44Cup 2025 – more fun; more high level owner-driver one design racing; two new venues
by 44Cup 4 Dec 2024 04:14 PST
12-16 February 2025
Incredibly 2025 will mark the 17th season for the RC44 one designs. For the new season, the 44Cup will comprise five events, including an official World Sailing-endorsed World Championship providing a fine blend of the highest quality, owner-driver keelboat competition, in some of the world's finest sailing venues and the best après-sail.
As ever, the all-carbon fibre RC44 shows no signs of aging, is enthusiastically campaigned by its loyal owner group and over the years has been regularly upgraded to keep pace with the latest technology. It is one of the few yachts capable of racing well in 5 knots or 25, meaning fewer lost sailing days. Go-faster features such as its light weight, a trim tab for improved pointing ability, an articulating bowsprit, etc make the RC44 competitive with larger, more modern keelboats. A one design with scrupulous, regular measurement means RC44 racing is amongst the fairest, while restricting running costs.
In 2025 racing resumes where it left off - in Tortola, among the sun-drenched British Virgin Islands. Here the fleet will once again be based in Nanny Cay marina and resort, well known for hosting the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival every April. Here the class is working with the experienced Royal BVI Yacht Club to lay on racing.
The Sir Francis Drake Channel south of Tortola is one of the world's best race areas, with racing typically taking place in easterly trade winds and relatively flat water thanks to its off-lying islands, the 'Little Sisters', keeping out the worst of the Atlantic swell. Few things are better than yacht racing in 27-30 degreesC in the Caribbean, while those back home remain in the depths of winter.
Back in Europe, the first port of call over 15-18 May will be Porto Cervo in northeast Sardinia where the 44Cup is being organised by one of the world's most prestigious yacht clubs, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), originally founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the club's President. Like the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the Costa Smeralda is one of the world's top yacht racing venues. The wind can often be strong thanks to the northwesterly Mistral funnelling through the Strait of Bonifacio between Sardinia and Corsica. The YCCS building features a luxury hotel with 24 suites, as well as offering dining and bar facilities for participants. In hotel terms the YCCS' magnificent clubhouse would rate 5 star plus, so social functions will be of the highest quality. The 44Cup last visited Porto Cervo in 2017.
From Italy, the 44Cup makes its annual visit to the paradise island of Marstrand off Sweden's west coast. Backed by Artemis Racing's Torbjörn Törnqvist, the 44Cup will be hosted here by the yacht club Marstrands Segelsällskap with the support of the Marstrands Havshotell. Racing will take place over 25-28 June, in the height of summer, when night time is at its minimum and conditions range from chilly brisk northeries to light, more balmy conditions in high pressure.
Marstrand is the 44Cup's most regularly visited venue - this will be the 12th time 44Cup racing has taken place in this, Sweden's premier regatta venue. In past years high profile match racing championships have been held here annually, attracting giant crowds, while Marstrand was also a 'pitstop' during the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race. Last year the event coincided with Midsommarafton, the summer solstice, one of Sweden's greatest holidays. This year the 44Cup Marstrand will be the week following this when the popular holiday island will still be in festive mood. As usual one day will see the racing finish within Marstrand's inner harbour.
The fourth venue of the 2025 44Cup will be a new one: Scheveningen, the seaside resort district of The Hague, in the Netherlands. This will also be the competitive peak of the class' season being the 2025 44Cup World Championship. This event is being hosted by Charisma's Nico Poons, the 44Cup's 2022 and 2023 champion, out of the Jachtclub Scheveningen. This will be the first time the 44Cup has visited both the Netherlands and the North Sea, well known for its challenging tides and sandbanks. The event will be held over 28-31 August when temperatures are typically in the high teens and the wind southwesterly.
For end of season warmth, the 44Cup is again heading south to the Canaries where, over 20-23 November they will once more be hosted by the Calero family and their marina group. However while past visits have been limited to Porto Calero and Marina Lanzarote in Arrecife, both on Lanzarote, the final event of the 2025 44Cup will visit the latest in Calero Marinas' portfolio: Marina Jandía on Fuerteventura. The new marina - due to open in 2025 on the south side of the island - will feature 310 berths from 6 to 50 metres in length, while off it the RC44s should enjoy the familiar northeasterly trade winds. Second largest of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura is renowned for its white sand beaches and water sports activities.
"This is a positive time for the 44Cup," commented RC44 Class Association Manager Bertrand Favre. "We have new teams set to join our loyal owner's group, new boats have been launched with one more to come and we have an exciting program lined up for 2025, including two venue we are visiting for the first time. Somehow the level of the racing steps up every year and we look forward to seeing which team will rise to the top this coming year."
To find out more about the 44Cup visit www.44cup.org
2025 44CUP Racing schedule:
12 - 16 February - 44Cup Nanny Cay, BVI
14 - 18 May - 44Cup Porto Cervo, Italy
24 - 28 June - 44Cup Marstrand, Sweden
27 - 31 August - 44Cup World Championship Scheveningen, Netherlands
19 - 23 November - 44Cup Marina Jandía, Fuerteventura