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A ‘pocket-sized’ Superyacht Cup 2017

Missing a few of its regulars, the 21st edition of Palma’s Superyacht Cup promises to be an intimate affair…

With racing taking place from 22 to 24 June, The Superyacht Cup, which has welcomed a fleet of 20-plus superyachts in recent years, has experienced a lesser take up this year due to a number of influencing factors.

“We are definitely down on numbers,” explains Kate Branagh, The Superyacht Cup’s event manager. “While we have lost a few regulars that are currently in Bermuda, our reduced fleet does not only come down to the America’s Cup. Other yachts, such as Ganesha, simply have alternative cruising plans this year – a trend that is bound to happen every now and again. So, we are a pocket-sized regatta this year.”

Taking part in the racing over the next few days will be 38.8m Atalante, 27.5m Atalante 1, 32m Bolero, 32m Farfalla, 33m Inoui, 32.6m Ribelle, 45m Saudade, 42m This is Us, 33m Win Win and 46m Windrose of Amsterdam, and Branagh anticipates the lower number to be beneficial.

“It has definitely been the right decision to continue the regatta this year despite less boats, otherwise we would have lost the continuity and momentum,” she reflects. “Nothing has been left out of the planning and we see a smaller fleet as an important opportunity for the owners and crew to meet and get to know each other in a more intimate environment.”

Particularly noteworthy of this year’s fleet is the comparatively high ratio of boats participating with new owners that haven’t raced before, which include Atalante 1, Bolero and Windrose of Amsterdam. This means owners continue to be attracted by the idea of the regatta circuit – something that The Superyacht Cup and the SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA) have been addressing in recent years.

The event commences with a celebration of Astilleros de Mallorca’s 75th anniversary on the eve of the racing. The shipyard has been a long-time sponsor of the regatta and hopes to mark the milestone amongst a ready-made target audience.

Last year, The Superyacht Cup was the first superyacht regatta to engage crews and owners in protecting and restoring the health of the marine environment with the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas programme. This year will be no different as the team aims to cut down on the impact of single use plastic through a number of initiatives including recyclable bar cups and a free water filling station.

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