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SUPERYACHT RACING IN ALL ITS GLAMOUR LOOKS SET TO RETURN THIS JUNE FOR EUROPE’S LONGEST RUNNING SUPERYACHT REGATTA, WRITES TOBY HODGES

- TOBY HODGES

Staged from the heart of Palma, Europe’s superyacht capital, the Superyacht Cup is one of the most spectacular events in the world. It enjoys the ideal playground that is the Bay of Palma with its reliable sea breezes that you can set your watch to. Many yachts are based there, their professional crews live on the island, it boasts leading superyacht services, a buzzing city and an international airport just a short taxi ride away.

It is also a regatta that has always adapted to the times and its ability to do so, this year in particular, is helping to ensure it can go ahead. The Superyacht Cup has always been an event for the sailors and owners. By focussing on this and the racing aspect above any shoreside activities, the organisers are confident of putting on a safe and enjoyable regatta. Indeed it looks set to be one of the first big boat regattas in the northern hemisphere in the last 18 months, in what is also a milestone year for the event itself.

For 2021 is the 25th anniversary of the Superyacht Cup, an event which started in 1996 as a low-key end-of-season party for yacht crews waiting to cross the Atlantic. Originally formed by sailmakers Patrick Whetter and Spike Thompson from the Vela 2000 loft, the first pursuit-style Superyacht Cup was won by the 33m Dubois sloop Imagine.