A new transatlantic race for super-sailing yachts has been announced by the organisers of the Superyacht Cup Palma, the organisation promoting a growing number of events for large sailing yachts. The new race will start from Antigua in April 2008 and is designed to attract yachts that would normally be crossing in delivery mode to re-position for the Mediterranean season.
The Superyacht Cup organisers, who are well known for their October regatta in Palma, the rating system they use and the pursuit race style of racing for big yachts, will stage a fleet start in Antigua.
The course then takes them to the Azores where the re-start will be for a pursuit style race to a finish point on the European mainland, yet to be announced.
Kate Branagh of the Superyacht Cup, said that it is hoped that those owners who can not afford the time to do the whole race will hopefully join in the Azores for the 800 to 900-mile leg from the Azores.
The popularity of the race has been buoyed by the large number of entries already paid up for the Superyacht Cup Palma in June, designed to be staged between the Louis Vuitton challenger series for the America’s Cup and the Cup match itself which starts on 23 June.
There are at least 25 boats measuring in excess of 30m already signed up with the final entry hoped to be close to 60. Entries include the likes of Maltese Falcon, the J Class yacht Ranger and the cream of the world’s biggest sailing yachts.
For more details see Yachting World’s March edition due out at the beginning of February. Also, see www.superyachtcup.com