Regattas Recommence in Style with the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta

The 14th edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta officially kicked off yesterday, 1 June 2021, signalling the reopening of the superyacht sailing season in the Mediterranean. Racing will begin today and run through Saturday, 5 June.

The event is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of the title sponsor Loro Piana. Sardinia is currently classified by the Italian government as one of the lowest-risk "white zones", however every aspect of the event has been carefully evaluated by the YCCS to ensure maximum safety for participants, partners and staff, in order to protect the health of everyone involved. A collaboration has also been set up with the Mater Olbia hospital for the relaunch of sporting activities at the YCCS, in order to carry out testing at the event.

After a year of enforced inactivity due to the pandemic, boats are now back on the water for racing and 16 superyachts are moored along the docks of Porto Cervo, grouped into three divisions: Multihull, Superyacht and Rendezvous. 

New for this edition is the participation of four multihull yachts, which will compete under a compensated time system designed specifically for them - the ORCmh. Large and luxurious yet high-performance catamarans is a category that promises growth in the near future, and is attracting both new owners and experienced yachtsman from the more classic monohulls, as in the case of Highland Fling 17, a 68-footer from the Gunboat shipyard. The other multihulls taking part are: Allegra, a 25-metre design by Irens and Nauta Design, R-Six, a HH66 designed by Morelli & Melvin, and Give Me Five, an 18.5-metre Outremer 5x by VPLP naval architects.

The Superyacht category features five boats, ranging from the 94-foot SW Aragon to the 115-foot Swan Shamanna. Completing the list are Missy, a 33-metre carbon hull designed by McKeon, the Wally Y3K and the Farr 100 Leopard 3.

Racing for the Superyacht division will follow staggered departures according to the speed of the hulls, a method that ensures maximum safety during racing for these imposing vessels.

The Rendezvous category is entirely dedicated to yachts from the South African Southern Wind Shipyard who will gather in the waters of the Costa Smeralda for the SW Rendezvous and Trophy to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the SWS yard. The seven yachts attending will take part in the social programme of the event together with the other competitors, while on the water they will meet each day for a friendly sail in company.

Michael Illbruck, Commodore of the YCCS, says: "Seeing sixteen superyachts lined up in front of the YCCS for the first race of the season is the best indicator we could have for an optimistic resumption of activities. We want to share this positivity with the region that is our home and, more generally, with the entire yachting industry - because international regattas like this one are an important driver for the economy. Fair winds to all!

Image credits: YCCS/Studio Borlenghi