1 June 2022
The
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta gets underway today, an event
organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of new
title sponsor Giorgio Armani. Racing will run through Saturday, 4th
June. The 15th edition of the event officially opens the YCCS
sporting calendar, as well as the Mediterranean superyacht sailing
season. Eighteen boats are enrolled, ready to sail in and around the
islands of the La Maddalena archipelago.
As a preview to what is set to be a wonderful week of sailing in
Sardinia, the two classic schooners, Mariette of 1915 and Shenandoah
of Sark put on a splendid show on the water today when they engaged
in a friendly sail in company between Capo Ferro, and the Monaci
islet before continuing past the Isola delle Bisce.
Mariette of 1915 - a twin-masted gaff schooner built in Rhode
Island, on the East Coast of the USA, by Nathanael Herreshoff -
returns to Porto Cervo after her last participation in the
Superyacht Regatta in 2019. For Shenandoah of Sark, meanwhile, this
is her first time at the event and, together with Kenora, she will
enjoy following the racing and the social events without competing.
This historic sailing yacht, the most impressive of the fleet with
her 42-metres in length, was built in 1902 by the renowned Townsend
& Downey shipyard and in 2007 visited Sardinian waters for the
Veteran Boat Rally, organised by the YCCS in Porto Cervo.
The WallyCento Magic Carpet Cubed returns after her last visit in
2019, where she claimed her third consecutive victory. In addition
to Mariette of 1915, participants in the Giorgio Armani Superyacht
Regatta include the 33-metre yachts Inoui and Win-Win, the Wally 94’
Magic Blue, the 32-metre sloop Ribelle, and the Southern Wind
Morgana, built in 2020 and competing in the event for the first
time. A new entry to the regatta will be the Wally 93’ Bullitt, one
of the brand's most recent launches, which debuted at the PalmaVela
in May. The Spirit Yachts 111 Geist will also take part, a vessel
that was named Sailing Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht
Awards in Monaco in 2021, two years on from her launch.
In the Multihull category, the Gunboat 68 Highland Fling 17, winner
of the most recent edition of the Superyacht Regatta, will do battle
with Allegra, a catamaran designed by Nigel Irens and Nauta Yacht
Design.
Once again, the Southern Wind Rendezvous and Trophy will take place
within the event, gathering together boats from the shipyard to sail
in company in the waters of northern Sardinia. Five yachts are
enrolled in this category: the SW 82s Ammonite and Feelin’ Good, the
SW 100 Cape Arrow, the SW 102 EgiWave and the SW 96 Sorceress.
Michael Illbruck, Commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda: "We
are delighted to open the sporting season in Porto Cervo with the
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta. It will, as always, be thrilling
to see the imposing superyacht fleet lined up along the dock and
sailing through the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. On
behalf of the YCCS, I'd like to welcome all the participants and
wish each of them fair winds!”
The first starting signal is scheduled for Wednesday, 1st June, at
12:30 p.m. The forecast gives variable winds of 5 to 8 knots.
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