Ibiza JoySail: Spain's top superyacht race
by Ibiza JoySail 18 Jun 2023 00:06 AEST
27-30 September 2023
Ibiza JoySail © Nico Martínez
In just two editions, Ibiza JoySail has become one of the leading superyacht races in the Med. Its third edition will be held from 27 to 30 September 2023, coinciding with the end of the summer season, with STP Shipyard Palma as the starting point and Marina Ibiza as the host port.
The third Ibiza JoySail has aroused huge amounts of interest among superyachts. As a result, the Organising Committee has decided to make it an invitational event due to the sheer number of applications eager to take part. As from this year, the maximum number of competing yachts will be twenty, making the race truly exclusive and highly desirable.
Another novelty this year is that the event will start on Wednesday 27 September, with the now traditional offshore race between the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza (where S/Y Moat set the overall record in 2022) and will end on Saturday 30 September with various racing courses between Ibiza and Formentera. Unlike the previous two editions, it will finish on Saturday instead of Sunday, meaning that owners will have one more day to enjoy the island before leaving.
The exclusivity of Ibiza JoySail, and the fact that it takes place at one of the Med's most desirable marinas, has attracted a whole host of yachts from 24 metres like a Swan 80, a Wally 80, to some 100 feet Southern Wind and 50 metre boats like a Royal Huisman 165.
Since the outset, Swans have been racing in the event, with repeating participants like the Swan 115 S/Y Moat defending her overall winner title from the past two years.
The spectacular Moat, owned by Juan Ball, has been and continues to be one of the best ambassadors for Ibiza JoySail. Ball debuted with her in Ibiza and didn't want to miss a single edition, so this year he's racing as the current overall winner titleholder and the current recordholder of the first ever Palma-Ibiza race, which is the opening event of each year's regatta.
In addition to Moat, repeating participants this year include Hyperion (Frers 155), Bliss (YD 120), All Smoke (SW-RP90) and Sapma (Swan 80). One debuting team will be Prevail (Tripp 90), whose captain Paul Middelberg is very excited about coming to Ibiza, saying that "ever since the launch of JoySail, we've been keen to take part in the event. We know several boats and crews who speak wonders of the event, calling it one of the best races around". Prevail is one of the yachts that after completing the season in Europe will be heading over to the Caribbean. "This will be her first ever race, so we're looking forward to the heat and breeze to get accustomed to the superyacht circuit. Ibiza JoySail serves as a warm-up before the boat sails over to the Caribbean to compete in the St. Barth's Bucket. After the event, we'll cruise a little bit more before preparing the trip across the Atlantic", explains Middelberg.
Other yachts that have confirmed their entries are Borkumriff (Royal Huisman 165), L'Hippocampe (Swan 100), Jasi (Swan 115), Aurelius (Dysktra 111), Aragon (SW94), Y-Not (Y8 80), and Tilakkhana (Wally 80).
The J Class are coming
No other class is as exclusive as the J Class, which are exact replicas of old America's Cup boats. The inclusion of the J Class definitely adds some spice to Ibiza JoySail, which at the time being will see Topaz and Svea out on the racecourse. This will be the first time that majestic J Class yachts will be sailing in Ibiza waters, having chosen Ibiza JoySail as the perfect place for their premiere.
Family & Friends
Even though Ibiza JoySail is a fiercely competitive regatta, it's also a family event and an opportunity for crews to enjoy all the attractions of Ibiza. That's why Ibiza JoySail has created the Family & Friends community, where both participants and companions can soak up the atmosphere and spend the event in the best way possible, either at sea or on land.
Marina Ibiza boasts an array of dining and leisure options, as well as luxury and exclusive boutiques showcasing designer fashion and accessories. What's more, the themed parties held every night are another of the event's top attractions.
In short, Ibiza JoySail is the perfect event for these superyachts to close the season, before some cross the Atlantic for the Caribbean racing season and others stay in Europe wintering at facilities such as STP Shipyard Palma (promoter and co-organiser of Ibiza JoySail together with Marina Ibiza) for refit & repair works.