The fourth and final day of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo, Italy on Saturday 11th June, 2011, saw westerly winds of up to 30 knots put paid to hopes of another spectacular race day off Porto Cervo. The event, co-organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media, took place from 7th to 11th June and hosted a spectacular fleet of 27 sailing superyachts.
Highland Fling wins Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 in Porto Cervo phot Credits - Guido Trombetta
With victories in both the coastal races held, Irvine Laidlaw’s Reichel Pugh-designed Highland Fling dominated in the Performance Division and also took overall victory and the Loro Piana Overall Prize: The Silver Jubilee Cup by Boat International Media. Harry Macklowe’s 34 metre Frers-designed Unfurled claimed first place among the Cruising yachts and Andrea Recordati’s Indio topped the leaderboard among the Wallys.
Macklowe was enthusiastic about all aspects of the event: “This event has terrific organisers and hosts. The sailing has been wonderful. Sardinia is terrific and we’ve enjoyed sailing with a group of wonderful boats as well as being with all of our colleagues, the place and the environment.”
Wally Sailing yacht Highland Fling at Superyacht cup 2011
Highland Fling, which had US veteran sailors Mike Toppa and Peter Holmberg aboard, was also presented with awards for the top classified YCCS Member and the top classified member of the International Maxi Association. Second in the Performance division was Indio and Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s My Song took third. Among the Cruising yachts Paolo Scerni’s Kora 5 took second place with Hasso Plattner’s Visione in third. Prizes also went to the 33.6 metre Thalima, owned by Holger Van den Heuvel, as the best classified Southern Wind yacht and to Salvatore Trifiro’s 50 metre Zefira as the best classified vessel from the Fitzroy Yachts shipyard.
YCCS Commodore Riccardo Bonadeo was understandably proud of the event’s success: “Despite difficult weather conditions this has been a great event. The racing was great as was the social side and the collaboration with Loro Piana and BIM is a winning one, as shown by this spectacular fleet. I have never seen such a fleet of superyachts gathered together in the Mediterranean before. The new rules which ISAF has allowed us to apply regarding safety measures for racing superyachts are a step forward and I know organizers and participants alike are already looking forward to the 2012 edition.”
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Regatta Calendar continues with the Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series from 16th to 19th July and the Club’s superyacht racing events continue in September in Porto Cervo and from November in the Caribbean.
Highland Fling wins Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 in Porto Cervo - Sponsors of the yacht race event
