It was an anxious time waiting on the start line for the 19 sailing superyachts racing at the 2014 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta – organised by Boat International Media and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda – as the final day dawned sunny but virtually windless on the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia.
After postponement, the fleet battle it out in the final day of racing at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta Jeff Brown | Superyacht Media
The race committee, who set up north of Porto Cervo, flew the postponement flag as the owners and their crews anxiously waited to see if there would be a final, deciding race. As the southeasterly gradient filled in – no doubt helped by the start of a sea breeze – principle race officer Peter Craig finally gave the news that all had been waiting for. There was enough breeze for a start, and a course had been set that would take the fleet on a reach to Monaci, with another reach to a mark at the bottom of bomb alley, then good beat back past Capo Ferro to the finish off Porto Cervo.
Unfurled's two wins in two helped them leap frog Moonbird to become overall winner in Class B Carlo Borlenghi | Borlenghi Studio
The result was a gripping and tactical 30-mile course that had the fleet fighting for lanes and the safety officers battling for water as fleet compression and bottlenecks at the turning marks made for dramatic action.
The 37m Fitzroy Yachts-built Moonbird superyacht – out to defend a closely contended lead in Class B – got off to a good start, quickly hauling in the early starters in the sequence, but the star of Class B was yacht Unfurled who, after a solid performance yesterday, had been looking for an opportunity to jump Moonbird at the last.
The final day of racing was all to play for in light conditions Jeff Brown | Superyacht Media
Unfurled slowly reeled Moonbird in, Moonbird lodging a three minute delta at the bottom mark, but by the time the yachts had tacked up to Capo Ferro Unfurled had just managed to sneak in front.
‘We were almost hoping there was no race today, because we don’t have a lot of confidence in our light air performance,’ said Gary Wiseman, tactician aboard Unfurled. ‘We were pretty sure we’d run the Class for the regatta when we crossed the line. We took a day that we were not feeling confident, but it turned into a really nice race and a really good story for us at the end!’
Grande Orazio took the title in Class C and claimed the XII SWS Trophy Jeff Brown | Superyacht Media
The Sprit Yachts Gaia, racing in Class B, revelled in the lighter conditions and put in a great showing, holding her own for most of the course and scoring a well-deserved second on corrected time for the day. The Southern Wind sailing yacht Cape Arrow, which had also been in contention for the Class win, managed a third, and with Moonbird pushed down to fourth it meant that Unfurled took Class B overall by two points.
In Class C, Pier-Luigi Loro Piana’s Cookson-built sailing yacht My Song had a cracker of a race, scoring a bullet for Day Four. Overnight Class leader Grande Orazio added a second to her three previous wins to secure Class C overall victory, which also put her at the top of the podium for the Southern Wind Trophy.
A set of steady results from the crew of Selene secure second place in Class C Jeff Brown | Superyacht Media
‘It was four beautiful days, and today was perhaps the best day,’ said her owner, Massimiliano Florio. ‘We had a second place today but we had a match race with other boats which I very much enjoyed, and for me it’s the first time I’ve got a first place overall trophy!’.
It was a good day too for the 24m yacht Drumfire and Southern Wind Whisper, who scored their best results of the regatta with a third and a fourth respectively. The Swan Selene yacht came in fifth, securing second place overall in Class C. The Oyster Karibu yacht didn’t have such a good day at the office, and My Song’s fine performance jumped her into third in Class C overall.
The Claasen F Class Firefly had another perfect day on the water, aided not least by the superb crew work that has been the yacht’s hallmark all regatta. As a result, she secured her fourth victory, with her clean sweep not only cementing the Class A win but also handing her the Boat International Media Silver Jubilee Cup as the event’s overall winner.
‘We’ve been practicing for three seasons now and we stick together really well,’ beamed her owner. ‘We were very much aiming for our achievements, and I’m delighted not so much for myself but for the team who made it all happen. There’s much more to come! It’s brilliant that it was rewarded with a trophy but there was so much work done before and we’ve been getting better every time. It’s a very warm regatta, and I’ve really enjoyed the hospitality of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, and the organisers Boat International Media. It’s always lovely to be here and we hope we’ll get to stay here for as long as we can.’
Firefly dominated the regatta with four wins out of four races to take the Boat International Media Silver Jubilee Cup Carlo Borlenghi | Borlenghi Studio
Added Pier-Luigi Loro Piana, speaking on behalf of the title sponsor: ‘The level of sailing and the level of the boats was really high this year. We had a great week, good winds, sunshine, we couldn’t have asked for more. I’m particularly happy to have seen several new boats racing this year and I hope to see them again both at the Caribbean edition and here in Porto Cervo next year.’
As the sun sets on the Piazza Azzurra and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda for another year, owners, their guests and the superyachts’ crews will be taking away some fantastic memories of what has been a true classic of a regatta. Many will be looking forward already to returning next year to compete once again, to renew old friendships, and to enjoy not only spectacular racing but also the wonderful social programme that is such a key element of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta.
The regatta dates for the next three years have been announced, and the event will take place from 2 to 6 June 2015, from 7 to 11 June 2016 and from 6 to 10 June 2017.
RESULTS:
BOAT INTRNATIONAL MEDIA SILVER JUBILEE CUP
Firefly
CLASS A
1. Firefly
2. Magic Carpet 3
3. Inoui
CLASS B
1. Unfurled
2. Moonbird
3. Cape Arrow
CLASS C
1. Grande Orazio
2. Selene
3. My Song
XII SOUTHERN WIND SHIPYARD TROPHY
1. Grande Orazio
2. Cape Arrow
3. Whisper
EMBRAER RACE DAY PRIZES
Firefly, Moonbird and Grande Orazio
YCCS TROPHY FOR TOP SCORING YACHT OWNED BY A YCCS MEMBER
Unfurled
