Approaching its 30th anniversary, one of the most popular superyacht regattas is a little more than six months away. The Superyacht Cup Palma registration and notice of race are each already available.
Sailing-yacht owners and crews with the competitive spirit have participated in this friendly competition for the past 28 years (excepting 2020, due to Covid). From June 19 to 22, 2024, Europe’s longest-running sailing-superyacht race will take place in Palma de Mallorca’s waters. “All the indications are it’s going to be quite a season in 2024,” Kate Branagh, the event director, says. It’s due to the anticipated number of yachts that will be in Spain for the America’s Cup, which is in Barcelona just a few weeks later. Interestingly, the last time the America’s Cup and the yacht regatta coincided, in 2007, a whopping 52 superyachts participated.
Already looking likely for The Superyacht Cup Palma registration is a first-timer, Halekai (top). The captain of the 129-footer (39.4-meter), a Hoek Truly Classic 128, raced in the event in 2019 aboard another yacht. “I know what a wonderful and enjoyable event it can be with the professional racing and informal social scene,” says Capt. James Soddington. “It will be great to be back.” Halekai should be finishing up a global cruise in time for the race, too.
Meanwhile, a few previous participants should be gearing up to race. Among them, for example, is the J Class yacht Velsheda (above). She’s raced twice previously, in fact, so will the third time be the charm? Perhaps so. “Velsheda and The Superyacht Cup Palma seem made for each other, as the many repeat visits indicate,” according to Capt. Will Gibbon. Gibbon just so happens to be Velsheda’s former first mate and is familiar with the racecourse. Velsheda edged out a win at the Cup in 2018, not too shabby for a then-octogenarian. (She saw delivery in 1933.)
The base for the race this year is the Real Club Nautico de Palma, which has previously hosted the event. It will provide moorings for competitors, plus be the after-race location for the casual networking and cocktail parties—and, of course, prize giving.
“All of us at The Superyacht Cup Palma are looking forward to the coming year and another gathering celebrating saling and friendly, competitive racing—which is what it is all about,” Branagh says.
The Superyacht Cup thesuperyachtcup.com
JimmyluH
Good luck 🙂