The Perini Navi Cup is a superyacht regatta restricted exclusively to Perini yachts that for a few days gather to challenge each other in the Mediterranean Sea.

After the first edition in 2004 Perini Navi Cups have been held in 2006 and 2009, the appointment for the fourth edition will take place between the 1st and 4th September 2011 in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, one of the most beautiful west mediterranean charter destination.
Yachts, over the years have come to be associated more with leisure and entertainment. But the performance yachts that sail and compete in a regatta can still generate so much excitement that it can get you hooked to sailing for life. The Perini Navi Cup, the annual super-luxe regatta in Sardinia is already gearing up to present a grand event that is better than the previous years in every which way. The event is still a few months away but some big ticket sponsors have already come on board and that’s why the organizers are confident that the regatta in Sardinia will be a super show this year.

The regatta will take place from September 1 to 4 in the waters around Porto Cervo. The event is dedicated to the world’s most stylish sailing superyachts. The format of the regatta has been marginally enlarged this year and an extra day of racing has been added to the original schedule. The participating yachts are all priceless beauties that are capable of outperforming the others if handled skillfully. If you calculate the value of all the yachts competing in the regatta it will add up to hundreds of millions of dollars. The megabucks Maltese Falcon will be there with the Lord Foster-designed Panthalassa and founder Fabio Perini’s own Elettra. Many other big names will be confirming their participation.
The sailing superyacht regatta is being organized under the auspices of the ultra-exclusive Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The big name sponsors who are backing the event this year are Rolex, Audi and Champagne Pommery. There are several others who will be contributing to the success of the event. If you are passionate enough to want to participate, you can check the James list for some of the best yachts on sale.

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Hello Little One (Photo by Rawphoto.co.uk)

Confirmation of three more yachts in the last few days brings the total entries for The Superyacht Cup 2010 to 19; the maximum number that can be berthed at The Superyacht Cup Village in the centre of the City. Additional yachts may take part in the event, but they will need to find a berth in the Port’s marinas or at STP boat yard – immediately adjacent to the SYC site.

A new development for this year is the appointment of a professional Race Officer, Premiere Racings founder, Peter Craig from Marblehead, USA. Peter has a huge wealth of experience with top-level international regattas, including the Bucket Regattas and the Perini Navi Cup, the Maxi Rolex World Cup, the Swan World Championships and the Volvo Ocean Race. Peter understands the need for adapting the racing approach for superyachts, and his knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in moving forward the new Superyacht Racing protocol; the aim of which is to provide the best possible format for safe and exciting racing for large yachts with very different design and manoeuvrability characteristics. “I had a great time competing in the Superyacht Cup Palma on the schooner Meteor back in 2007,” said Craig. “I’m really pleased to be back in the capacity of PRO and look forward to being a part of this renowned superyacht event.”

Among the fleet this June will be the winner of The Superyacht Cup in 2009, Gliss. The bright turquoise 32m sloop, designed by Philippe Briand and built by Royal Huisman, made her racing debut at The Superyacht Cup in 2006, soon after being launched in Holland and has been racing successfully ever since. Konkordia (formerly Kokomo), the Dubois designed sloop built by Alloy Yachts in New Zealand in 2006, has arrived back in Palma from the Caribbean and will take part in their first regatta with the new owner this June. A new comer to this year’s event is Saudade, an elegant and powerful yacht, designed by Tripp and built by Wally Yachts. Saudade recently took part in the St Barth’s Bucket and is currently heading to the Mediterranean for the summer season.

In the past few days, Palma has seen a huge influx of yachts returning from Antigua and other parts of the Caribbean. As the docks fill up, and the contractors enter their busiest month of the year, everyone knows it is approaching Superyacht Cup time. All of the yachts are undergoing refit work, general repairs and maintenance and preparing for the season ahead.

 

 LIST OF ENTRIES

Yacht	Designer	LOA
P2	Briand/Perini Navi	38m
Ganesha	Dubois/Fitzroy	39m
Blue Diamond	Vaton/JMV	30.2m
Mystere	Tripp/Vitters	43m
Irelanda	Hoek/Alloy	31.9m
Salperton IV	Dubois/Fitzroy	45m
Ithaka	Peterson/Jongert	27m
Tenaz	Dubois/Pendennis Shipyard	40m
Shamoun	Hoek/Claasen Jachtbouw	33m
Maltese Falcon	Perini Navi	88m
Sojana	Farr/Cowes Yachting	35m
Anny	Judel Vrolijk/Baltic	26.5m
Havana	Dixon/Vitters Shipyard	30m
Alarife	Barcos Deportivos/Frers	30m
Destination Fox Harbour	Dubois/Alloy Yachts	41m
Scorpione Dei Mari	Castro/Jongert	29.9m
Konkordia	Dubois/Alloy Yachts	53m
Gliss	Briand Royal Huisman	32m
Saudade	Tripp/Wally Yachts	45m

 

 

 For more information about the Palma Superyacht Cup 2010 click HERE

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After all was said and done, it was the J-Class Ranger  that took the 2010 Bucket.  John Williams and his crew raced consistently and well, earning a well-deserved victory.   Second place belonged to the the Perini Navi Andromeda la Dea, with the Perini Navi P2 in third place overall.

The third and final race of the 2010 St. Barths Bucket (the “Wrong Way Around” course) was sailed in conditions very similar to the previous days: fluky winds in the 10 to 15 knot range.  The usual noon start was preceded by a couple of Bucket Scholarship holders, thus spoiling Gloria’s virtual deadlock on the Escargot Cup, which was awarded to the consistently sailed Toto.  P2 and Unfurled earned second and third place in the Gazelle fleet, while Axia and Hetairos were runners up in the Grande Dames contingent. 

It would be a mere redundancy to add that the sailing and the shore side activities were of the customary caliber, with Visione a hands-down winner of the yacht open house on Friday night — after all the rest of the fleet had closed she kept the party going until midnight!  We expected marvelous sailing (this is, after all, the Caribbean) and indeed we got it.  The combination of St. Barths, 39 megayachts, and the blue skies and waters worked their usual magic!

As Tony Hambrook, Managing Director of Alloy Yacht stated, “This was the best regatta ever, anywhere!”

Results: Race 3 

	Race 3 Points	Finish Time	Time Delta
ANDROMEDA LA DEA	1	3:21:25 PM	0:00:00
RIELA	2	3:24:27 PM	0:03:02
HELIOS	3	3:25:10 PM	0:03:45
METEOR	4	3:26:06 PM	0:04:41
ANTARA	5	3:28:03 PM	0:06:38
AVALON	6	3:29:38 PM	0:08:13
GEORGIA	7	3:30:50 PM	0:09:25
GLORIA	8	3:33:16 PM	0:11:51
DSK	9	3:37:26 PM	0:16:01
RANGER	10	3:37:42 PM	0:16:17
REBECCA	11	3:38:49 PM	0:17:24
LIARA	12	3:39:29 PM	0:18:04
UNFURLED	13	3:39:43 PM	0:18:18
SALUTE	14	3:40:22 PM	0:18:57
HIGHLAND BREEZE	15	3:40:45 PM	0:19:20
P2	16	3:41:15 PM	0:19:50
VARSOVIE	17	3:41:16 PM	0:19:51
SALPERTON IV	18	3:42:01 PM	0:20:36
WHITE WINGS	19	3:42:11 PM	0:20:46
AXIA	20	3:43:18 PM	0:21:53
SOJANA	21	3:44:56 PM	0:23:31
WHISPER	22	3:46:17 PM	0:24:52
GANESHA	23	3:47:35 PM	0:26:10
VISIONE	24	3:47:58 PM	0:26:33
GHOST	25	3:48:31 PM	0:27:06
ADELA	26	3:48:43 PM	0:27:18
HANUMAN	27	3:48:44 PM	0:27:19
SAUDADE	28	3:48:56 PM	0:27:31
MYSTERY**	29	3:49:04 PM	0:27:39
ARTEMIS	30	3:49:39 PM	0:28:14
WINDCREST	31	3:50:33 PM	0:29:08
HETAIROS	32	3:52:05 PM	0:30:40
SHAMOUN	33	3:52:26 PM	0:31:01
HYPERION	34	3:53:45 PM	0:32:20
DESTINATION	35	3:53:50 PM	0:32:25
HAMILTON II	36	3:53:59 PM	0:32:34
SYMMETRY	37	4:01:29 PM	0:40:04
TOTO	38	4:33:55 PM	1:12:30
BARACUDA	39	DNF	‘

* Safety Penalty: 5 Minute
** Over Early Penalty: 5 Minute

Results: Cumulative

	Race 1 Points	Race 2 Points	Race 3 Points	Total Points	Rank
RANGER	13	1	10	24	1
ANDROMEDA LA DEA	4	26	1	31	2
P2	10	5	16	31	3
AXIA	3	11	20	34	4
UNFURLED	19	4	13	36	5
GANESHA	7	10	23	40	6
GEORGIA	9	25	7	41	7
AVALON	5	31	6	42	8
REBECCA	30	2	11	43	9
SAUDADE	8	8	28	44	10
DSK	20	15	9	44	11
SALUTE	2	29	14	45	12
GHOST	17	3	25	45	13
HANUMAN	12	6	27	45	14
WHITE WINGS	6	20	19	45	15
HETAIROS	1	13	32	46	16
HELIOS	24	23	3	50	17
ANTARA	11	34	5	50	18
RIELA	16	35	2	53	19
WINDCREST	14	9	31	54	20
LIARA	28	14	12	54	21
VISIONE	26	7	24	57	22
SOJANA	29	12	21	62	23
ADELA	18	19	26	63	24
HAMILTON II	15	16	36	67	25
WHISPER	23	22	22	67	26
VARSOVIE	34	17	17	68	27
METEOR	36	33	4	73	28
SALPERTON IV	27	28	18	73	29
HIGHLAND BREEZE	32	27	15	74	30
HYPERION	22	18	34	74	31
MYSTERY	25	21	29	75	32
BARACUDA	21	24	40	85	33
GLORIA	39	39	8	86	34
ARTEMIS	33	32	30	95	35
SHAMOUN	35	30	33	98	36
DESTINATION	31	36	35	102	37
SYMMETRY	37	38	37	112	38
TOTO	38	37	38	113	39

 

A full recap of the St. Barths Bucket and Race Information about the Upcoming Newport Bucket Regatta is available at  www.bucketregattas.com

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Who would have guessed that all those navigating fluid libations we so freely poured to Poseidon a few years back (in the days of windless Buckets) would bear compounded interest.  Once again — we sailed in near perfect conditions, under proper Caribbean blue skies.  The word “near” is used advisedly, as the day saw wind speeds ranging from 8 to 15 knots, with direction swings from SE to NE.  This, needless to say, scrambled some otherwise predictable finishes and may well have been a cause of some frustration. 

The 39 yachts were sent off in close formation, with tight starts sometimes a mere 30 seconds apart.  The traditional second day “Wiggley Course” was revised into the “Not So Wiggley” course in the interest of safety, although the dramatic wind shifts reintroduced some of the Wiggles back into the equation. 

In the end it looked like a photo finish between Ranger and Rebecca until the latter hit a wall in the form of a massive header, allowing Ranger claim a well deserved first place.  Some liberal interpretations of the safety protocol for finishing yachts provided some interesting finishing tactics, although good general seamanship avoided any potential problems. 

The traditional owners’ party was again held at the Carl Gustaf Hotel which offered a beautiful view of the fleet below, followed by general merriment on the quay.  Sunday’s race, the “Wrong Way Around” course, promises to enjoy more good weather and lovely sailing for all.

Results: Cumulative

	Race 1 Points	Race 2 Points	Race 3 Points	Total Points	Rank
RANGER	13	1		14	1
HETAIROS	1	13		14	2
AXIA	3	11		14	3
P2	10	5		15	4
SAUDADE	8	8		16	5
GANESHA	7	10		17	6
HANUMAN	12	6		18	7
GHOST	17	3		20	8
UNFURLED	19	4		23	9
WINDCREST	14	9		23	10
WHITE WINGS	6	20		26	11
ANDROMEDA LA DEA	4	26		30	12
SALUTE	2	29		31	13
HAMILTON II *	15	16		31	14
REBECCA	30	2		32	15
VISIONE	26	7		33	16
GEORGIA	9	25		34	17
DSK	20	15		35	18
AVALON	5	31		36	19
ADELA	18	19		37	20
HYPERION*	22	18		40	21
SOJANA	29	12		41	22
LIARA	28	14		42	23
ANTARA	11	34		45	24
BARACUDA	21	24		45	25
WHISPER	23	22		45	26
MYSTERY	25	21		46	27
HELIOS	24	23		47	28
RIELA	16	35		51	29
VARSOVIE	34	17		51	30
SALPERTON IV	27	28		55	31
HIGHLAND BREEZE*	32	27		59	32
SHAMOUN	35	30		65	33
ARTEMIS	33	32		65	34
DESTINATION	31	36		67	35
METEOR	36	33		69	36
TOTO	38	37		75	37
SYMMETRY **	37	38		75	38
GLORIA	39	39		78	39

* Safety Penalty: 5 Minute
** Over Early Penalty: 5 Minute

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The first race of the 2010 St. Barths Bucket was blessed with a crystalline Caribbean day that served up a 13 knot easterly breeze and smooth seas for the record fleet of 39 superyachts, to race the 25 miles counterclockwise around the island.  This set the stage for a magnificent day on the water and remarkably close racing, with 30 of 39 yachts finishing within 16 minutes!

 

The big winner of the day was HETAIROS, the 132′ Abeking and Rasmussen ketch that sailed the course flawlessly.  SALUTE, the 184′ Perini Navi which is the tallest sloop rig yacht afloat, finished three minutes later to claim second with AXIA, the 124′ Palmer Johnson finishing third, four minutes later.

In the racing division, “Les Gazelles des Mers”, SAUDADE  the 148′ Wally finished first, with P2, the 125′ Performance Perini Navi sloop claiming second just over a minute behind.  The J Class yachts, Hanuman and Ranger, finished third and fourth just a minute later, with only 21 seconds between them after 25 miles of racing! 

Last night’s festivities in St. Barths was centered around the fleet Open House, the highlight of the weekend during which the nearly 1,000 participating crewmembers will visit and celebrate the day aboard the yachts. 

 

Race #2 of the St. Barths Bucket Regatta will take place today on “The Not So Wiggly Course” around and between the islands northeast of St. Barths. 

Race Entries

Boat Name Length Builder/Designer Adela 180’ Pendennis Rebuild Andromeda La Dea 154’ Perini Navi Antara 154’ Perini Navi Artemis 144′ Dubois/Fitzroy Yachts Avalon 108’ Southern Pacific Yachts Axia 124’ Palmer Johnson Baracuda 164’ Perini Navi Destination Fox Harbr 134′ Alloy Yachts/Dubois DSK 90′ Swan Ganesha 128′ Dubois/Fitzroy Yachts Georgia 159′ Alloy Yachts Gloria 126′ Jongert & Lowland Ghost 122′ Vitters Shipyard Hamilton II 117′ CNB Hanuman 138′ Royal Huisman Helios 148′ Perini Navi Hetairos 132′ Abeking & Rasmussen Highland Breeze 112′ Swan Hyperion 156′ Royal Huisman Liara 100′ Performance Yachts Meteor 169′ Royal Huisman Mystery 112′ Swan P2 125′ Perini Navi Ranger 137′ J Boat Rebecca 141′ Pendennis Riela 184′ Perini Navi Salperton IV 147′ Dubois/Fitzroy Salute 184′ Perini Navi Saudade 148′ Wally Shamoun 108′ Klaasen Sojana 115’ Custom Farr Ketch Symmetry 96’ Yachting Development Toto 110′ Palmer Johnson Unfurled 112′ Royal Huisman Varsovie 100′ Swan Visione 148′ Baltic Whisper 116′ Holland Jachtbouw White Wings 76′ Rockport Marine Windcrest 98’ Hodgdon Yachts

 

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What’s better than champagne sailing? Well if you’re one of the select few sailing in the Perini Navi Cup off the Costa Smeralda, it was certainly more like Bellini sailing – 30+ knots from the west which provided spectacular conditions for the 18-boat fleet.

Racing started pursuit style with the smallest yacht in the fleet, Elettra starting first at 1205; thereafter the yachts started every two minutes, with the last yacht off the line, the 184-foot sloop-rigged Salute.

The YCCS race committee sent the fleet on a 25 nautical mile course that featured mostly reaching: from the start off Porto Cervo, it was a beat up to Monaci island, once around a reach down to the rocky islet of Mortoriotto, then back on the wind again, though almost a fetch to the finish off the entrance to Porto Cervo.

While the pursuit start sent the boats on a bit of a parade up to Monaci, once around the reach to the leeward mark saw the fleet compress, making for an exciting leeward mark rounding at Motoriotto.

On board Perseus, Bill Lynn, a guest helmsmen, reveled in the conditions, saying “We saw 40 knots a little while before the start, but it was great — these boats handle just fine in that much wind, you just make the sails a little smaller and tell people to hang on a little tighter, and off you go. It’s a totally different beast to sail, everything happens that much slower, but then you get down to that leeward turning mark and there’s eight boats in a pretty small patch of water with rocks to the right, and rocks to the left, and you start getting a little nervous.”

The fresh conditions took their toll with some breakages. On Perseus, the port mainsheet winch failed, preventing the crew from trimming the main on most of the last beat, but they managed with a jury-rig and will work to rebuild the winch for tomorrows race.

While Perinis are massive yachts, under cruising conditions they don’t require a large number of crew to sail. But in racing mode, the crew numbers easily grow to 25 or so. Lynn explained, “We have the regular crew, the race crew which is about six or seven of us, guys that are here to race the boat, the owner and five or six of his friends, and a few other guests — I’m not sure if they snuck on.I never saw them before!”

Even a sailmaker can venture a huge smile after a spirited day of racing in big breeze on big yachts, such as the 174-foot Atmosphere. Robbie Doyle, had first sailed Perinis years ago onboard the newly-launched Andromedea La Dea, and in the 2006 Perini Navi Cup on Maltese Falcon — but he had never sailed the yachts in the strong conditions of today. Doyle said, “It was a testament to Perini that the boats all held together as well as they did. To sail in 30-35 knots and have as little damage done, well it’s big change from five to ten years ago. In general, super yachts when they go racing, you sheet everything in that much harder, and that’s when you break things. They’ve really resolved these systems very well.”

Doyle had high praise for the crew, “The owners son drove, he’s a tremendous sailor — a Melges 24 champion, so it’s a little different sailing this boat, but he did an excellent job. But we were grateful we didn’t have to put a spinnaker up today, since we haven’t practiced it.

The 164-foot ketch Baracuda stood out with their dark carbon hull and lavender-colored sails a striking sight against the emerald water. Former America’s Cup skipper Mauro Pelaschier helmsman onboard, said, “We sailed three days before the race, but in very light winds, so it was very exciting today, but difficult too as it’s not easy to trim the sails in the strong breeze.”

Baracuda was one of the last to start, and was several minutes late at that when another yacht crossed their anchor delaying their arrival on the race course. But they gained around the course and had a strong last beat, Pelaschier said, “We’re training the crew, they’re doing a great job. We know the boat a little better in strong breeze, so we do something better tomorrow.

Top five finishers today were: Maltese Falcon, Felicita West, Antara, Andromeda La Dea, Perseus.

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Newport Bucket Regatta Image Gallery by George Bekris

 

(click on image below to view gallery)

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Newport Bucket Regatta 2009

 

(Click on Hanuman photo above to view Gallery of Newport Bucket Regatta Photos By George Bekris)

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