Three Class Act Schooners to Compete in Palma

For 20 years now, the beautiful bay of Palma has been setting the stage for a mouth-watering selection of mega yachts to participate in a gripping superyacht regatta like no other. Most years, the Superyacht Cup draws entries from 300 tonne giants to sleek and slippery speed machines, but we're excited to announce that it is during this 'vintage' edition that we'll also see a selection of the iconic 'classic' schooners grace the racing circuit.

We already mentioned the 41m two-masted schooner Mariette of 1915 taking part. She was drawn up by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, the renowned designer responsible for a whole array of unbeatable America's Cup defenders. Although this seasoned sail yacht was built 100 years ago, she not only remains in fine form, (premium partners Pendennis' refit facilities keep her in tip-top shape), but also still races at the top of her game. She scored premium slot at the 2012 Pendennis Cup, and additionally claimed a respectable third place in last year's Transatlantic Race, ahead of all-carbon racers Rambler and Comanche, no less.

SYC entrant, the breathtakingly beautiful Mariette still races at the top of her game.

The stunning Mariette of 1915 will be up against one of our newest SYC additions: the 60m traditional gaff-rigged schooner Germania Nova. She was built as a true replica of the classic 1908 racing schooner Germania, using the same hull lines, deck- and sail-plans as designed by the acclaimed Max Oertz. The original Germania was built to kick stern and with a top speed of 19 knots, in one year alone, came first in more than half of the races in which she competed. For the new Germania this will be her very first outing on the race course. We already know she is on a par with her predecessor's beauty and elegance...but will she also be able to match this record-breaker's winning ways? We'll need to wait another two months to find out.

The 60m traditional gaff-rigged schooner Germania Nova. Image courtesy of Northrop & Johnson.

Completing this jaw-dropping scene will be the 42m schooner Naema, designed by Hodgdon Yachts and built by Graafship NL.

Twenty Plus Fleet includes Cup Veterans P2 and Visione

The performance Perini P2 will be competing for the fourth time, yet this year this regatta regular will be sailed hard by a new crew with America's Cup veteran Tony Rey on tactics. And even though she's a new boat for the team, they've already claimed victory twice this year. First at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Virgin Gorda where they triumphed in Class B and later during the St Barths Bucket: she won to hold on to the lead and edge out second-place finisher, the Vitters built Ganesha, by one point in overall scoring. We're sure the 46m Indian deity will want to get her own back in Palma!

We're also thrilled to see the 45m Visione return, no doubt owner and crew will have their sailing muscles flexed in order to continue last year's battle with, amongst others, the highly competitive Inouï, (Vitters). The well powered Baltic-built beauty was designed by Reichel / Pugh - responsible for the lines of other rockets such as Magic Carpet 3. Although built in 2002, well before many other SYC competitors, she is still the boat to beat. She came second in class during Antigua's Superyacht Challenge this year and took third in class during the St Barths Bucket in March.

The 45m well powered Baltic-built beauty Visione. Image: www.clairematches.com

Classic style yachts always look good on the water and the 46m Windrose of Amsterdam is no exception. She won the ShowBoats Award for Highest Technical Achievement just after her launch in 2001 and made headlines by breaking the Transatlantic record both in 2002 and 2005. This award-winning superyacht signed up last week, bringing our number of entrants up to a total of 22.

Going Green for the Big Blue with Hydration Power from Marine Hydraulic Solutions

For this silver edition the Superyacht Cup has teamed up with the Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas Programme. Main objective is cutting down on single use plastic bottles used onboard for racing. Changing habits is never easy, but with a bit of advance planning it can become easier, cheaper and will be a positive impact on the environment -protecting the waters we love to sail on. Mallorca-based Marine Hydraulic Solutions, leading provider for a complete service of maintenance, refit, repair and installation for hydraulic systems, will proudly provide thirsty sailors with free re-usable bottles which can be rinsed, refilled and chilled again. There will be a tent on-site from where MHS will distribute 20 bottles to each yacht and take care of the 18 litre refill containers, deposits and returns.

MHS offers a complete service for maintenance and installation of all hydraulic systems found on board and this year's entry list is teeming with yachts that MHS has worked on previously, for example, the 26m carbon rigged racer Tulip or the new, larger and faster 39m Atalante, designed by Hoek Design Naval Architects and built by Claasen.

The 26m carbon rigged racer Tulip, only one of the SYC entrants MHS has worked on. Image: www.clairematches.com

Another two solid Superyacht Cup supporters which are also responsible for a broad spectrum of top-level superyacht solutions are silver sponsors Reckmann and Rondal. Rondal is a powerhouse of modern engineering expertise, situated in the heart of the skills-rich Dutch maritime sector. They create quality equipment, like spars, rigging, winches, feeders, hatches and entrances for the world's finest superyachts, including many past and present SYC entrants. Equally as high standing are the custom projects delivered by the passionate people at Reckmann. For nearly 125 years, Reckmann has been at the forefront when it comes to high-performing sailing products, such as mast, rigging and hydraulic systems, as well as the full range of accessories in the regatta field.