During the upcoming event, we'll be able to see the 32m fast cruising yacht Farfalla (2015 World Superyacht Award winner) glide across the SYC start line for the very first time. This streamlined 'butterfly' hit an impressive 23 knots on her first delivery and is known to be nimble even in the lightest of winds. During the first superyacht regatta of the year, the New Zealand Millenium Cup, Farfalla ended up on equal points with second place finisher, the 40m Janice of Wyoming.
A completely different animal, also in the run for Cup supremacy, is the 43m on-water warrior Samurai. This record breaking racer was simply built for speed and as Mari-Cha IV did exactly this. She broke the trans-Atlantic record (smashed last year by super maxi Comanche ) the Guadeloupe to Antigua record, the Hawaii Pacific Ocean record, and won the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge, to name but a few. Even after her severe transition from stripped-out racing machine to superyacht, Samurai is "still a weapon to sail", as said by her Captain. (1) Indeed, she's reached rip-roaring speeds of 36 knots, which is only five less than Mari-Cha IV's max. Samurai's conversion was carried out by silver sponsors Royal Huisman - chosen by the owner because of the Dutch yard's reputation and brand pedigree.
Another entrant comfortable on the podium is the 40m Royal Huisman built well-versed racer Maria Cattiva. During the 2012 edition of the regatta her jubilant owner and elated crew were awarded the coveted 'Big Bent Cleat'. The following year she pipped the 27m Claasen Classic Atalante to the post, finishing second in Class 2. Atalante, a beautifully lined icon of the Hoek-design drawing board, will also return this year -ready and revved to get her own back, there's no two ways about it!
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| A completely different animal is the 43m on-water warrior Samurai. ©www.clairematches.com |
(1) Quote originally appeared on www.boatinternational.com
