Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 - Overall
by Daphne Morgan Barnicoat 25 Jun 2023 06:45 AEST
21-24 June 2023
Three days of inspiring racing at Superyacht Cup Palma 2023 concluded today with the 24m Farr-designed Rose becoming the first Wally Yacht to win Europe's longest-running superyacht regatta.
The St. Regis Race Day finale delivered another instalment of the excellent race conditions that the Bay of Palma is famed for, with 10 to 12 knots of wind and bright sunshine.
With two wins in Class B already on account, Rose began the final day in pole position and was able to claim a third race victory — but only by five seconds on corrected time in front of the well sailed Swan 100 Onyx, who finished second in class.
Speaking at the celebratory Prize-Giving on the terrace of the Real Club Náutico de Palma Rose's tactician Jesper Radich said: "This year was amazing for us — at times it was difficult but by the end we had super conditions. It was windy, it was sunny, it was shifty, so not a straightforward course and you really had to make decisions on every leg.
"So really challenging and we came out on the winning side. Today we only won by five seconds, and it doesn't get any closer than that after two hours of racing. I've done a lot of match racing and that was what it was like out there, a lot of fun!"
Meanwhile in a similarly closely contested Class A the venerable and elegant J Class classic Velsheda claimed victory with two race wins, finishing a point ahead of her J Class rival Svea, who posted a 2-2-2 scoreline. Both were clear of the modern 33m Ribelle — who won day 2 — and her Malcolm McKeon-designed Vitters Yard stablemate Pattoo.
"We have just come out of a major refit, so it was great to be here, one hundred percent," said skipper Barney Henshaw-Depledge.
"We had a good first day and then the second was more painful as we were OCS, but today I guess we got lucky. We have had ups and downs in Palma but it's great and the conditions are so good. The regatta as always has been great!"
Announcing that Superyacht Cup Palma 2024 will be held between June 19 to 22 next year, and reflecting on this year's 27th annual celebration of sail, SYC Event Director Kate Branagh said: "We have had a fabulous few days with fantastic racing and great weather, and everyone has enjoyed it. It's been terrific to welcome boats back to Palma again and we are looking forward to seeing them next year."
Branagh also repeated her gratitude for the support of long-running partners such as Preferred Hotel Partner St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Destination Partner New Zealand, and Official Timepiece Jaquet Droz.
Other SYC Partners and Friends also include Silver Partners Pantaenius, Astilleros de Mallorca, Hill Robinson, RSB Rigging, RigPro, Southern Spars, North Sails, Marinepool, and Friends Baltic Yachts, Marina Port Vell and Hoek Design.
Meanwhile this year's charity support will be directed to the Save The Med Foundation and their work for a clean and healthy Mediterranean Sea. For more information and to support the charity, please click here.
Full results can be found here.