Superyacht Cup Palma 22-25 June 2016

The Superyacht Cup is the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe, a highlight in the calendar for yacht owners, captains and crew who visit Palma in Mallorca each year for this stunning four day event. The month of June brings fair weather and breezes, affording the Bay of Palma some of the best racing conditions in the Mediterranean.

For this year's 20th edition of the Superyacht Cup, a fleet of the largest classic schooners will gather to compete on Wednesday the 22nd of June, together with three vintage schooners, Mariette, Germania Nova, and Naema, taking part in The Big Class Day Sail.

From 13.30pm - 15.30pm these iconic yachts will sail from Dic de l'Oest, via Isle de Sech, to the harbour wall in front of the cathedral, a truly unique display for race fans and lovers of classic beauty. 

Classics in the Race

54m Shenandoah: One of the most famous and striking of all the classics, she was built in 1902, survived two World Wars and has sailed the Pacific, the Antarctic and the North Atlantic, and has circumnavigated the globe many times. 

55m Elena: Built in 2009 by Factoria Naval de Marin, she is a perfect replica of the original Elena, drawn up by the 'Wizard of Bristol', Nathanael Herreshoff. The owner's brief was to 'build me a schooner that can win!" and Elena has since claimed victories on both sides of the Atlantic.

55m Eleonora: Deigned by Nathanael Herreshoff, she is an exact replica of the schooner Westward, and one of the most best known and top-performing racing schooners in the world. Steel hulled and wooden masted like her predecessor, Eleonora was built at the Van der Graaf shipyard, and launched in 2000. Since then, she has triumphed at numerous regattas, including Antigua Sailing Week and Les Voiles de St Tropez. She has also raced in the Solent in the Westward Cup and competed in the Round the Island Race in 2012 with Sir Ben Ainslie co-helming.

The SYC will be the first outing on a race course for the 60m Germania Nova. Photo © Northrop & Johnson

60m Germania Nova: Traditional gaff-rigged schooner built as a replica of the classic 1908 racing schooner Germania, with the original hull lines, deck- and sail-plans used by Max Oertz. Although a worldwide traveller, the Superyacht Cup will be her first outing on a race course.

24m Kelpie of Falmouth: Gaff schooner designed by Francis Sweisguth and built in Maine in 1929. She was completely restored in 2014 to look good and race hard, which she does! She placed fourth during the 2014 edition of the Pendennis Cup, pipping Mariette and Adix to the schooner class overall.

41m Mariette: Two-masted schooner from 1915 also designed by Nathanael Herreshoff, responsible for numerous America's Cup defenders. Although she was built over 100 years ago, she remains in top form, scoring a premium slot at the 2012 Pendennis Cup, and third place in last year's Transatlantic Race, ahead of Rambler and Comanche.

The 41m two-masted schooner Mariette of 1915 scored top slot at the 2012 Pendennis Cup

35m Moonbeam IV: Built by William Fife & Sons, one of very few entirely original classic gaff cutter yachts on the circuit today. She was launched in 1920 and won the Kings' Cup in both 1920 and 1923. The renowned French single-handed sailor, Eric Tabarly, described her as "the most beautiful yacht ever built". She has won everything from the Vele d'Epoca, the Trophée Bailli de Suffren, Les Voiles d'Antibes, Calanques Classique, Cannes, St Tropez, Barcelona and Mahon, as well as the PYTA (Prix du Yacht de Tradition l'Année) and the Big Boats category of the Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge.

39m Naema: A schooner and replica of the popular charter yacht Panda, built in 1938. Like Germania Nova, she is a first timer on the racing circuit and just as keen to demonstrate her racing prowess.

39m schooner Naema

FULL PROGRAM

Clean Regattas

The Superyacht Cup is the first superyacht regatta to engage crews and owners in joining the race to restore ocean health with Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas programme. The ocean is in crisis with plastic waste, oil spills and acidification threatening not only marine life but also our health for generations to come.

More information on the Clean Regattas Program.