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Superyacht Cup Cowes to Support Sail 4 Cancer Charity

March 6, 2012 by

The Superyacht Cup regatta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain has long raised money for a local charity. Now, the Superyacht Cup Cowes, the first UK edition of the race, will do the same.

The Superyacht Cup Cowes, taking place July 22 to 25, will raise funds for Sail 4 Cancer. The organization treats cancer patients, their families, and those who’ve lost a family member to cancer with getaway opportunities aboard a variety of boats. Sail 4 Cancer reports that it sponsors more than 400 individuals each year and has worked with more than 2,000 since its founding in 2001. “Each year we can only help one in six of the families who apply to us for respite breaks, but this partnership will enable us to help more this year,” says Lizette van Niekerk, fundraising manager for Sail 4 Cancer. “We are simply delighted and know that sailors and non-sailors alike will enjoy watching these magnificent yachts compete.”

To date, more than 20 megayachts have registered to race in the Superyacht Cup Cowes. They include familiar names on the friendly-racing circuit: Athos, Hetairos, Adela, Mari Cha III, Scorpione dei Mari, Sojana, and Unfurled. The course of the four-day regatta includes the Solent and the Isle of Wight. It’s being held to celebrate the Olympic Games in London, which start just a few days afterward. Race organizers expect more megayachts to join the festivities and are prepared to go to some interesting lengths to make it possible. “We are used to having large fleets of yachts visiting Cowes at one time, but the size and draft requirements of the Superyacht Cup fleet has given us a new challenge,” explains Stuart McIntosh, Cowes’ harbormaster. “But I am pleased to confirm we have so far found berths for all the enquiries, and expect to accommodate many more. We have the option of laying additional moorings, and a limited number of berths are still available at various locations in the vicinity of Cowes. It will certainly add to the atmosphere of the event to have the fleet together.”

To register for the Superyacht Cup, visit the website, or fill out our contact form.

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The Bucket Book Celebrates Bucket Regattas’ 25th Anniversary

February 16, 2012 by

Just in time for the next St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta, there’s a coffee-table book celebrating more than two decades’ worth of spectacular superyacht racing.

The Bucket Book, written by Alessandro Vitelli, Dana Jinkins, and Jill Bobrow, takes a look back at how the Bucket Regattas started in 1986, and how things evolved to the point of last year’s 25th anniversary celebration. Dedicated chapters delve into the details on how the rating system for megayachts was calculated, for example, as well as how safety is always of primary importance.

Of course, The Bucket Book also emphasizes the fun that sponsors, participants, and other attendees have. You get an inside look at what the Bucket Regattas in the United States and the Caribbean are like, too, through the personal stories of the megayacht owners and others who’ve been to the events. And there are plenty of photos of the action on the water, plus the prize-giving ceremonies and other after parties.

The Bucket Book is available now, for $65 (€50), plus shipping. To order yours, visit The Bucket Book page on the Bucket Regattas’ website.

Alternately, you can reserve one to pick up at the St. Barth’s Bucket if you’ll be attending. The race, being held March 22 to 25, promises some real action, with 40 confirmed participants. Twelve of them measure 164 feet (50 meters) or more, with the 203-foot (62-meter) Athos being the biggest. However, arguably more exciting will be the competition among four J-Class yachts: Endeavour, Hanuman, Ranger, and Velsheda. It’s the first time the four are meeting one another in a race.

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Plan Altered for Permanent Megayacht Marina After America’s Cup

December 20, 2011 by

Once the upcoming America’s Cup race in San Francisco ends, organizers won’t proceed with creating a permanent megayacht marina where it was initially intended to be.

As part of the overall race agreement signed some time ago, the America’s Cup organizers retained the right to establish a permanent marina after the race’s conclusion. That marina was to extend from piers 14 to 22½. However, that span includes waterfront by Rincon Park, a public space lauded for its views of San Francisco Bay. Regulations established by the state of California require the city to preserve public access. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, city officials and race organizers reached a new deal last Friday. In it, America’s Cup organizers will instead receive rights to develop Pier 54. The pier is part of the Mission Bay Waterfront redevelopment project, which calls for the creation of housing, retail and entertainment facilities, a hotel, and commercial and industrial usage.

The new megayacht marina agreement echoes one reached by the city and America’s Cup organizers a few months ago, over temporary megayacht moorings. The initial San Francisco superyacht berth plan was in dispute mostly due to the potential of hampering shore-side views and public access to the water at Rincon Park. A California government agency and environmental groups took issue with the temporary docks. Therefore, the America’s Cup organizers and the city reached a deal to move the temporary docks away from Rincon Park.

Even with the permanent marina being relocated, however, there are still issues to be resolved. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, environmental and neighborhood groups filed an appeal to the final environmental impact report. They claim that despite its approval by city commissioners, it doesn’t outline full solutions to traffic jams, detrimental impact to plants, and related issues. The city’s Board of Supervisors will review the appeal next month. If denied, the groups could sue, which in turn could delay development of the America’s Cup Village.

Updates will be posted accordingly.

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