Another Three Awe-Inspiring Superyachts Sign Up

Palma de Mallorca's temperatures have started to soar and we've already seen four superyacht races take place this year. Those are sure signs that the regatta season is in full swing and we're getting closer to the 20th Superyacht Cup, which, we might add, is going to be HUGE this year!

Yet another three glorious superyachts have signed up recently which brings us to a total of no less than 23 race-ready yachts, itching to take part in this year's action.

One of our newest additions is the 31m Penelope, launched in 2013 and designed by Dubois. She boasts a performance orientated hull shape and is powered by a sport rig, carbon spars and Spectra Carbon sails, made by sponsors North Sails. Penelope has proudly enjoyed many triumphs. She was finalist in the Boat International World Superyacht Awards 2013 and bagged first place in the 2014 Oyster regatta in Antigua. She's known to deliver a top performance, even in the lightest of winds. We're keen to see the Palma Bay's trademark sea breeze make her fly even faster.

The freshly launched 32m Southern Wind Sea Wave, finessed to perfection and designed by Farr Yacht Design, will not only be racing for the very first time but will be tackling no less than four regattas this season: The Rolex Capri International Regatta, The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, The Superyacht Cup, and the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Like many other Superyacht Cup competitors her mast and boom are supplied by our sponsors Southern Spars, who also fitted the yacht's carbon fibre performance rigging.

The freshly launched 32m Southern Wind Sea Wave, finessed to perfection. Photo courtesy of Southern Wind.

A regular racer on Palma's bay whom we're thrilled to see back, is the stunningly elegant 31m modern classic Gaia, built by Spirit Yachts. As well as being known for her speed and sophistication, Gaia also flies the most talked about spinnaker, one which has made many sailors perched on the rail do a double take, you'll see. This timeless racer can reach speeds in excess of 19 knots, making her one of the fastest yachts of her size on the water. She'll be competing for the third consecutive time this year and we can't wait to see her gracefully cream past her competitors.

The 31m Gaia is one of the fastest yachts of her size on the water. Photo: www.clairematches.com

High Five - KIBOKO DOS

Another Southern Wind built boat we'll be able to see on the race course is the 29m Kiboko Dos, not only a strong performer on the race course, this award-winning sailing yacht was also the first to confirm being happy to take onboard this year's refill bottles, teaming up with us in cutting down on single use plastic to protect the seas we love to sail on. On top of the twenty bottles kindly provided by Marine Hydraulic Solutions, they've ordered 26 additional ones, with proceeds going to Asociación Ondine for environmental projects on the island. High Five Kiboko Dos!

Judging by the enthusiastic responses from all captains and owners upon hearing about our mission to take on the environmental impact at this year's Superyacht Cup, no doubt more captains will soon follow.

The 28m Kiboko Dos, the first to team up with us in cutting down on single use plastic. ©www.clairematches.com

Eight million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean from the land each year. That's equivalent to about 1.5 million cars! (1) By joining the Sailors of the Sea Clean Regattas Programme we can offer support and resources to help conserve and protect our seas.

(1) J. Dambeck, Science

Silver Sponsors Royal Huisman, No Ordinary Shipyard and Paint Professionals Jotun

Silver sponsors Royal Huisman, sticklers for flawlessly executed custom superyachts, are currently involved with various new build and refit projects. At the moment taking centre stage is the Dubois designed 58m high performance, edgy and innovative sloop Ngoni. Following is a beautiful 56m classic ketch designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and a very elegant 65ft Sparkman and Stevens designed cutter rigged sloop. Also noteworthy on the new build front is the Royal Huisman 43 by Germán Frers. In a ready-to-go format she's available to meet a client's brief -no other yacht of these dimensions can be built today that so effectively brings together luxury, amenity and optimised accommodations.

Huisfit, the shipyard's refit, repair and renewal program, continues to impress through their recently delivered projects, such as the 70m Lürssen Skat, long-serving Superyacht Cup competitor Hyperion, the 40m Antares, and the converted 42m Samurai, (ex-Mari Cha IV). The 55m Vitters ketch Adèle is currently at the shipyard for a major Huisfit overhaul.

Almost every single year has seen a Royal Huisman-built beauty at full bore in the bay. Our 2007 edition saw no less than eight yachts which came from the acclaimed Dutch yard. Additionally they've brought forward a whole fleet of winners like the cutter rigged classic sloop Maria Cattiva, the multi award-winning 47m Hyperion, and the 34m Germán Frers designed performance sloop Unfurled, now re-named Spiip by her new owner.

Another silver sponsor supporting the regatta this year are superyacht paint specialists Jotun. Jotun is one of the world's leading paint manufacturers recognised as the number one supplier of antifouling. The Jotun group has 63 companies and 37 production facilities on all continents, and is represented in more than 100 countries with over 9800 employees. Jotun has a comprehensive, specialist yachting range of: antifouling, primers, fillers and top coats, specifically designed for the megayacht industry. These top quality products have been proven in every sea and ocean of the world and are fully supported by an unrivalled standard of technical service and global supply network.