The first place in the Cruising Division of this year’s Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta went to the 39-metre charter yacht Ganesha, designed by Dubois and constructed by Fitzroy Yachts. Second place took the 29-metre sailing yacht Scorpione dei Mari designed by Tony Castro and constructed by Jongert while the 45-metre superyacht Salperton, another Dubois/Fitzroy creation, placed third. The Performance Division was won by the 25.3-metre luxury yacht Highland Fling, designed by Reichel-Pugh and constructed by Goetz, ahead of the 25-metre yacht Aegir and Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s 25.4-metre My Song, designed by Reichel-Pugh as well as Nauta Yachts and constructed by Cookson.
The overall winner of the Cruising Division - charter yacht Ganesha Credit: Carlo Borlenghi
The YCCS Race Committee put all their local knowledge to good use as they waited until the west wind, gusting at up to 38 knots, settled to approximately 20 knots before setting an 18-mile course which saw both divisions head south of Porto Cervo, leave the islands of Mortorio and Soffi to starboard and return to the finish line via the Gulf of Pevero. The fleet of sailing giants was pushed to the limit as the 18-20 knots registered on the starting line increased to hit 24 and 25 knots on the home stretch.
A close race was run in the Performance Division with the superyacht Highland Fling finishing a little over 4 minutes clear of My Song on corrected time while Aegir crossed the finish line just 16 seconds behind her in real time. My Song – with tactician Tommaso Chieffi – and Aegir, which have similar speeds and equal ratings, marked each other from start to finish in what proved to be a spectacular duel which the Italian boat clenched in the end. Third place in today’s race was still enough to confirm Aegir, with Olympic medalist Steve Benjamin calling tactics, as first runner up in the overall classification for the division.
Competition was just as fierce in the 12-boat Cruising Division where Ganesha stormed around the course to claim a bullet which assured her overall victory. Salperton superyacht, with double Olympic gold medal winner Shirley Robertson at the helm and America’s Cup veteran Cameron Appleton calling tactics, took second place which improved her position from yesterday’s fifth place overall to third in the final line-up. Third place in today’s race went to the Southern Wind 100DS superyacht L’Ondine.
During the final prize giving, in the presence of YCCS President His Highness the Aga Khan, charter yacht Ganesha was also awarded prizes for the top placed Fitzroy Yacht and the top-placed YCCS boat while Highland Fling, with tactician Peter Holmberg, scooped the International Maxi Association award. The Southern Wind 100RS sailing yacht Cape Arrow took the prize for the top SWS yacht ahead of charter yacht Mrs Seven and KibokoDos superyacht. Brian Benjamin’s Aegir took the prize for the best overall performance among the cruiser/racers in the Performance category.
The overall winner of the Performance Division - superyacht Highland Fling Credit: Carlo Borlenghi
“Each edition of this event is exceptional and brings the cream of international superyachts to Porto Cervo.” commented Riccardo Bonadeo, Commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. “The range of wind and sea conditions over the course of the week provided stunning racing and thanks to the collaboration with Boat International Media and the support of our title sponsor Loro Piana, everyone concerned had a fantastic week both at sea and ashore.”
Pier Luigi Loro Piana, CEO of the family company commented on the event: “It has been a great week, together with all the other participants I really enjoyed it. We had a great time thanks to the organizers the YCCS and BIM. But I would especially like to thank the participants and everyone who brings their boats to race with us, the boats, the owners and the crews are what make this regatta so exciting and unique.”
The YCCS Race Calendar continues with a change of scenery from superyachts to Formula 1 racers as the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta gives way to the Audi Sardinia Cup from 11th to 17th June. Six teams, each composed of a Tp52 and a Soto 40, will do battle on the waters of the Costa Smeralda over five race days.
Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2012
Cruising Category – Overall Results
Place, Boat Name, Builder, R1-R2-R3-Points
1. GANESHA Fitzroy Yachts, ,1,6,1, 8.00
2. SCORPIONE DEI MARI Jongert, ,3,3,4, 10.00
3. SALPERTON Fitzroy Yachts, ,4,5,2, 11.00
4. CAPE ARROW Southern Wind, ,5,4,5, 14.00
5. MRS SEVEN Southern Wind, ,8,2,6, 16.00
6. KIBOKO Southern Wind, ,7,1,9, 17.00
7. MOONBIRD Fitzroy Yachts, ,2,8,8, 18.00
8. I-SEA Southern Wind, ,6,7,7, 20.00
9. L’ONDINE Southern Wind, ,10,11,3, 24.00
10. ANNAGINE JOM Holland BV, ,12,9,10, 31.00
11. IVANKA Seaway, ,9,10,13(DNC), 32.00
12. TWIZZLE Royal Huisman, ,11,12,11, 34.00
Performance Category – Overall Results
Place, Boat Name, Builder, R1-R2-R3-R4-Points
1. HIGHLAND FLING Goetz 1,1,1,1, 4.00
2. AEGIR Carbon Ocean Yachts, 3,2,2,3, 10.00
3. MY SONG Cookson Boats, 2,5(DNF),3,2, 12.00
4. ALPINA Nautor Swan, 4,3,4,5(DNC), 16.00
