, can produce enough lift to pick up a large person.

This significantly reduces the surface area and the volume of the boat that is underwater, which cuts the frictional drag and the wave-making drag, respectively. The combined effect is a reduction in the overall drag to a fraction of its original amount, so that the yacht is capable of sailing much faster than it could without hydrofoils.

The other innovation that helps boost the speed of racing yachts is the use of rigid sails . The power available from traditional sails to drive the boat forward is relatively small, limited by the fact that the sail’s forces have to act in equilibrium with a range of other forces, and that fabric sails do not make an ideal shape for creating power. Rigid sails, which are very similar in design to an aircraft wing, form a much more efficient shape than traditional sails, effectively giving the yacht a larger engine and more power.

As the yacht accelerates from the driving force of these sails, it experiences what is known as “ apparent wind ”. Imagine a completely calm day, with no wind. As you walk, you experience a breeze in your face at the same speed that you are walking. If there was a wind blowing too, you would feel a mixture of the real (or “true” wind) and the breeze you have generated.

The two together form the apparent wind, which can be faster than the true wind. If there is enough true wind combined with this apparent wind, then significant force and power can be generated from the sail to propel the yacht, so it can easily sail faster than the wind speed itself.

The combined effect of reducing the drag and increasing the driving power results in a yacht that is far faster than those of even a few years ago. But all of this would not be possible without one further advance: materials. In order to be able to “fly”, the yacht must have a low mass, and the hydrofoil itself must be very strong. To achieve the required mass, strength and rigidity using traditional boat-building materials such as wood or aluminium would be very difficult.

This is where modern advanced composite materials such as carbon fibre come in. Production techniques optimising weight, rigidity and strength allow the production of structures that are strong and light enough to produce incredible yachts like the F50.

The engineers who design these high-performance boats (known as naval architects ) are always looking to use new materials and science to get an optimum design. In theory, the F50 should be able to go even faster.

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The most epic super-yachts at the F1 Monaco Grand Prix

Yachts routinely steal the show during the F1 grand prix weekend.

The yachts docking in the harbour for the F1 Monaco Grand Prix have turned heads - with a couple particularly impressing.

A yacht named Seven Sins caused a commotion because there is a Bugatti Chiron onboard.

The Seven Sins can be chartered for a week at a much more reasonable $300,000 but that doesn’t come with the Bugatti! 

The car itself is worth around £2.5m and, now, there is one in full view in Monaco harbour during the F1.

Sightseeing at the Monaco Grand Prix: a $3 million Bugatti on a $25 million yacht. 🎥 tfjj/IG pic.twitter.com/QFAt7eAd38 — Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) May 24, 2024

A yacht named Evrima, owned by Ritz-Carlton, is being used by Lewis Hamilton , George Russell and Toto Wolff as part of their partnership with Mercedes .

Evrima is more of a floating luxury hotel than a boat.

Guests have voyaged around France before docking in Monaco for the coolest weekend of the year.

Rooms cost $10,000 to $100,000 for holidaymakers at this time of year.

If you want to charter Evrima, it will set you back $2.2m for a week.

It boasts 149 rooms, a private terrace for each suite, an infinity pool and even an onboard therapist.

It has direct access to the seawater, and watersports, from its deck.

The biggest yacht at the Monaco Grand Prix (so far) is actually owned by the Ritz-Carlton. • 149 Cabins • Pools, Spa & Gym • Rooms cost $10,000 to $100,000+ It's essentially a luxury cruise — you spend a few days in France and then dock in Monaco for the race. Pretty crazy. pic.twitter.com/7aGVIs5Peg — Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 23, 2024

A superyacht named Faith has also docked in Monaco for the grand prix and it is known to some of F1's richest people.

The $200m yacht was previously owned by Lawrence Stroll, the current Aston Martin owner.

Stroll sold it to the billionaire father of former F1 driver Nicholas Latifi.

Faith has a helipad onboard plus a gym and a theatre.

And it's yours to rent for one week for a mere $1.5m...

The $200 million superyacht Faith has arrived in Monaco for the F1 race. • Helipad & 2 Jet Skis • Gym, Theater, Pool & Sauna The boat rents for $1.5M weekly and was owned by Lawrence Stoll (until he sold it to Michael Latifi, the father of former F1 driver Nicholas Latifi). pic.twitter.com/QQpuQR5JDB — Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 24, 2024

A yacht named Lionheart is also turning heads in Monaco this year.

It was formerly owned by businessman Philip Green, and is valued at $150m.

The largest yacht currently in Monaco's Port Hercule is Lionheart, a superyacht built for businessman Philip Green by Benetti SpA, which cost $150 million. She carries the most memorable tender — a VanDutch 55 named Lioncub. #MonacoGP https://t.co/imLYYhw8Uc pic.twitter.com/C3WzzyQZh0 — Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) May 20, 2024

Most famously, when Kimi Raikkonen was forced to retire early from the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix, rather than go back to his team garage he instead walked straight to the harbour to find his yacht.

Moments later, he was spotted lounging in the sun onboard his private yacht with his friends - with the F1 race going on without him.

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Incredible sight as world's most spectacular superyachts race in Cornwall

Twelve classic yachts crewed by some of the best sailors in the world have been thrilling spectators with exhilarating action

• 16:46, 4 JUN 2024

People in Cornwall have been treated to an incredible sight this week as some of the world’s most spectacular superyachts and classic yachts have been racing close to shore. Gathering in Falmouth for the first event of the Richard Mille Cup, twelve classic yachts have been thrilling spectators on land and sea with views of exhilarating action in and around Falmouth Bay from the racing fleets of Schooners and Cutters crewed by some of the best sailors in the world.

Described as the “most beautiful” Classic Yacht Regatta, the Richard Mille Cup began in Falmouth this week, and ends in France on June 15. Three days of inshore racing in Falmouth Bay from Monday to Wednesday will be followed by a passage race to Dartmouth, Devon and coastal racing in Cowes, Isles of Wight before the grand finale in Le Havre.

“What a wonderful time for the Port of Falmouth, with the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club hosting the amazing Richard Mille Cup once more in 2024,” says the RCYC’s new Commodore Richard Pugh. “These truly magnificent and iconic yachts generate excitement and interest for sailors and ‘land-lubbers’ alike.

“In these very early days of my tenure as Commodore of the RCYC and on behalf of us all at the Club I extend a warm welcome to owners, skippers, crews and spectators in Falmouth. Have a wonderful regatta.”

Read more: Giant cruise ship arrives in Cornwall - and leaves immediately

Falmouth Harbour with the RCYC as Regatta hosts are showcasing the first events of the two-week competition featuring historic yachts - which began with a welcome on Sunday, June 2, for more than 300 owners, crews and their entourages.

There are 25 pictures in this photo story - click on the 'Next' button at the bottom of the page to see them all.

Pictured is pilot cutter Alpha in Falmouth Bay on the second day of racing for the Richard Mille Cup.

Peter Lucas is the skipper of Cynthia, one of the classic yachts competing in the races this year and built in Falmouth in 1910. The gaff cutter is the only completely engineless yacht taking part in the event.

Each day in Falmouth, racing has begun at around 10:30am, and finishes at around 15:00, with race organisers aiming to bring the finishing line as close to Pendennis Point as conditions allow.

During last year’s Richard Mille Cup the RCYC Sailing Trust took eighty local young people out on the water to watch the racing aboard the pleasure boat Princessa and proved such a focus the watchmaker is supporting a similar outing this year.

“It’s important to us that the wider community feels included, with the opportunity to enjoy what is a very rare sight in this country,” says event director at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Sarah Hancock. “This year 95 young people from all over Cornwall will have a memorable day out aboard the Princessa, feeling very much part of the event and even sporting the same branded Richard Mille regatta hats and wristbands worn by the race team and crews."

Sarah added: " We hope that we can contribute to the promotion of our local area, hosting the owners and crews for an opening reception at Trelissick House with its stunning views over the Carrick Roads and for prizegiving at the National Maritime Museum.”

Falmouth Harbour CEO Miles Carden commented, “Falmouth - the third deepest natural harbour in the world with a history steeped in boatbuilding and renovation - is an incredibly hospitable port town. Mooring and berthing in the heart of our inner harbour accentuates the spectatorship of the Richard Mille Cup for the community and for crews and guests - an opportunity to step straight off these beautiful boats into our vibrant town."

Miles added: " Hosting the prestige and size of these vessels is not without its complexities but all do-able thanks to a brilliant Harbour team. We are delighted to again be hosting the start of this incredible race.”

Superyachts Viveka and Monnbeam IV cross paths as racing gets underway on Tuesday, June 4.

Built in 1889, Thalia, one of the oldest active yachts in British waters.

Famous racing yacht Moonbeam, built in 1903, sails past St Anthony lighthouse.

With more wind in the bay for the second day of racing, the classic yachts were able to show off their speed.

The Richard Mille contenders are invited owners and charterers of yachts built before 1939 or faithful replicas of such yachts, with vessels competing in the Schooner and Cutter categories.

1911 racing yacht Mariquita was actually used as a houseboat after the Second World War.

Mariquita came second overall in the Richard Mille Cup last year.

Towering over every other yacht in the bay is Atlantic, a replica of the 1903 three-masted schooner.

The original Atlantic held a Trans-Atlantic Race record from 1905 until 1998.

Sadly the orginal Atlantic fell into disrepair and was broken up in 1982.

This faithful replica of Atlantic was built in 2008.

Pictured is the 1903 Kelpie.

The event includes racing and social events organised by the Royal Cornwall and the Royal Dart Yacht Clubs, the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes and the Société des Régates du Havre.

As befitting such a prestigious event, the three-foot-high Richard Mille trophy was designed by Garrard, jewellers to the British Royal Family for the last 300 years and designers of the America’s Cup trophy 170 years ago.

Pictured is Moonbeam IV racing against the backdrop of dark clouds.

The 1911 racing yacht Mariquita sails past Pendennis Castle.

The second edition Richard Mille Cup is taking place from June 2 to June 15 2024 with further details of the events, races and competing vessels announced and updated at www.richardmillecup.com

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Yachting World

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Dykstra’s Exo superyacht concept borrows the idea of exoskeletons from nature to create wide open space below decks

Defined as a yacht over 78ft (24m), superyachts are run by a professional crew and are often built to eye-watering specifications (and budgets!)

For many years, the word superyacht was synonymous with fuel-guzzling motor boats. It is refreshing, then, to see that many superyacht designers in recent years returning to sail, alongside experimenting with form and function.

From 100ft wooden yachts fitted with fully electric systems – taking advantage of advances in clean energy – to luxury day cruisers and high performance minded designs, the world of the superyacht sailing boats continues to be an innovative space.

Even fuel powered superyachts are seeing a boom in creative design and are breaking boundaries in terms of what can be done to make huge luxury cruisers environmentally friendly while providing the ease of use and aesthetics to be expected in a £multi-million yacht.

Read all of the latest superyacht reviews and features on YachtingWorld.com

Breaking news: One dead, six missing after sailing superyacht sinks off Sicily

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Sunreef 100 Eco first look: unlimited range without emitting any carbon?

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.            ) 2000-2024   •   The global authority in superyachting NEWSLETTERS Yachts Home The Superyacht Directory Yacht Reports Brokerage News The largest yachts in the world The Register Yacht Advice Yacht Design 12m to 24m yachts Monaco Yacht Show Builder Directory Designer Directory Interior Design Directory Naval Architect Directory Yachts for sale home Motor yachts Sailing yachts Explorer yachts Classic yachts Sale Broker Directory Charter Home Yachts for Charter Charter Destinations Charter Broker Directory Destinations Home Mediterranean South Pacific Rest of the World Boat Life Home Owners' Experiences Conservation and Philanthropy Interiors Suppliers Owners' Club Captains' Club BOAT Showcase Boat Presents Events Home World Superyacht Awards Superyacht Design Festival Design and Innovation Awards Young Designer of the Year Award Artistry and Craft Awards Explorer Yachts Summit Ocean Talks The Ocean Awards BOAT Connect Between the bays Golf Invitational BOATPro Home Superyacht Insight Global Order Book Premium Content Product Features Testimonials Pricing Plan Tenders & Equipment Race: Inside Riva's First 50 Metre Superyacht This 50-metre Riva takes the storied brand into a whole new size bracket. Carlo Riva would have been proud, says Risa Merl When the Riva 50 Metri made her public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019, the name emblazoned on her transom – Race – gave a hint as to who her owner was. And in case there was any doubt, the treasure trove of Ferrari memorabilia on board and a very unusual automotive-inspired bridge made it crystal clear. As a board member, chairman of product development and 13.2 per cent stakeholder in the Ferretti Group , parent company of Riva, Piero Ferrari’s choice of builder is unsurprising. But this famous engineer’s passion for the brand is genuinely infectious. “Riva details are distinct from any other yacht,” he enthuses. At 49.9 metres,  Race  is the largest-ever Riva yacht, proudly previewed in June 2019 at Venice’s Arsenal, during an exclusive client event. She’s also the first to emerge from the  Riva Superyachts Division , which was established in 2014 at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, where its CRN, Custom Line and Pershing superyachts are built. The name Riva most vividly evokes the sexy runabouts that made the brand famous in the 1960s and 70s. But Carlo Riva always envisioned a place for larger Riva boats, as seen in his collaboration with De Vries ( Feadship ) and later CRN on the 24-metre Riva Caravelle series, and his personal yacht, 30.5-metre  Vespucci , which was delivered in 1978 and relaunched in 2018 after a thorough refit. Two exterior styles, each drawing inspiration from classic Rivas, are offered on the same technical platforms in the Riva Superyachts series, in 50-, 60-, 70- and 95-metre sizes. This first design is inspired by the 1964 Riva Caravelle series. The second option is sportier, with rounded lines and a more aggressive profile, taken from the Riva coupé yachts and seen on the current Riva 76 Perseo and 88 Domino Super. The Riva 50 Metri’s exterior and interior were created by  Officina Italiana Design  in concert with Riva’s in-house team. “Race takes inspiration from the Caravelle, which was a true masterpiece conceived by Carlo Riva,” says Sergio Beretta, CEO of Officina Italiana Design, which he founded with chief designer Mauro Micheli. “The challenge was to innovate without forgetting the DNA of the Riva brand.” In essence,  Race  is a highly modernised take on the classic Caravelle. Both yachts feature parallelogram windows, as well as forward-sloping lines that give the impression of movement. During the Monaco show,  Race  had an enviable position at the very end of Jetée Lucciana, so you could admire her silver hull and clean and simple lines. “ Race  has a great personality,” says Micheli. “She has three straight lines that define each level. The design is clean, and we stayed away from overworked, elaborate or redundant lines and shapes, both in the exterior and the interior.” The exterior paint job is cool grey with a muted 20 per cent gloss finish, so as to avoid reflections seeping inside from her large windows. “The owner wanted lots of light and panoramic views,” says Beretta. “As with any other Riva yacht, we have paid great attention to the use of glass that gives light to the interior and puts the owner in contact with the surrounding nature.” Emphasis has also been given to external living spaces. According to Micheli, Ferrari wanted to have cosy spaces outside – like the forward deck lounge – where he could enjoy the yacht while under way. Ferrari was hands-on in every aspect of the build. “We worked with the owner from the start,” says Stefano de Vivo, the Ferretti Group’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We decided each detail with him, and he was involved in the project from the first day of thinking about the layout until the decision of the position of the plates at the end. This yacht is very much a part of him.” Ferrari’s previous boat was a Custom Line Navetta 37 motor yacht, and he also has a Riva 76 Bahamas. One of the first things that de Vivo points out is the use of lightweight materials derived from the aviation industry: a sandwiched panel made of fibreglass and Nomex – the latter is also used in Formula One cars. A veneer goes over the top to give the look of wood, but it’s much lighter. This veneer is found on all exterior panels, ceilings and the built-in exterior furniture. “By decreasing the weight, you have much better results in terms of fuel consumption,” says de Vivo. “At 14 knots,  Race  burns 300 litres per hour with the engines and generators on. It’s a very good result for us.” Powered by twin 1,360hp MTU 8V 4000 M63 diesel engines, this full-displacement yacht in aluminium alloy reaches a top speed of 15 knots and has a cruising range of 3,500 nautical miles at 11 knots. It was also vital that the first Riva 50 have the essence of an iconic Riva. This translated to an obsession with the material selection and a bevy of little details – even the stainless-steel drains on the deck are emblazoned with the Riva logo written in miniature. Custom doorknobs, similar to those seen on the Riva Dolcevita, were moulded to fit the owner’s hand perfectly. Race  has a holistic design, the same materials used inside and out to create a sense of harmony. Exterior features are brought inside, such as the teak decking of a classic Riva, which is found in the dayhead and the corridor leading to the bridge. All the materials used are familiar to the Riva family lineage – rich mahogany, gleaming stainless steel and lots of leather. A darker tone of mahogany was chosen to specifically mimic the colour used on the Aquariva models. The interior of  Race  is modern, masculine and distinctively Riva. There isn’t a dizzying array of materials; instead the design team concentrated on a uniform colour palette of grey and white, accentuated by mahogany, stainless steel, white statuario marble with grey veining and an abundance of glass, like the glass-framed main stairwell. Narrow strips of mahogany on the ceilings in the saloons and cabins add dimension and hide the air-conditioning output, as the air filters out between the wooden slats. These slats are carried throughout the boat, from the main saloon to the hallways and the guest cabins. The dining room has a soft grey carpet, and a pantry directly off this space hosts a dumb waiter serving three decks from the lower deck galley. “Following the owner’s wishes, the galley is situated on the lower deck – this is just one of the layout options of the Riva 50,” says Micheli. “This allowed us to obtain more space on the main deck and create a unique master suite.” Moving the galley allows the entire forward main deck to be laid out to fit an owner’s needs. Ferrari opted for a media room just before the master. Videoworks designed the entertainment system, which is outfitted with James speakers. This cosy spot is a shrine to all things Ferrari, including a painting of the owner’s car and Formula 1 memorabilia signed by the winning drivers. A glass wall separates the media room from the hallway, and an electric curtain in a silver metallic finish can close off this space for privacy. With an en suite off the media room, it can be converted to an additional guest suite, bringing the overall accommodation capacity up to 12. Though Ferrari usually has only four to six guests on board, it is good to know for a future Riva 50 Metri owner that this is possible. Below decks are four guest cabins – three doubles and one twin. The materials are the same that you would find in the owner’s area, with a prevalence of leather and grey tones. “We wanted the design to flow seamlessly everywhere,” says de Vivo. The interior volumes were arranged to allow Race to come in just under 500GT. Some compromises had to be made, as in the upper saloon, which is a bit smaller than you’d typically find on a 50-metre yacht. Instead of being full-beam, the designers opted for walk-around decks outside. In order to make the space feel larger, windows inside the upper saloon descend on either side and the aft doors open fully, letting a breeze come through and creating an indoor/outdoor living area. The controls for the windows are toggle switches, like those found on old Rivas such as Vespucci. The upper aft deck dining table, which seats 10, is made of Corian, just like a table you’d find on a smaller Riva. “Corian is coming back in fashion – it’s easier to clean and you can polish it in case of scratches,” says de Vivo. The mesh chairs by Dedon are ergonomically designed and so comfortable – you might sit down at dinner and never want to get up. But the sundeck beckons you to lounge for a post-dinner drink with loftier views. It is covered by a carbon-fibre hardtop with a forward angle, matching the geometry of the exterior. The stylish lounge chairs are crafted from mahogany bases with leather straps that raise or lower the back. Even in these tiny details the Riva lineage is clear. That goes for the bridge as well, where wood floors were chosen to match a classic Riva. “This is a technical area, but we think of it as a guest area,” says de Vivo. “So the finishes and quality of the interior are the same.” The steering wheel is a work of art, custom made and formed from a single piece of titanium. “The price of the boat includes everything but the wheel,” he jokes. But it’s the helm seat that really catches the eye. It is not your usual captain’s chair, but a genuine driver’s seat from a Ferrari California. It had to be augmented so it could work on board a yacht. “It was a big challenge really because chairs coming from Ferrari cars work differently – you need a key for the electric mechanism of the chair to work, otherwise you can’t move or adjust it,” says de Vivo. “So we had to customise it before installing it – and it took us a lot of time!” Wing stations are found on either side of the bridge, and there is a forward lounge area where the owner can sit and watch the yacht come into port, staying out of the way of the crew. The sunpads here, which rise via a hydraulic lift, conceal water toys. Of these, the “Ferrari-red” jet ski does not exactly match the cool silver tones of Race. “It would make more sense to have the jet ski in grey, but he didn’t want to repaint it,” says de Vivo. “So we built this to hide the jet ski.” A seven-metre tender is held below in the garage, which has a shell door for launching. When it is launched, the space is transformed into a beach club with loose furnishings. There is enough space for the area to be used as a gym even when under way with the tender inside. The second Riva 50 Metri is currently in build at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, with delivery slated for early 2021, before the summer season. According to Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi, seeing the Riva Superyachts Division come to life was a dream of Carlo Riva. “I’d like to try and cruise on her,” Riva said when he first saw the renderings of the 50-metre yacht that would become Race. He was taken by the boat’s simple yet elegant lines, says Micheli. Sadly, Carlo Riva passed away before Race was launched and did not get to see her completed. But his dream of the Riva brand growing, literally and figuratively, has certainly been realised. All photography courtesy of Alberto Cocchi More about this yacht Similar yachts for sale, more stories, most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings. 672 Wine Club Motorcycles Car of the Month Destinations Men’s Fashion Watch Collector Art & Collectibles Vacation Homes Celebrity Homes New Construction Home Design Electronics Fine Dining Benchmark Wines Brian Fox Art Disneyland Resort Ka La’I Wakiki Beach Kalamazoo Grill Raffles Hotels & Resorts Sports & Leisure Health & Wellness Best of the Best The Ultimate Gift Guide Meet Spitfire, a New 164-Foot Superyacht Based on a High-Performance Patrol Boat The newcomer features a robust hull by Ares Shipyard in Antalya, Turkey. Rachel cormack. Digital Editor Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories Rolex Unveils the First Authorized History of the Submariner Why Richemont’s Chairman Believes Luxury Watchmakers Need to Cut Production Share This Article Bannenberg & Rowell Design just proved you don’t have to reinvent the wheel—or hull, in this case—to stand out. Related Stories This Barely Driven Aston Martin Valkyrie Could Fetch $3 Million at Auction Fore! Lexus and Malbon’s New SUV Is Here for Serious Golfers Review: Bentley’s Opulent Bentayga EWB Azure V8 SUV Is a Surprisingly Agile Beast The new 164-footer, christened Spitfire on account of her grunt, pairs a sleek, sporty, and somewhat utilitarian exterior with a luxurious, amenity-plenty interior. Bannenberg & Rowell executed the design, while fellow British outfit Lateral Naval Architects spearheaded the engineering. Spitfire is lightweight in construction but punchy in terms of performance and range, according to Bannenberg & Rowell. The studio didn’t share any details regarding the propulsion system but says the “super-nimble” yacht can cruise “electrically and silently,” can hit 22 knots, and cover up to 3,500 nautical miles. Spitfire is designed to run like a workhorse but offers all the requisite mod cons. Bannenberg & Rowell has stuck with the old naming conventions in a nod to the newcomer’s military roots. The layout includes buddy quarters (guest cabins) and a wardroom (salon) with an opening roof, as well as a scramble station (helm) and a fun store (gym). The owner doesn’t just get a lavish suite, but also a private, forward area with a Jacuzzi. Other highlights of the yacht include an outdoor cinema, a grill, and a beach club with fold-out terraces. Spitfire is one of Bannenberg & Rowell’s smaller and more understated creations. The studio previously penned a 367-foot superyacht with two cinemas, two jacuzzis, a large wellness center, a 33-foot pool, a DJ station, and a jazz bar, for example. That may have resulted in a shorter production time. Bannenberg & Rowell says the vessel is due to be delivered in 2026. Click here to see all the photos of Spitfire. Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the… Read More On: Bannenberg & Rowell Design More Marine What It’s Like to Watch an America’s Cup Race Right From the Water Austin Parker Unveils Not One but 6 New Yachts at Cannes Fest This New 72-Foot Yacht’s New Hybrid Propulsion System Is the First of Its Kind Axopar Just Unveiled Two Electric Boats That Soar to Thrilling Speeds Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently. Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year. Give the Gift of Luxury Latest Galleries in Marine Spitfire superyacht in photos. The AX/E 22 and AX/E 25 in Photos More from our brands, natalie portman wears a classic dior look at deauville film festival, receives talent award, nba strikes airbus deal for 13 planes, delta to operate flights, ‘the bear,’ ‘oppenheimer’ and more win property masters guild awards, new york supreme court throws out lawsuit accusing helen frankenthaler foundation of exploiting the late artist’s legacy, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors. 260 COMMENTS Superyacht regatta calendar 2024: Dates, Events Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup September 8-14, 2024. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is the highlight of many a Maxi racing calendar and is back for its 34th edition in 2024. Staged off Sardinia's Costa Smeralda - known for its rocky scenery and turquoise waters - it continues to attract dedicated owners, highly skilled crews and exceptional yachts. Syra Please feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions. We welcome your ideas on improving the entire superyacht racing experience and especially that for the yacht owners. All the best, Peter Peter Craig Executive Director SuperYacht Racing Association [email protected] +1 781-639-9501 Skype: petercraig.pri. Superyacht Challenge Antigua Race Day Three 16 March 2024 Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua, 16 March 2024. The penultimate day of racing for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua (SYCA) got underway in brilliant sunshine under The Pillars of Hercules outside Nelson's Dockyard. During racing the gradient wind was a steady 14-17 knots, oscillating around an easterly direction. 52 SUPER SERIES Day 5 - PUERTO PORTALS 52 SUPER SERIES SAILING WEEK. September 23rd - September 28th | Valencia, Spain View all leaderboards • • Show more Bow Number Sail Check out the teams and crews Event date location Pure…. Yacht racing, sailing news, events and blogs Swan 65 test: The triumphant return of a true sailing icon. Read more. Yacht racing, sailing news, events and blogs from Yachting World, covering the world's biggest yacht races. Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is the pinnacle of big-boat racing. The 2019 edition drew a fleet of 53 yachts to Porto Cervo in Sardinia for a week of intense but ... Yachts racing at the Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 Length: 43.6m Builder: Vitters The largest (and newest) member of the J Class fleet, the 44-metre Vitters Svea, will be back racing in Palma for the cup after being crowned overall winner of the J Class last year. The original lines for this Super J were designed by Tore Holm in 1973 and Hoek Design Naval Architects was called on to revive the 75-year-old drawings and bring her up to date ... Home Yacht Racing Life is a website for fans of professional high-performance yacht racing. Latest sailing news, exclusive feature articles, interviews and profiles. ... The 52 Super Series is rumbling nicely through its thirteenth season, with two brand new boats already launched for the first event in Palma and. 12 yachts racing at the 2022 Superyacht Cup Palma 12 yachts racing at the 2022 Superyacht Cup Palma. 28 June 2022 • Written by Holly Overton. The Superyacht Cup gets underway this week in Palma, marking a significant occasion as Europe's longest-running superyacht regatta and one of the first racing events of the Mediterranean season. The four-day regatta runs from June 29 to July 2 and will ... Superyacht racing returns to New Zealand The regatta is comprised of New Zealand Millennium Cup, Multihull, and Corinthian divisions, with the role of principal race officer filled by Harold Bennett. Yacht: PERSEUS^3. Builder: PERINI NAVI Launched: 2014 Delivered: 2015 Status: Delivered. Length: 58.60m Beam: 11.40m Draught: 4.30m Gross Tons: 498. Exterior Designer: Perini Navi. The 52 SUPER SERIES The 52 SUPER SERIES was established in 2012 and quickly became renowned as the world's leading grand prix monohull yacht racing circuit. 2022 saw the tenth anniversary celebrations back in Barcelona where it all began at the Trofeo Conde de Godo regatta in May 2012. And now 2024 sees the circuit as strong as ever with an extremely high level ... Rolex Big Boat Series One of the best sailboat racing venues in the world, iconic San Francisco Bay, is ready to turn it on for the 60th edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series at St. Francis Yacht Club, September 11-15, 2024. The most prestigious regatta on the West Coast drew 71 boats and nearly 700 sailors to the docks of St. Francis Yacht Club, to hear what classes will race for Rolexes and perpetual trophies on ... Everything you need to know about the 37th America's Cup The America's Cup will be held in 2024 in Barcelona. Racing in the 37th America's Cup Match itself, which is a best of 13 (first to seven) format will start on Saturday 12th October 2024 and ... The Glitz and Glamour of Superyachts at the 2023 F1 Grand Prix in Monaco The Monaco F1 Grand Prix attracts an impressive fleet of superyachts, adding to the event's glamour and excitement. Philip Green's Lionheart, Wedge Too, Sarastar, Faith, and Man of Steel are notable superyachts that grace the Monaco harbor during the event. These vessels epitomize opulence, elegance, and exclusivity, enhancing the overall ... Sail GP: how do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains F50 catamarans can travel at up to 50 knots. John G. Mabanglo/EPA. A yacht also makes waves as it pushes the water around and under the hull from the bow (front) to the stern (back) of the boat. Fastest yacht: The giant record breakers Photo: Mark Lloyd / Lloyd Images. Skorpios has been built with the express brief to break offshore records as the world's fastest yacht. Her recent win in the 2021 Fastnet Race - only weeks ... The most epic super-yachts at the F1 Monaco Grand Prix The biggest yacht at the Monaco Grand Prix (so far) is actually owned by the Ritz-Carlton. • 149 Cabins. • Pools, Spa & Gym. • Rooms cost $10,000 to $100,000+. It's essentially a luxury ... RACE Yacht • Piero Ferrari $30M Superyacht The RACE is a 50-meter (164ft) yacht that can accommodate up to 12 guests in complete luxury. The yacht's interior is designed to provide a sophisticated and elegant ambiance. The use of luxurious materials, such as marble, leather, and high-end fabrics, creates a sense of opulence throughout the yacht. The RACE has nine crew members who ... Superyachts Descend on Monaco for Grand Prix Race This Weekend May 27, 2022 at 6:57 AM EDT. Save. Monaco is the place to be this weekend in the yacht world as the super wealthy rush to take in the Formula One Grand Prix. The nearly 100-year-old annual race is ... Incredible sight as world's most spectacular superyachts race in Video Loading. Superyachts race in the Richard Mille Cup. People in Cornwall have been treated to an incredible sight this week as some of the world's most spectacular superyachts and classic ... Superyacht reviews and features Y-Yachts founder Michael Schmidt, the veteran racing sailor, industry pioneer and former Hanse Yachts owner, is known for… Superyacht Cup Palma: Battle of the giants June 12, 2023 2024 Super Mac Race Yacht Scoring is a featured packed 100% web based regatta administration and scoring system that simplifies the task of competitor registration, event management, competitor and media communications while providing results in near-real time to competitors and the World following your event on the internet. ... 2024 Super Mac Race Bayview Yacht ... Race: Inside Riva's First 50 Metre Superyacht At 49.9 metres, Race is the largest-ever Riva yacht, proudly previewed in June 2019 at Venice's Arsenal, during an exclusive client event.She's also the first to emerge from the Riva Superyachts Division, which was established in 2014 at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, where its CRN, Custom Line and Pershing superyachts are built. Meet Spitfire, a New 164-Foot Superyacht Based on a Robust Patrol Boat The new 164-footer, christened Spitfire on account of her grunt, pairs a sleek, sporty, and somewhat utilitarian exterior with a luxurious, amenity-plenty interior. Bannenberg & Rowell executed ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht