Superyachts Descend On Virgin Gorda

Superyachts from around the world have started to descend on the YCCS Marina in Virgin Gorda, the British Virgin Islands. Boat International Media and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda are preparing to welcome owners, guests and race crew to the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous that starts tomorrow Wednesday 19th and continues to the 22nd. The event which will host an impressive collection of superyachts will take place off the tranquil island of Virgin Gorda, where the stunning coastline, inshore coral reefs and all the warm Caribbean trade winds one could ask for will combine to present outstanding sailing conditions.

A mix of performance and cruising superyachts divided by class will compete over three days to take the prestigious title. New superyachts to the event include the Italian race team Robertissima on Leopard III, who are rapidly cementing their name on the international race circuit, as well as an exciting selection of new build superyachts; award winning Seahawk by Perini Navi, carbon composite Inoui built by Vitters, Humphrey's built J Class inspired yacht Tempus Fugit and the powerfully rigged Ganesha launched by Vitters in late 2013. Returning superyachts include Aiyana, Freya and Sarafin, who will be aiming to capitalise upon their knowledge of the tricky waters out on the race course. Stay right here with Megayacht Global as we will keep you posted on the days action and results as they come in.

Perini Navi Cup 2013: Day 1 Update

The magnificent fleet of Perini Navi yachts took to the waters off Porto Cervo today for the first day of racing of the Perini Navi Cup 2013. The fifth edition of the event, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, is open to yachts designed and built by the renowned Italian shipyard and will run through to Saturday 31st August. The first race of the event was dominated on the water by the performance cruising sloop P2 which crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead while the 50m (164ft) Silencio went on to claim victory in corrected time.

Light winds of around 8kts kept the fleet moving along a coastal course of approximately 13 miles that saw them cross the starting line off Porto Cervo with a course set for the Secca Tre Monti rock. After rounding the rock the sailing superyachts headed upwind to round the Secca delle Bisce before racing to the finish off the Gulf of Pevero.

P2, a 38m (124ft) sloop stormed around the course well ahead of the other competitors. Captain Jonathan Kline was pleased with the P2’s performance and commented: "This is our first Perini Navi Cup with P2 and we found the conditions we expected, light winds but excellent for P2. We knew we would be able to pass most of the fleet in the first leg but then we would have to extend significantly to maintain the lead. I don’t know yet how we did, we finished quite far ahead of most of the boats but I don’t know if it was enough to take first place."

America’s Cup sailor Dawn Riley was pleased with the teamwork aboard Silencio, "We won today, well done to all! I am the tactician on board and the entire crew did really well today, they were perfect. This is my third Perini Navi Cup and you have to know how to sail these boats, everything is so big. The owner said he wanted to get just one podium finish so I guess we did that! I just hope we can keep it up now."

Third place went to the 52m (170ft) Tamsen, racing in the event with a crew of almost 60 friends and family members.

Lets see what surprises racing brings tomorrow when the yacht line for a start at 11am with light to moderate easterly winds.

Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous 2013

A great couple of days of racing was had by the owners, guests and crews of the twenty superyachts that took part in the 2013 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous. The racing took place in the beautiful waters and surroundings of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.

As the owners and their superyachts took to the starting line for the last race it was all to play for across all the classes, as the battle for the penultimate 1st place was up for grabs. The race committee for the third and final race chose a long course clockwise around Virgin Gorda and outside all the Dog Islands, with the Division B yachts rounding inside Ginger Island and the Division A yachts heading outside Ginger.

Most of the yachts headed left up the first beat, but the first real test was at the northeast corner of Virgin Gorda. Here the kites were hoisted and the yachts were set for an epic gybing battle all along the south side of the island.

By the time the Division B yachts reached Round Rock, Athos was out in front with Wild Horses just three minutes behind. Sejaa was also having a good day, rounding third.

Meanwhile, the Division A yachts were also battling it out. By the time they got to the western end of Ginger Island, it was Indio that had made the best progress on the run, dropping her kite and hardening up for the reach to the Dogs a minute ahead of Salperton and Cape Arrow, who were separated by just 10 seconds. Hanuman, P2 and Rebecca were not far behind.

From the Dogs it was a final beat to the finish, and it was Indio who took the final line honours. But with so many close finishes there were some tense moments as the yachts headed back to the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda marina.

Division A Final Results

•  1st: Salperton IV
• 2nd: Cape Arrow
• 3rd: Hanuman
• 4th: P2
• 5th: Indio
• 6th: Rebecca
• 7th: Freya
• 8th: Zefira
• 9th: Unfurled
• 10th: Endeavour
• 11th: Blues
• 12th: Baiurdo VI 

   Division B Final Results

• 1st: Bolero
• 2nd: Athos
• 3rd: Sarafin
• 4th: Wild Horses
• 5th: Parsifal III
• 6th: Carl Linne
• 7th: Aiyana
• 8th: Sejaa

Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous Day 1 Results

The 1st day of the Caribbean Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta results are in and the second days racing is underway as we speak, in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the BVI. Thank you to the media crew at the event for this great video. More information on the racing can be found at the events web site:

www.superyachtregattaandrendezvous.com

Day 1 Racing Results

YACHT Indio Hanuman P2 Sojana Firefly Ganesha Salperton Marie Zefira Bliss Billy Budd Altair Lady B

YARD Wally Royal Huisman Perini Navi Green Marine Claasen Shipyards Fitzroy Yachts Fitzroy Yachts Vitter Fitzroy Yachts Yachting Developments Royal Huisman Derecktor Vitters

TIME 03:53:03 03:57:12 04:05:08 04:10:51 04:11:08 04:13:52 04:14:31 04:23:05 04:23:45 04:29:40 04:44:41 06:10:24 DNF

PLACE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

First Race, First Win for 60m Hetairos

The beautiful 197ft Hetairos, project Panamax that was launched during the summer in Finland from the Baltic yard has just won the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta. This is the yachts first race and they have crossed the line in first place, not a bad way to start the superyacht racing season.

The Regatta was from the island of Tenerife in the Canary islands to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, a total mileage of around 2,600nm. Hetairos finished the race in a super fast time of 8 days:10 hrs:58 min:30sec.

Superyacht Racing is Upon Us

Superyacht racing is upon us this week and next week with the 4th Perini Navi Cup taking place in Porto Cervo, Sardinia this week and the Rolex Maxi Worlds taking place the following week in the same place. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is going to be busy and over flowing with Superyachts for the next two weeks. Mega Yacht Global will bring you the reports as it happens.

"Let The Battle Begin"