The 2nd – 7th July 2012 will see the return of the Pendennis Cup to Cornwall. Organised by Pendennis Shipyard every two years the yacht regatta hosts an amazing range of superyachts to the waters of Falmouth Bay for four days of challenging competing. For the first time this year a professional race officer has been selected to take charge of the race.

Megayacht ATHOS - Image courtesy of Hoek Design

Esteemed yachtsman Peter Craig from Marblehead, USA, has a wide range of experience with many of the premiere 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 is certainly looking forward to the Pendennis Cup “It’s probably a combination of things – the renowned port of Falmouth, which I’ve heard so many good things about and the beautiful yachts that make up the Pendennis fleet every year. As a kid, I sailed on a wooden, gaff rigged schooner during my New England summers so an epic schooner line up that includes the likes of Mariette, Eleonora, Altair, Adela and Athos will be something special for me. This year the Pendennis Cup fleet consists of a wide variety of vessels in terms of size, rig and age for which we are developing a set of rules that facilitates the best racing conditions for this diverse fleet. I am looking forward to overseeing the racing, especially in the more challenging waters of the UK, where weather as well as tide can have a dramatic influence on a vessel’s performance.”

Sailing Yacht Adela - Image credit to Pendennis

Peter will be working alongside the race committee from the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, who managed the racing in 2010, tying in with their expertise of local conditions to create the most exciting courses possible for both crews and spectators.

To date next year’s fleet includes 13 classic and modern sailing yachts totaling a remarkable 450m + in length overall. The fleet so far consists of the 62m megayacht Athos, and the 55.5m sailing yacht Adela restored by Pendennis in 1995 and a regular visitor to the yard. Other yachts confirmed are the superyacht Altair, the charter yacht Eleonora E (ex Eleonora), the sailing yacht Mariette, the superyacht Mariquita (one of the oldest participants built in 1911), Bequia, Breakaway, Bare Necessities, the luxury yacht Mikado, Zarik, the sailing yacht Unfurled and Velacarina.