It’s finally here! The 2019 Superyacht Cup has hit Palma. The preparations are done, the crew have gathered – it’s time to race. The competition begins officially on Thursday the 20th with the opening Pantaenius Race, which will see an impressive selection of 13 of the world’s most breathtaking superyachts take advantage of the idyllic conditions offered by Palma Bay. Before the official start, Wednesday 19 June was a practice day out on the water with two J Class boats racing head on for some fun. Everyone out on the water were working on their boat handling.
Anticipation is growing among assembled owners, skippers and crew as the start leans closer, just hours away. Nowhere is the excitement more apparent than onboard SYC first-timers Huckleberry and Kealoha. “It’s something we have been meaning to do for a few years now, and this year it has come together for us so we are very excited to finally be involved,” says Kealoha’s Captain James Saddington. “It’s a bit of a home base for us so we can involve a lot of people we work with on a day to day basis, so we can have a boat full of people we know and have a great week of sailing!”
The SYC dream was also one for the owners of Huckleberry. Co-skipper Carlos Pottier said: “The owners are fairly new to racing events and did their first superyacht regatta at the St Barths Bucket, which they enjoyed, and were keen to do this event in Palma. So they are here to enjoy it and have fun!
“The event ticks all the boxes for them, it’s in Palma and close to home so it’s all good – we are looking forward to it very much, very excited, and hopefully with a successful outcome.”
Topaz, Frank Pain/Hoek Design, Holland Yachtbouw, 42,7m, Superyacht Cup Palma 2019.
Following the opening day on the 20th is the Southern Spars Happy Hour and an SYC Dock Party. Other highlights include Friday’s North Sails Happy Hour, Marinepool Paddle Board Challenge and the Owner’s Dinner at the St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, as well as Saturday’s celebratory prize-giving in the SYC Race Village.
On the eve of the start of the SYC, the New Zealand officials had a special announcement. A cavalcade of superyacht events are to take place around the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland. A total of 11 events including superyacht regattas, J Class regattas, superyacht fishing competitions and island cruises are to take place between January 2020 and March 2021. They are timed to fit in around the America’s Cup World Series, the Prada Cup challenge and America’s Cup Match events. The first event will be the NZ Millenium Cup Superyacht Regatta in the Bay of Islands from January 29 to February 2020. Visit here for full info.
Watch this space for daily updates of the Superyacht Cup Palma!
Nilaya, Nauta Design/Reichel Pugh, Baltic Yachts, 34m, Superyacht Cup Palma 2019.
