yacht racing america cup

The 37th America’s Cup

On the 14th of December 2021, a new team has been launched. Alinghi Red Bull Racing will be challenging for the next America’s Cup.

Red Bull joins forces with double America’s Cup–winning syndicate Alinghi in a campaign for the oldest trophy in international sport. Alinghi founder Ernesto Bertarelli and two-time Olympic champion Hans-Peter Steinacher announced the launch of the new Alinghi Red Bull Racing at the Société Nautique de Genève.

More info coming soon!

Click here to read the full news.

The 37th America’s Cup team

ERNESTO BERTARELLI

TF35 skipper, Chairman of Alinghi Red Bull Racing

ARNAUD PSAROFAGHIS

Driving group on Alinghi Red Bull Racing, TF35 mainsail & GC32 co-skipper

NICOLAS CHARBONNIER

Driving group on Alinghi Red Bull Racing, TF35 & GC32 tactician

YVES DETREY

Driving group on Alinghi Red Bull Racing, TF35 bowman & GC32 floater

Bryan Mettraux

Driving group on Alinghi Red Bull Racing, TF35 & GC32 trimmer

Alinghi Red Bull Racing head coach

CORALINE JONET

Alinghi Red Bull Racing - Youth & Women's teams project manager

DAVID NIKLÈS

Alinghi Red Bull Racing shore crew

João Cabeçadas

PIERRE-YVES JORAND

Alinghi Red Bull Racing co-general manager & head of sport

The 37th America’s Cup News

TUDOR x Alinghi Red Bull Racing, and AC75 BoatZero acquired

28 March, 2022

Alinghi Red Bull Racing launches bid for 37th America's Cup

14 December, 2021

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Exploring the Thrilling World of the America’s Cup: The Race Explained

What is the America’s Cup?

The America’s Cup , originating from a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851, stands as the oldest international sporting trophy. However, it carries a reputation for being one of the most biased competitions in the sporting world. This is primarily due to the fact that the winner, known as the ‘Defender’, holds the power to select the venue for the subsequent edition and significantly influences the rules of the competition.

Adding to its mystique and allure, the America’s Cup operates on an uneven playing field, both literally and figuratively. The advantage heavily favors the Defender, who is automatically granted a place in the final match, skewing the competition dynamics.

When and Where is the 2024 America’s cup?

Get ready for the thrill of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, set against the vibrant backdrop of Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital and a global hotspot . This iconic event will unfold from August to October 2024 around the historic Port Vell and extend to the bustling Port Olímpic, transforming Barcelona into the epicenter of sailing excellence. With a legacy stretching back over 174 years, the America’s Cup remains the pinnacle of international sailing competition – a test of skill, innovation, and endurance like no other. From its inception in 1851, claiming this prestigious trophy has represented one of the sporting world’s most formidable challenges. Historically dominated by the esteemed New York Yacht Club for 132 years, the Cup has since seen victors from the United States, Switzerland, and New Zealand, with Emirates Team New Zealand currently holding the title. The eagerly anticipated 37th edition officially commences with an opening ceremony in Barcelona on August 22, 2024 , followed by the critical Preliminary Regatta and the Louis Vuitton Cup, culminating in the grand America’s Cup Match beginning October 12, 2024. In anticipation, Barcelona, along with Vilanova i La Geltrú and Jeddah, will host preliminary events throughout 2023 and early 2024, with teams establishing their presence in June 2023.

Montserrat Caballé and Freddy Mercury once celebrated Barcelona as “a jewel in the sun” – a description that rings even truer as the city dazzles in preparation for this grand sailing spectacle. The Port Vell area, now the home of the competing teams’ bases, will also feature the America’s Cup Race Village, set to welcome thousands of eager spectators each day. The racecourse, strategically positioned just beyond the port’s breakwaters, offers an unparalleled viewing experience from fan zones, beach platforms, and exclusive hospitality areas.

Stay tuned for more details and the full race schedule. Experience the fusion of tradition and innovation in Barcelona at the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.

What is the Operational Structure of the America’s Cup Competition?

In the America’s Cup, it’s a one-on-one match race, akin to sailing’s version of a boxing showdown. Initially, challenger teams face off against each other to determine who earns the right to challenge the Defender in the main event. This Defender always has a guaranteed spot.

These face-offs occur in a series of distinct racing events known as the America’s Cup World Series (ACWS). While each ACWS event crowns its own winner, points are tallied across all events.

Despite the competition being tilted in favor of the Defender, Oracle Team USA acknowledges the significance of the America’s Cup World Series.

During ACWS events, there are four races: two on Saturday and two on Sunday. Sunday’s races carry double the point value. Points earned are accumulated across all Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series events. At the conclusion of the ACWS, the top team receives a 2-point bonus for the Cup Qualifiers in 2017, while the second-place team earns one bonus point.

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers are open to all teams, including the reigning Defender, Oracle Team USA. This stage of the regatta features a double ‘round robin’ format, ensuring each team races against every other team once per round. The top four challengers progress to the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Playoffs, advancing through a Semi-Final to a two-boat Final. This ultimate America’s Cup race determines the champion.

Read also: Luxury Yachts for Charter Perfectly Suited for 10 Guests

Why should you rent a boat to watch the 2024 America’s cup?

Renting a boat for the America’s Cup guarantees you a front-row seat to witness this iconic sailing spectacle. Cruising along the racecourse, you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of the mighty AC75 and AC40 yachts battling it out for the coveted trophy. Unlike spectators on land, you’ll be in close proximity to the action, providing an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s why renting a boat to watch the America’s Cup in Barcelona is advantageous:

• Front-Row Views: Positioned right at the forefront, renting a boat ensures unobstructed, front-row views of the America’s Cup races. Witness the sleek and powerful racing yachts navigate the azure waters up close, offering an immersive experience unmatched by onshore spectators.
• Electric Atmosphere: The atmosphere aboard a boat during the America’s Cup is electric. Joining fellow enthusiasts creates a dynamic and passionate ambiance. The cheers, the thrill of the races, and the camaraderie among sailing enthusiasts contribute to a lively and unforgettable experience, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity: The America’s Cup is a prestigious and historic event that occurs only once every four years. Watching it from the deck of a boat transforms the experience into a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, creating memories to cherish for years to come.
• Scenic Beauty of Barcelona: Barcelona’s stunning coastline provides the perfect backdrop for the America’s Cup. Renting a boat allows you to be at sea amidst this picturesque setting, combining the thrill of the races with the scenic beauty of the Mediterranean, enhancing the overall experience.

How much does it cost to charter a yacht during the Barcelona’s America’s cup?

The excitement for the America’s Cup in Barcelona is surging to unprecedented levels, igniting an inevitable rush for boat rentals to witness the regattas up close from the sea. With the fusion of scarce availability and soaring interest, boat charter prices are poised for an upswing. Here’s a deeper look into the factors propelling the cost of boat rentals for the America’s Cup in Barcelona:

• Exceptional Demand: The America’s Cup garners a global following, drawing enthusiasts from every corner to Barcelona to watch the action live. Given the limited inventory of boats, demand is expected to eclipse supply, nudging prices upward.
• Unmatched Viewpoint: A boat rental offers a distinguished vantage point on the event, providing an exclusivity that enhances its appeal. This unique perspective heightens competition for available boats, further inflating prices.
• Finite Availability: The number of boats in Barcelona capable of hosting spectators for the America’s Cup is limited, especially those that can accommodate larger groups. This scarcity is a significant factor in the foreseeable increase in rental costs.
• Luxury Offerings: Anticipating a spike in demand, boat rental companies may roll out premium packages featuring exclusive catering, personalized services, and other luxurious amenities tailored for the America’s Cup, reflecting in the pricing uptick.

In essence, the unmatched demand, combined with the finite number of boats and the desire for an exclusive spectating experience, is anticipated to escalate charter prices significantly. Pricing is projected to range from 4,500€ to 30,000€ per day, varying by guest capacity and boat specifics.

Though the investment is considerable, the opportunity to snag front-row seats to this historic nautical spectacle positions boat renting as a captivating choice for those in pursuit of an extraordinary and memorable America’s Cup adventure.

Renting an Alegria 67 to watch the America’s Cup: Charter INSPIRANTE

Step into the realm of opulence aboard the resplendent INSPIRANTE , a Fountaine Pajot Powercat 67, and prepare to be enchanted by the pinnacle of luxury cruising. With its sleek lines and expansive interiors, Inspirante sets the stage for an unparalleled journey.

INSPIRANTE has her berth secure for the America’s cup, so contact us quickly to secure your spot onboard!

Prepare to embark on the ultimate expression of luxury cruising aboard Inspirante, where opulence reigns supreme and every moment is a testament to refined elegance and sophistication. Contact us NOW to have a full quotation on chartering a Yacht to Watch the America’s cup!

MY SEANA : The Star Superyacht Featured in Below Deck

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America’s Cup: Update on Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia Team

INEOS Britannia is the official challenger for the 37 th America’s Cup. So how are they doing? Sam Jefferson caught up with the team to find out…

Barcelona’s america’s cup.

Yes, we’ve all heard it before: ‘The longest losing streak in sporting history’. That’s right, we plucky Brits can proudly lay claim to that title, having lost the 100 Guinea Cup back in 1851 and summarily failing to reclaim it since. Could this year be the one where we finally make the breakthrough though? No question, in Ben Ainslie and his team, we have the experience and with the backing of Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, we also have some financial muscle too – plus INEOS has teamed up with the Mercedes F1 team to further boost their expertise. 

So how are we getting on? Well, in late March I was invited out to INEOS’ base in Barcelona to find out before chatting with the affable and extremely experienced crew member Freddie Carr to get a deeper insight into how it was going for him and his team. 

The tour of the base was revealing; set in the heart of Port Vell, just a stone’s throw from Barcelona’s main street of La Rambla, this is an extraordinary spot to hold the America’s Cup and INEOS has its own hangar just along from Luna Rossa and opposite American Magic. At the time of writing, they were still awaiting delivery of their AC75, the great foiling beast that will do battle with XX other challenging teams for the right to do battle with current holders, New Zealand for the ‘Auld Mug’.

The new generation of AC75s are refinements of the last iteration of challengers and this is good because, as all the teams accumulate knowledge of the class, racing generally gets closer. One significant rule change is that the new generation of AC75s can be winch using cyclors – involving leg power and pedals in addition to standard to normal grinders. This is a massive game changer, as it means a new sort of fitness is required for the grinders. This had a profound effect for grinder Freddie Carr – more on that later.

General preparations

At present the team has been practicing with two of the smaller foiling AC40s in ordewr to refine their skills as they await delivery of the AC75. Ainslie and co helm Giles Scott were being put through their paces by ex 49er ace Dylan Fletcher. Regrettably the two boat trials came to an abrupt and spectacular end when one of the AC40s caught fire while out on the water thanks to a problem with the lithium battery. 

“The boat will be launched in April and I am itching to get out on the water,” Freddie Carr enthuses: “We opted not to spend time in an AC75 until we got our actual boat and it remains to be seen whether that gamble will pay off. It has been tough because it feels like every time we get going, something has happened to knock out momentum. 

“First we had the boat flip and catch fire, then the rudder blew off and then just recently we again had a fire so that has been bad but I think the true test will come when we head out with the new boat. 

“One thing that we have seen from working with Mclaren motorsport is that they really can’t afford to have things break. If something breaks mid race for them, it’s all over so they are incredibly rigorous when it comes to testing items and making sure they work in a failsafe manner so that is good.” 

Around the base

The base is divided into containers that can be easily shifted into individual areas and shipped quickly. There is a main hangar which will accommodate the new AC75 plus above this rigging, components, sail loft and fitness area. Downstairs is the VR simulator.

Fitness is huge and the key here is that the cyclors can be heavier than a classic cyclist as it’s all about wattage output and the numbers that they are putting out are often actually higher than your classic Tour de France rider but on a lower power-weight ratio. 

Ben Ainslie – the INEOS Britannia skipper

Ainslie is now on his third America’s Cup challenge for Britain and it is sometimes overlooked that he played a pivotal role in the extraordinary victory for Oracle in the America’s Cup. He has a lot on his plate as he enters into the sharp end of the challenge and he hsas recently handed over the helm of his SailGP catamaran to co pilot Giles Scott so he can focus full time on the America’s Cup. “The America’s Cup is all about experience and our team is now on its third challenge and that counts for a lot in terms of knowledge,” he reflects: “The boats are extraordinary and being at the helm is sometimes more akin to being a pilot as opposed to sailing.

When I put it to him that we Brits may have some sort of a mental block when it comes to winning the America’s Cup due to our lengthy losing streak, he shrugs. “I don’t think so- remember some of the team has already won the Cup.

“In all honesty, that would be a nice problem to have; the first thing is to make it to the starting line as the challenger to New Zealand.”

Dylan Fletcher – the test pilot:

“Obviously the destruction of the second boat was really annoying as the match racing we were doing was incredibly useful. My job is to push Ben as hard as I can and when we were out there racing it was serious. 

“Handling the boats is interesting because it looks pretty effortless but the fact is that you are always out on the edge of things and things can go wrong incredibly fast. For me, it’s a bit like sailing a Moth and it’s not that twitchy. 

“The bit that was difficult to learn was perhaps the foils and some of the techniques but the actual boat is smooth. It’s not totally silent as you have a hydraulic motor running all the time but then again you don’t have the groaning from winches loading up so yes it is relatively quiet.”

The racecourse

The course is right outside Barcelona and the starting box is not far of the breakwaters for the entrance. Barcelona is a bit different because it often gets a lot of the swell generated from the Mistral and Tramontana that blow to the north but the port is shielded from the big winds by the Pyrenees. This means it is often lumpy but typical wind conditions in August are around 10kn and in October around 12kn. If there is a swell, this gets distorted and refracted by the breakwater which makes for a really awkward chop which looks like it is going to be uncomfortable. 

The fact that the Kiwis will only be racing in October when the wind is slightly stronger will give them an advantage as they can set up their boat and foils for those conditions.

In depth with INEOS Britannia’s Freddie Carr

Tell us about your relationship with the America’s Cup

I started out in the 2000 campaign in New Zealand and that was all about those old school magnificent AC boats that were displacement boats that were – by that time – incredibly well matched. I feel very fortunate to have seen the transition of the sport from that era to this. I’m a sports fanatic but I can honestly say that I have never been in a sport that has made such a dramatic transition in the last 20 years. As an example, when I was first testing the old ACC yachts back in the 2000 challenge, if we came off the boat after a sail with 10 bits of data on loads on the rig etc, we thought we were doing pretty well. Now, we’re talking tens of thousands of individual data elements that are being analysed after a day out on the water. We can also gain an awful lot from going sailing on the VR headsets which, frankly, just blows my mind. 

What do you think of INEOS Britannia’s chances of winning the Cup?

Last time around, the Kiwis were actually a long way ahead of the opposition. In the actual America’s Cup races, they would have been even further ahead if the wind had been a couple of knots quicker. Their secret? It’s hard to say but, looking at their foils, they were simple and less busy and experimental than some other teams. The Kiwis don’t have the biggest budget but what they can do is focus in on key areas where they know they can build their strengths and they really focus in on that. 

Our chances? We shall see. The thing with the foils is that you have to commit early on to a foil that will give you more top end speed and one that gives you more acceleration and manoeuvrability and which one is more successful will to some extent depend on the wind strength so that is an important factor that could change everything. That said, all the teams will have spent thousands looking at weather modelling in Barcelona in August and the likelihood is that they will reach a similar conclusion. I’m hopeful that, with this being the second generation of the boats, the performance gap between different teams will have narrowed down so it will bring about closer racing. Back in the day it was generally the team with the most money who won but that has changed too with these new classes.

Do you think the lengthy losing streak plays in the minds of the British team?

In terms of the psychology of the British Team – it’s an interesting one; obviously, we were there at the start and we’ve never won it. Does that play on your mind? I don’t know. It’s true I’m proud to be British and Whenever I sail on such a big stage I feel I’m sailing for all the sailors in Britain watching on, but whether that holds you back or pushes you forward is difficult to say. Don’t forget, Ben has actually won the America’s Cup (with Oracle). He knows what that feels like but he doesn’t make a big deal of that for whatever reason. 

How has the shift from to pedal power affected you personally? 

For me the transition to pedal power has been an enormous change. Before it was all about a team of grinders working in total harmony and there was something magical about that. Now, with the cycling aspect it’s all about pure strength. For me, this was a really big transition because you are using a whole new set of muscles. When I finished the last AC I was wondering whether to carry on and, in actual fact, I think the switch to pedal power helped because I saw it as a new challenge. From a physical point of view it has been tough. Through intense training I managed to qualify for the minimum level of fitness required to do the job on the boat and ever since I hae just been clinging on to the coat tails of the younger guys. The biggest challenge for me is the actual recovery which takes time at my age (he is 42). Do I love cycling? I did a bit before it became part of my job but now, if you asked me to go for a bike ride on my day off, I’d tell you I didn’t want to in extremely strong terms!

We have benefitted from training with Ineos Grenadiers which has been an eye opener. The strength of those guys is just awesome. The difference is power-weight really. We are happy to have guys who are 100kg whereas for someone like Geraint Jones or Tom Pidcock, they are going for big outputs of energy but are 35kg lighter. 

One thing that I do miss is the fact that in an old school grinding team we were all in sync and everyone needed to know exactly what the wind was doing in order to work perfectly as a team. Now, you are more like a machine and a lot of the guys know very little about sailing and the history of the sport and that feels a little sad – particularly as I have mates who are great sailors who can’t get a ride. The rule change was mysterious in some ways. I think that the Kiwis spotted that we had our drive train with the arm powered winches running really efficiently and they figured that if the rule change came about, that would mean we all restarted at zero. One interesting thing is that by using leg power for the winches, we have our hands free so it will be interesting to see how teams work with that. Do you use the grinders just as pure power or do you get them to do other jobs too?

Which of the other challengers do you most fear?

I guess Alinghi has been around for so long and the team has such a depth of experience that you have to be wary of them, so I’d say they are a big threat. We are in our third challenge and you see how you develop with every iteration and how that gives you an edge. 

Key dates :

America’s Cup preliminary regatta: 22-25 th August

America’s Cup Challengers series: Oct ’24 (TBC)

America’s Cup: 21 Oct ’24 (TBC)

The new INEOS Britannia boat arrives in Barcelona

INEOS Britannia’s race boat for the 37th America’s Cup arrived in Barcelona on April 6 and is being fitted out as Sailing Today with Yachts and Yachting goes to press… The British Challenger’s AC75 left Turweston Airfield, Northamptonshire, on Tuesday 2 April and travelled by road to Portsmouth, where it began its sea crossing to Bilbao on a ferry. The race boat, known as RB3, was then transported by road to INEOS Britannia’s Barcelona base, arriving on Saturday 6 April. INEOS Britannia Team Principal and Skipper Sir Ben Ainslie said it was “a relief” to have RB3 arrive in Barcelona.

RB3’s arrival in Barcelona is a pivotal moment for INEOS Britannia, after two-and-a-half years of design, build and fit-out in the UK. RB3 began its lifecycle with INEOS Britannia’s design and engineering team, which is based at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team site in Brackley, Northamptonshire. INEOS Britannia partnered with the F1 Team’s Applied Science division to bring together some of the best talent from the high-performance marine and automotive industries for its America’s Cup Campaign. The team of 100 designers and engineers painstakingly researched and tested concepts for the AC75, before the final design was sent to build.

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RACING RULES

Every sport has its own set of rules. In sailing, they're built to clarify who has "right-of-way" in different scenarios, and they are used strategically in a Match Race to help gain the upper hand. Let’s see below a few of the basics to help you keep up when the penalty calls start flying!

RACE COURSE

The Race Course is about 1.7nm long (about 3km) and between 0.5nm and 0.8nm (0.9km to 1.5km) wide, with boundaries on all sides that the boats must stay within. It's called a windward-leeward course, named after the orientation of the course directly into the wind and away from the wind. From the start, the yachts race directly upwind – to windward, round the 1st mark then downwind, or to leeward. Rinse and repeat. At three minutes to the start, the boats "enter" – sailing from above and outside the start line, and from opposite ends. This is the beginning of the "pre-start". The teams take turns over which side they enter from, as the boat coming in from the right-hand side has the advantage – with the right-of-way.

The Race Course is about 1.7nm long (about 3km) and between 0.5nm and 0.8nm (0.9km to 1.5km) wide, with boundaries on all sides that the boats must stay within.

It's called a windward-leeward course, named after the orientation of the course directly into the wind and away from the wind. From the start, the yachts race directly upwind – to windward, round the 1st mark then downwind, or to leeward. Rinse and repeat.

At three minutes to the start, the boats "enter" – sailing from above and outside the start line, and from opposite ends. This is the beginning of the "pre-start". The teams take turns over which side they enter from, as the boat coming in from the right-hand side has the advantage – with the right-of-way.

Because the AC75s travel so quickly, the boat coming in from the left-hand, or port, side enters first, 10-seconds before their opponent. This is to help reduce the risk of collision by coming in at the same time.

The goal is to time your run to the start line exactly to the second: When the countdown reaches zero, and the race is on.

Arrive too early, and you've blown it. In sailing terms, this is an "OCS". If you are "on-course side" at the time of the start, it means you've jumped the gun. The umpires will send a start penalty immediately, and you'll have to slow down to get behind your opponent, before getting racing again.

Once underway, the boats race upwind, constrained by boundaries on both sides of the course – step outside of any of those and it's another penalty.

Once at the top of the course, it's decision time, which way around the "top-gate". There are two separate marks – you just have to pass one from the inside, before heading off back downwind from where they've come. Once back at the "bottom gate", the boats will have completed their first "lap". Once there, the drill is exactly the same - choose one mark to go around before headed back-up upwind.

The Race Director determines the number of laps the boats will sail, based on how much wind there is, and therefore how long it will take to complete a race. On the final lap, headed downwind, the only difference is instead of a downwind gate the yachts cross the start/finish line to complete the match.

PENALTY RULE

Break a rule, and your opponent will protest. If the umpires agree, you'll be given a penalty. In this America's Cup that means you have to put the brakes on. Slow down and slide back, until you're 50metres behind your competitor, and wait until the umpires tell you you're good to accelerate again – and the match is in full motion once more.

ON OPPOSITE TACKS (port/starboard)

The main rule to know is what happens when boats are on a collision course. Take this case for example, when the boats are approaching on opposite tacks: If they hold their course, they're going to collide. So who has right of way? The answer is the yellow boat... Yellow has the wind coming across the right-hand side – making it the "starboard" boat. The blue boat has the wind coming across the left side of the yacht, making it the "port" boat. Starboard has rights over port.

The main rule to know is what happens when boats are on a collision course. Take this case for example, when the boats are approaching on opposite tacks: If they hold their course, they're going to collide. So who has right of way? The answer is the yellow boat... Yellow has the wind coming across the right-hand side – making it the "starboard" boat. The blue boat has the wind coming across the left side of the yacht, making it the "port" boat. Starboard has rights over port. This means, in this situation, the yellow boat has all the power, and can hold its course – whilst the blue boat has to get out of the way. Blue can either change course to pass behind or by tacking underneath. Both manoeuvres costs them time and puts them into the turbulent air of the yellow boat. This applies whenever boats meet like this, either upwind or downwind.

There is only one exception to, which applies when the boats approach a boundary. You can't force a boat off the Race Course. When a boat is within 90-metres of the boundary – about 5-boat lengths – it gains the right of way and the right to tack or gybe.

Another key rule is when the boats are going in the same direction, but they're not overlapped. In this case, the boat behind has to keep clear of the boat ahead. However, being in front doesn’t always mean you are leading. If the yellow boat gets its bow across the stern of the blue boat in front, it now has right of way. They call that an "overlap". When this happens, yellow, has all the power. Blue, has to get out of the way.

Another key rule is when the boats are going in the same direction, but they're not overlapped. In this case, the boat behind has to keep clear of the boat ahead.

However, being in front doesn’t always mean you are leading. If the yellow boat gets its bow across the stern of the blue boat in front, it now has right of way. They call that an "overlap". When this happens, yellow, has all the power. Blue, has to get out of the way.

TACK AND PIN

A classic match racing move is the Tack and Pin, one boat crosses the bow of their opponent and then immediately tack on top of them, in this case yellow has done so and if blue doesn’t react immediately they become trapped unable to manoeuvre until their opponent does so first. Done properly you have complete control of the race course and dictate your opponent’s next move.

ROUNDING MARKS

This rule applies when the boats enter an imaginary circle 70-metres from the mark. With the race under way, both boats have to go around marks at the top and bottom of the course, when the boats choose opposite marks it's plain sailing. But it gets slightly more complicated when they're neck and neck and choose the same mark. In this case, blue is the clear leader, yellow is a little way behind. There's no overlap, so no real problem. Blue has the right of way and yellow has to allow blue to go around the mark unobstructed. But let's hit the rewind button, and imagine that the competition was a lot closer, and yellow has its bow across blue's stern. In this case, yellow has control, and blue can do nothing but give them the right of way and let them go around the mark at their will.

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American Magic Just Unveiled Its Sleek New America’s Cup Race Boat

The ac75 foiler hit the waters of barcelona for testing ahead of the upcoming preliminary regatta., rachel cormack.

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Rachel Cormack's Most Recent Stories

This new 131-foot superyacht concept brings high architecture to the high seas, isa unveils a trio of sleek new superyachts, wider yachts is debuting a 92-foot hybrid catamaran at the venice boat show—here’s a first look.

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New York Yacht Club American Magic has conjured up quite the marine dream machine.

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“Today is an important step in the commissioning process for American Magic and B3,” American Magic skipper and president of sailing operations Terry Hutchinson said in a statement. “Our shore crew and engineers have been working methodically over the last 30 days to get us to this moment.”

For the unversed, the AC75s that will compete in the upcoming America’s Cup are the most complex and technologically advanced racing yachts ever built. The highly engineered foilers “fly” across the water at up to 50 knots. Crafted from lightweight carbon fiber, the racers are capable of lift in just 6.5 knots of wind but strong enough to survive an extreme crash in 25 knots.

The B3 will undergo further testing and sea trials in the coming months before her official naming ceremony and inaugural sail. American Magic will then set its sights on the upcoming America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta. The first two preliminary regattas of the AC40s were held in September and November, respectively. (American Magic actually won the September race.) The third and final preliminary regatta, which will take place in Barcelona from August 22 to 25, will see all six AC75s compete for the first time.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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America’s Cup: The rising cost of sailing’s ultimate prize

by Patrick Kidd

The America’s Cup is a peculiarly ugly trophy — and it lacks a bottom, so you can’t even drink from it — yet some of the richest men in history have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in an attempt to own it.

Spending oodles on the Cup is a tradition that goes right back to its beginning. John Cox Stevens, commodore of the New York Yacht Club, led a six-man syndicate that brought a 31 metre schooner called America across the Atlantic Ocean in 1851 to make money. They began by placing adverts challenging all-comers (with no age, ability or experience restrictions) to race for a wager of £10,000 (the equivalent of about $1.5 million today), but got no takers.

America made its name later that summer when it joined 15 yachts for the Royal Yacht Squadron’s race around the Isle of Wight. The prize was a trophy costing just £100, but such was America ’s reputation after its convincing win that the syndicate sold the boat for $25,000 — about $5,000 more than they’d paid for it.

Since then, countless sums have been spent on attempts to win the America's Cup. The most persistent challenger was Thomas Lipton. Born in Glasgow, where his family owned a grocery store, he left for the US aged 14 with just $8 in his pocket and returned a millionaire. By the time he launched the first of his five challenges for the America’s Cup in 1899, he controlled 10 per cent of the world’s tea supply, yet he won only two of the 16 races he competed in for the trophy.

In nine contests between 1937 and 1983, the challenger won only three races. Two were by Australian media mogul Frank Packer, who spent more than $700,000 to win one race in 1962.

Eight years later, he had to dig deeper to come through the competition’s first qualification regatta, in which he faced Baron Marcel Bich, founder of Bic pens, who led four unsuccessful Cup campaigns. In the final, Packer won two races, but one was stripped after an acrimonious protest by the host club. His effort did at least show the world that Australians, who were dominant in tennis at the time, could be competitive in another sport.

The breakthrough came in 1983 when Australia II became the first foreign winner. It was owned by Alan Bond, who made his money in property, brewing and broadcasting, and reportedly spent $5 million on his successful America’s Cup campaign — after three failed attempts. He arrived in Rhode Island for the decisive contest with an innovative winged keel and a golden wrench with which he said he would remove the trophy from its plinth.

Perhaps this pursuit of sailing’s Everest took Bond’s attention away from his business empire. Within a decade, he was declared bankrupt, his company owing more than $6 billion. Five years after that he began a four-year spell in prison for fraud – yet most people will remember him for what he did on the water.

$65 million

The Aussie's supremacy was short lived, with the USA winning the trophy back in 1987. In 1992, US oilman Bill Koch spent $65 million on defending the America’s Cup. Ten years later, the qualification series featured five billionaires, including Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, and Patrizio Bertelli, CEO of Prada. In all, $500 million was spent by the challengers. “It’s so cheap, I’m surprised more people don’t do this,” Ellison quipped at the time.

There is a greater reason than financial gain, though. The America’s Cup is the last billionaires’ plaything where those with money can join in. Newspaper owners don’t get their fingers inky; football club owners never strap on their boots. An America’s Cup backer gets to sail with his staff, even if the speed of modern boats makes it unwise to do so in competition. “I want to be driving the winning boat,” Ellison said in 2002.

Photo: Andrew Flynn

$75 million

Few enter the Cup to make money, but it has commercial benefits. Auckland did very well out of hosting the America’s Cup in 2000 and 2003. It created 1,000 jobs and brought $75 million into the local economy, which explains why the New Zealand government supports its country’s bids.

Hosting the Cup does not always pay out in the long run, though. The Spanish port of Valencia, which staged the 2007 event, received $500 million of investment for regeneration and supposedly brought $3 billion in benefit to the city. It even helped to attract a Formula One race to Valencia.

Yet it was all built on sand. Cheap credit and corrupt politicians turned a boom town into a ghost town. Today, many of the America’s Cup buildings lie empty.

Photo: North Sails

$300 million

When you are worth more than $40 billion, as Ellison is, losing battles matters more than losing money. Some say that he spent more than $300 million on Oracle Team USA's successful defence of the trophy in September 2013 in what turned out to be one of the greatest sporting stories, with the Oracle racing team beating Emirates Team New Zealand 9-8 after trailing 8-1.

Building two massive catamarans — a racer and a spare — and running a 130-strong team of sailors, designers and so on, does not come cheap, especially with the leading staff on salaries of at least $20,000 a month, often a lot more.

Meanwhile, Land Rover BAR's bid for the 2017 America’s Cup is expected to cost at least $100 million. One thing is for certain ahead of next summer’s Bermuda showdown — whoever wins will have seriously deep pockets.

Photo: Abner Kingman/ACEA

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The Art of the America's Cup

This archive article was originally published in the summer/autumn 2008 issue of antiques & fine art magazine..

The America was the original muse for a cadre of nineteenth-century artists whose work inspired a tradition of marine artists documenting America's Cup races. In 1851, after the New York Yacht Club's schooner America won the Royal Yacht Squadron's Hundred Guinea Cup off the Isle of Wight, England, the race was renamed the America's Cup after the winning vessel. Since then, American vessels have won all but five Cup races and have become symbols of glory, sporting prowess, and patriotism. Marine artists such as James Buttersworth, Antonio Jacobsen, and Frederic Cozzens were among the first in a long line of distinguished artists of record the winning yachts, their designers, builders, captains, and owners.

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American Magic sails new 'Patriot' AC75 for the first time ahead of 37th America's Cup

T uesday in Barcelona, Spain, American Magic took its first spin in the boat it hopes to sail to victory in the 37th America's Cup.

The 75-foot boat took to the waters with its mainsail sporting a large "Pensacola, Florida" logo that it will carry for the entire international race series this fall.

Before sailing, the New York Yacht Club Vice Commodore Clare Harrington christened the new AC75 as "Patriot," the second boat sailed by American Magic to carry that name.

The previous Patriot was also an AC75 and sailed many times in Pensacola as the team gathered data and trained for the version unveiled this week. The previous Patriot had its last sail i n the waters of Pensacola Bay in February 2023 .

American Magic lease approved: Find out what's included

Much like the rules of Formula 1 racing, the sailboat is a 75-foot foiling monohull that meets the AC75 design rules laid out by the America's Cup. Still, within those rules, the American Magic team has made its own designs to give it an edge in the racing competition set to take place this fall.

"The New York Yacht Club has never wavered from its core purpose of ensuring international competition at the highest level of skill and performance," Harrington said at the Patriot's christening. "That is our tradition. However, the launch of Patriot also signifies innovation, blending two distinct elements: tradition and innovation. And so I bring to American Magic the heartfelt wishes of all 3,400 plus members of the New York Yacht Club for your success in the upcoming competition, maintaining the club's tradition through your inspired innovation."

The team said that more than 108,000 design hours and 65,000 construction hours went into making the Patriot.

"We followed our own design path with Patriot as we pushed the limits of the AC75 rule while tailoring for the Barcelona venue," American Magic Design Coordinator Scott Ferguson said in a team press release.

The team had the boat foiling after running some initial tests on it, before having to bring it back to the dock as the weather forecast in Barcelona called for thunderstorms.

"As far as first days go inside the American Magic program, really, this was probably our best day," Terry Hutchinson, president of sailing operations at American Magic, told an America's Cup camera crew after the sail.

The Patriot was built and designed at the American Magic's previous headquarters in Rhode Island, but the boat will return to Pensacola after the America's Cup this fall. The next AC 75 for the 38th America's Cup is planned to be designed and built at the team's new headquarters at the Port of Pensacola.

The 37th America's Cup will hold its third preliminary regatta this August in Barcelona as a final full-scale practice race.

Then the Louis Vuitton Cup will take place in August and September 2024, where the teams will compete for the right to race against the defending team, Emirates New Zealand, in the actual 37th America's Cup in October 2024.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: American Magic sails new 'Patriot' AC75 for the first time ahead of 37th America's Cup

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Louis Vuitton Reveals 37th America's Cup Capsule Collection

The regatta-inspired line houses technical garments, colorful sportswear and sophisticated formal attire..

In honor of the upcoming Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Barcelona sailing race, the namesake French fashion house has revealed a nautical-themed capsule collection filled with a bevy of men’s and women’s silhouettes inspired by the storied yacht race’s history.

The America’s Cup, established in 1851, is the world’s oldest international sporting trophy. Louis Vuitton has sponsored the competition since 1983, when it began hosting the Louis Vuitton Cup , or the race that determines which teams will compete in the America’s Cup. In October of last year, the luxury label struck a major deal to become the title partner of the renowned race, which is scheduled to take place in Barcelona from August 29 to October 27.

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JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 2, 2023

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The America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM is the second preliminary regatta of the America’s Cup and will take place in Jeddah from Wednesday 29 November to Saturday 2 December, marking the first time in the America’s Cup’s 172 year history that the world’s top sailing teams will race on the Red Sea. As the world’s most prestigious yacht race, it’s shaping up to be one of the most thrilling sporting events of the year.

Jeddah’s Corniche is home to the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM Race Village and Fan Zone. This will be a space for fans to relax and watch the racing in real-time, or catch the close-up action on giant screens. The Race Village is open to the public at no cost, with all the racing streamed on the big screens and entertainment on the main stage.

What’s more, spectators will be able to watch the thrilling action right up along the Corniche, as the AC40 boats pass by the shore at speeds of up to 100 kph. The professional race teams from around the world will take to the water, 5 Challenging teams lining up on the start line with the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand.

The event includes three days of Fleet Races where all six teams line up on the start line together, and promises to be a fantastic spectacle: fast, furious and desperately close. Three fleet races each on race days 1 & 2, before the final day scheduled to have 2 further fleet races that will determine the top two teams to qualify for the winner's-take-all final Match Race to decide the ultimate winner of the event.

Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina is hosting the event, and the yacht club’s top floor will offer America’s Cup sponsors and guests VIP views overlooking the racing area. Team bases will be next to the marina, with viewing spots adding an extra layer of excitement. Spectators will be able to watch boats coming in and out of the marina as they head out to or back from racing as well as having spectacular views from the Jeddah Corniche Race Village. 

REGISTER FOR TICKETS

Jeddah’s Corniche is home to the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM Race Village and Fan Zone. This will be a space for fans to relax and watch the racing in real-time, or catch the close-up action on giant screens. The Race Village is open to the public at no cost, with all the racing streamed on the big screens and entertainment on the main stage.

Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina is hosting the event, and the yacht club’s top floor will offer America’s Cup sponsors and guests VIP views overlooking the racing area. Team bases will be next to the marina, with viewing spots adding an extra layer of excitement. Spectators will be able to watch boats coming in and out of marina as they head out to or back from racing as well as having spectacular views from the Jeddah Corniche Race Village.

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HOW TO WATCH

For those who want to come and watch the races in person, the America’s Cup Preliminary Regatta Jeddah, presented by NEOM is completely free, meaning you only need to reserve your tickets.

If you can’t be there, all the races will be broadcast live free to air on Saudi Sports Channel, on MBC's Shahid platform, and streamed on the 37th America's Cup official YouTube channel .

REGISTER FOR TICKETS

Racing will be conducted in the world’s newest foiling class, the AC40 and all boats will be sailed in one-design mode and equally matched. Racing starts with two days of fleet racing where all the six teams will line up on the start line together – which promises to be a fantastic spectacle: Fast, furious and desperately close. After up to eight fleet races, the top two teams will progress to the winner-takes-all final match race to decide the ultimate winner of the event. 

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The largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, from Mark Zuckerberg to Jeff Bezos

• Megayachts have become a status symbol for the richest of the rich.
• In recent years, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg have splurged on enormous boats.
• These are the biggest yachts owned by tech billionaires.

The average Joe celebrating a personal renaissance after, say, the end of a long-term relationship or when approaching a fresh decade might commemorate it with an ankle tattoo or a sports car. But if you're a billionaire, you may instead spend hundreds of millions on a yacht .

A few years after he and his wife divorced, Jeff Bezos shelled out on a megayacht. Last year, Bezos debuted the 127-meter vessel "Koru," a Māori symbol that signifies a fresh start — perhaps referring to that with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez.

Earlier this year, just before his 40th birthday, Mark Zuckerberg became the rumored owner of a yacht originally built for a Russian oligarch.

Superyachts have increasingly become ultrawealthy status symbols , providing highly secluded leisure and networking sites. They are — even more so than real estate — the single most expensive asset you can own.

"It's a bit of a celebration of your success in life, of wealth," Giovanna Vitelli, the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, the world's biggest producer of superyachts, told Business Insider.

While many tech billionaires have bought yachts, the richest of the rich, like Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, have gone bigger. Their boats are virtual palaces at sea, decked with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

A look at these megayachts — broadly defined as over 70 meters long, mostly custom-built, and often costing nine figures — offers a glimpse into how the .00001% lives. It's something few others will ever get to experience. Even chartering a yacht of this size for a week typically costs upwards of $1 million.

One major thing that hundreds of millions of dollars can buy is privacy. There are likely yachts that have not been publicly recorded or registered — for example, Evan Spiegel is rumored to own the 94-meter megayacht Bliss. In an industry ruled by discretion , deciphering who owns what is typically an exercise in stringing together many clues.

Here are the largest yachts owned by tech billionaires, listed in order of length.

Jeff Bezos: Koru and Abeona

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the 127-meter Koru, made a splash last year as she crisscrossed the Mediterranean in her first summer at sea, with her 75-meter support vessel Abeona in tow.

The sailing yacht, which is hard to miss thanks to her massive size and unique design, was host to Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez's famous friends . The couple held an engagement party on board, which reportedly drew guests including Bill Gates, Ari Emanuel, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Just a week later, they were seen on the streets of Dubrovnik, Croatia, with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, and Usher.

Even before her completion, Koru made headlines. She drew the ire of some Dutch people, who vowed to hurl eggs after she was announced a historic bridge in Rotterdam might be taken apart to allow the Oceanco boat through. Luckily, the shipyard made alternative plans, and an egg crisis was averted.

Among yacht world insiders , Koru is widely praised for her craftsmanship.

"I heard back in 2018 or something that somebody had ordered a classic sailing yacht," one superyacht expert told BI. "You order 125 meters, that's not really going to be classic. But it is. I think it's pretty cool."

Mark Zuckerberg: Launchpad

Earlier this year, the yacht world was rife with rumors that Zuckerberg purchased Launchpad, a 118-meter superyacht originally designed for a sanctioned Russian businessman.

The ship made her maiden voyage in March, going from Gibraltar to St. Maarten and mooring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Little is known about her interior, but photos show a large swimming pool and helipad. Her price, too, has been kept under wraps but is said to be nine figures.

Eric Schmidt: Whisper

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt made waves last year when he agreed to buy the Alfa Nero , the yacht of a sanctioned Russian oligarch, for $67 million in an auction conducted by Antigua and Barbuda. But he backed out of the deal following legal issues over her true owner. He quietly purchased Kismet instead. The 95-meter-long Lürssen-built boat was formerly owned by the Jacksonville Jaguar's billionaire owner Shahid Khan . Schmidt renamed her Whisper.

The ship can fit 12 guests and a crew of 28, according to Moran Yacht & Ship, which oversaw her construction. She features a master deck with a private jacuzzi, full-service spa, lap pool, movie theater, and outdoor fireplace.

While her final sale price was not public, she was listed for 149 million euros (about $161 million at current exchange rates), and at a charity auction in January, one week aboard the ship went for $2.4 million, according to industry outlet Yacht Charter Fleet.

Barry Diller: Eos

Barry Diller , the chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns the megayacht Eos with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg , who is immortalized by a figurehead sculpture by Anh Duong.

One of the largest private sailing yachts in the world, the three-masted Lürssen schooner measures 93 meters long. She took three years to be built before being delivered to Diller in 2009, and since then, little has come to light about her interior and features.

The power couple has hosted many celebrities on the Eos, which spends her summers crisscrossing the Mediterranean and New Year ' s Eve in St. Barts . Over the years, guests have included Oprah Winfrey, Emma Thompson, Anderson Cooper, and Bezos, leading some to believe she provided inspiration for his Koru.

Jim Clark: Athena

Netscape founder Jim Clark purchased the 90-meter sailing yacht Athena in 2004.

"I could easily have built a 50- or 60-meter motor yacht that would have had the same space as Athena, but I was never really interested in building a motor yacht," he told Boat International in 2016. "To my eye, she's one of the most gorgeous large sailing yachts, maybe the most gorgeous large sailing yacht in the world."

Athena has room for 10 guests and 21 crewmembers, and the only change Clark says he'd make in her design is adding more space for his kids.

"If I was forced to change something, I would convert the office on the lower deck into a children's room," he said.

The former Stanford professor tried to sell her at various points — listing her for $95 million in 2012 , $69 million in 2016, and $59 million in 2017 — but she has yet to change hands.

Larry Ellison: Musashi

Oracle founder Larry Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun — which he sold to fellow billionaire David Geffen .

He purchased his current boat, Musashi, in 2011 for a reported $160 million from custom-yacht giant Feadship.

Named after a famous samurai warrior, the 88-meter-long yacht has both Japanese and Art Deco-inspired design elements. She also boasts amenities including an elevator, swimming pool, beauty salon, gym, and basketball court.

Ellison is known for his extravagant spending — private islands, jets, a tennis tournament — and yachting is among his favorite and most expensive hobbies. He took up racing them in the 1990s and financed the America's Cup-winning BMW Oracle Racing team .

Laurene Powell Jobs: Venus

Steve Jobs' wife, investor and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, inherited a nearly finished 78-meter yacht named Venus when the Apple cofounder died in 2011.

After spending years vacationing on Ellison's yachts, Jobs wanted one for himself. He designed Venus with French starchitect and decorator Philippe Starck , and she was worth $130 million at completion.

"Venus comes from the philosophy of minimum," Starck said of her design. "The elegance of the minimum, approaching dematerialization."

Jobs and Starck began working together in 2007, the designer told Vanity Fair , and held monthly meetings over four years. Venus was delivered in 2012 to Jobs' specification: six identical cabins, a design to ensure spaces of absolute silence, and the most up-to-date technology.

"There will never again be a boat of that quality again. Because never again will two madmen come together to accomplish such a task," Starck told the magazine. "It was not a yacht that Steve and I were constructing, we were embarked on a philosophical action, implemented according to a quasi-religious process. We formed a single brain with four lobes."

Charles Simonyi: Norn

Early Microsoft employee Charles Simonyi has purchased two megayachts from the German shipyard Lürssen: the 90-meter Norn and 71-meter Skat.

Delivered in 2023, Norn is full of luxe features, including an outdoor cinema and a pool floor that lifts to become a light-up dancefloor. She shares a militaristic style with Skat , which Simonyi sold in 2021.

Skats's name is derived from the Danish word for treasure, and she had a listing price of 56.5 million euros and was launched in 2002.

"The yacht is to be home away from my home in Seattle, and its style should match the style of the house, adapted for the practicalities of the sea," Simonyi once said .

Sergey Brin: Dragonfly

Google cofounder Sergey Brin has built a flotilla of yachts, boats, and toys known as the "Fly Fleet."

Named after a once-secret Google product , the largest of Brin's armada is the sleek Dragonfly , which boasts a movie theater and a helipad. The 73-meter-long vessel was built by the Australian shipyard Silver Yachts and can fit up to 18 guests and 16 crew members, according to SuperYacht Times.

Also in his fleet is the superyacht Butterfly, a mere 38 meters long. Often moored in the Bay Area, her crewmembers spend their downtime kitesurfing and giving swimming lessons to local kids.

The rest of his marine lineup includes a smaller boat called Firefly, as well as Jet Skis, foilboards, dinghies, and kiteboards. She takes a team of 50 full-time employees to manage, steer, and maintain the entire operation.

Sindhu Sundar contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Correction: May 6, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated Giovanna Vitelli's title. She is the chair of the Azimut Benetti Group, not a vice president.

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2024 San Diego BENETEAU Cup

With an instructional, encouraging, and fun format, especially tailored towards new and novice racers, Regatta Co-Chairs Barrett and Lily Canfield of South Coast Yachts are very pleased with how the regatta has grown over the years, and with how many of the sailors introduced to racing at Beneteau Cup have gone on to compete in, and place well in other Southern California and regional regattas such as the Beer Can Series, Hot Rums, CRA Sponsored races, and long distance races, like Newport- Ensenada.   

Unique to this regatta on Friday evening, Eric Heim and the Team from Quantum Sails gave a well-attended seminar on rules of the road, and racing basics including starting, mark rounding, and understanding weather, all while stressing safety and fun.  The SDYC Jessop Room was packed for this seminar and great food and drinks were provided by SDYC Catering. This seminar gave the new sailors professional instruction on what to expect over the next two days on the race course and eased any “first time racing” worries.

Saturday’s ocean racing in Coronado Roads was overcast with light winds and bumpy seas, creating challenges for the larger boats to stretch out and gain boat speed, but the wind increased slightly throughout the afternoon helping create more excitement.  

Cruising Classes 1 and 2, with 10 and 12 boats respectively, ran two triangle courses, while the Beneteau First 36.7’s, for whom this was their West Coast Championship, and the First 40.7s and other large First Series yachts enjoyed some close racing with two windward-leeward courses to really engage their strategic and tactical skills.  

Returning to the dock on Saturday evening, the crews arrived to the musical welcome from John Fretwell and his yacht rock tunes of Band Overboard and the big party on the SDYC Sail Lawn, SDYC’s excellent hot Italian buffet and bar service.  

They all partied and danced well into the evening and enjoyed the new and old friendships with other sailors and guests.  While driving the South Coast Yachts/ Beneteau chase boat, Barrett and his daughter Lily Canfield shot lots of action photos of the regatta and professional photographer and drone pilot Jeff Spangler buzzed the mast tops for fantastic video footage.

At the party, the crews enjoyed watching the day’s action on SDYC’s big screen TV next to the bar.  Ten larger Beneteau Cruising boats stayed overnight lined up “Med Style” at SDYC’s Guest Dock.  SDYC accommodated 22 guest Beneteau yachts in slips at the club.

Sunday, SDYC Race Committee did an amazing job setting a pretty tight Windward - Leeward course for two races for the 36.7’s (to finish their Championship), while sending the other three classes on various round-the-bay, random-leg courses.  

The sun was missing, but the breeze was steady and the racing was lively.  It was quite a sight to see 30+ Beneteau cruisers headed down the bay flying their beautiful Spinnakers.  Everyone wrapped up around 3:00 pm, which was perfect timing to head back to the 4:30 awards ceremony on the SDYC deck.

Trophies, courtesy of Quantum Sails San Diego, were awarded to the top three finishers in each of the four classes, along with Beneteau Cup hats, 40th Anniversary Mt. Gay Beneteau Cup hats, and other gifts from local sponsors.  Event organizers Barrett and Lily Canfield congratulated the racers and led them onstage for the trophy photos.  

Cruising Class 1  (Oceanis Yachts to 43’) was dominated again this year by Federico Pavoncelli  (DPYC) and crew on his Oceanis 41, “Marilu”, while Jeff Urdahl’s  (SDYC) Oceanis 45 “Odyssea” was the winner of the 12-boat Cruise Class 2 (Cruising boats 44’ and larger).

The Beneteau First 40 “Precepts II” owned by Drew Belk (SDYC) had a fantastic performance again this year, winning the First Series Class and overall Beneteau Cup First Series Perpetual Trophy for the 5th year!  

Rick Harris’ First 40.7 “Sweet Okole”  (Coronado YC) won the 4-race 40.7 One Design class. 

The Overall West Coast Class Championship for the First 36.7 was awarded to Peter Cochran (SLBYC) aboard “Rode Rage” for the second year in a row.

Every year, the best finishing Cruising boat and best finishing First Series Overall receive awards engraved on Beneteau Cup perpetual trophies, and this year Odyssea and Precepts II were the Overall Winners, both sailing out of San Diego Yacht Club!

The organizers would like to thank SDYC for the incredible hospitality and wonderful catering, and SDYC’s Race Committee for their world class work and support over the weekend, with a special shout out to regatta PRO Susi Graff for her leadership (and patience!).  They also thank sponsors Beneteau America, Quantum Sails, The Dinghy Doctor, Novamar Insurance, Mt. Gay Rum, Safe Harbor Shelter Island Boat Yard and Sunroad Marina, the South Coast Yachts Sales and Service crew, Photographer Jeff Spangler, SDYC’s Marina office and Racing office crew for contributing to this fun and memorable regatta. 

Published on 21.09.2024

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