SUPERSAIL WORLD 47 APRIL-JUNE 2018
across the Pacific, through Micronesia and into the Indian
Ocean. She has not been to the Superyacht Cup in Palma
since 2011 and her return is keenly awaited.
As ever, the organisers have to come up with courses
that gives these groups of very different yachts, with varied
predicted speeds, as good and even-handed racing as
possible. “It’s never easy when you have very diverse boats,”
admits Kate Branagh, “but we have to come up with a format
that keeps as many people as possible happy. Matching boats
can be difficult and we have to rely on experts with their data.”
The shoreside programme has been developed slightly,
too. The Pendennis paddleboard challenge on the Friday
evening returns. It proved to be really popular last year, and
virtually every yacht crew put in a team.
Among the sponsors, 100% Pure New Zealand is taking
a larger profile this year. New Zealand’s ambassador to
Spain, Andrew Jenks, will be at the event, and the group of
companies involved are actively promoting New Zealand as a
destination and its superyacht facilities to owners and crew
who may consider visiting for the next America’s Cup in 2021.
A daily prizegiving will take place at the race village and
is the start of the evening’s fun. “It is more or less the same
format,” says Branagh, “but with a few polished edges.”counts as a modern yacht and is one of the most renowned
designs by Philippe Briand (see our profile on page 58). She is
always a sight on the race course, and has been maintained in
immaculate condition.
This year sees the continuation of the relatively new
Corinthian or Spirit class, devised by superyacht regatta
organisers as a way of encouraging owners new to racing
to take part; or simply those who don’t want to take on
the organisational logistics and costs of full-on racing. The
interesting thing about this class is that those who have
participated in this white sails only class have gone on to
mix it in the spinnaker racing classes, with full race crews.
The Perini Navi Aquarius is a case in point: she took part in
the Corinthian division at the St Barths Bucket this year and
is now in full racing mode. The same is true for Missy, also
joining the spinnaker racing classes. The captain of Missy,
incidentally, is Malcolm McKeon’s son Matthew, who will be
especially keen to turn in a fitting result!
The largest yacht this year will be the 62m (203ft)
Hoek-designed schooner Athos. This fabulous yacht, with
her massive sail area, has been on a round-the-world cruise,
clocking up many tens of thousands of adventurous miles
under her keel. She has been as far north as Greenland, sailed