PORTO CERVO, SARDINIA – Tuesday 7th June, 2011 – THE MEDITERRANEAN RACING SEASON BEGINS IN STYLE IN PORTO CERVO

Twenty-seven of the most spectacular sailing yachts on the water are today berthed in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, eagerly anticipating the first day of racing at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011.

The Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011

The fourth edition of this annual Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, co-organised by Boat International Media and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, has attracted an impressive fleet of sailing yachts ranging from 24m to 57.5m in length, which will be divided into cruising and performance divisions.

We welcome the return of a number of past entrants including Fitzroy’s 38.8m Ganesha, 28.5m Open Season and 30.5m Indio both built by Wally and designed by German Frers, a fleet of Southern Wind yachts including 33.6m Thalima and Jongert’s 29m Scorpione dei Mari designed by Tony Castro.  New additions to the 2011 fleet include 54.6m Marie built by Vitters, Baltic Yachts 45m Visione, the new 57.5m Twizzle built by Royal Huisman and Fitzroy’s 49.7m Zefira.

Edoardo Recchi, Sports Director at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda comments: ‘We are very happy to have twenty-seven superyachts racing at the 2011 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta. Having new boats like Twizzle and Zefira and several boats that are attending for the first time like Marie is very pleasing: this event is attracting a very large and exciting fleet to our waters.’

As the sailing yachts begin to arrive, registration is underway in the Piazza Azzurra and crew are busily making their final preparations for the first race of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2011 which is scheduled to commence at 12:00 tomorrow.

The expert Race Committee at the YCCS will select the courses daily depending on the forecast.  The idyllic conditions and the striking natural beauty of the region make Costa Smeralda a favourite sailing destination of both owners and crew, with islands and rocks acting as natural markers dotted in the emerald waters off the Sardinian coast.

In the interests of safe racing and in particular collision avoidance, the ISAF Executive Committee has authorized some changes to the sailing instructions to accommodate safety initiatives from the newly formed Superyacht Racing Association.  Most notably, yachts in the cruising class are obliged to maintain a 40 metre separation and communicate their intention via VHF radio when they are close to this minimum separation area.

This evening, the Captains’ Briefing will take place at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda – founded in 1967 by H.H. the Aga Khan and renowned as one of the finest yacht clubs in the world – followed by a Welcome Cocktail for owners and their guests on the poolside terrace overlooking the magnificent fleet berthed in the marina below.

As well as four days of thrilling action on the water, guests can look forward to a glamorous social programme including the infamous Owners’ Beach Party at the exclusive Hotel Romazzino and the Loro Piana Owners’ Dinner.

Sailing yacht Entries for the 2011 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo:

YACHT     BUILDER     DESIGNER     LOA
Acaia Four     Southern Wind     Nauta Yacht Design / Farr Yacht Design     30.2m
Annagine     J.O.M. BV The Netherlands     Dykstra & Partners     34.0m
Django Too     Tréhard     Jacques Fauroux     25.0m
Ganesha     Fitzroy Yachts     Dubois NA     38.8m
Highland Fling     Goetz Custom Technologies     Reichel Pugh     25.2m
I-SEA     Southern Wind     Nauta Yacht Design / Farr Yacht Design     30.2m
Il Sovereign     Wally     Farr Yacht Design     24.0m
Indio     Wally     German Frers     30.5m
Ivanka     Seaway     J&J Design     24.0m
Kora 5     OY Nautor AB     German Frers     27.7m
Lady Thalima     Southern Wind     Nauta Yacht Design / Farr Yacht Design     28.3m
Liara     Southern Ocean Marine     Bill Dixon     32.0m
Magic Carpet 2     Wally     German Frers     28.8m
Marie     Vitters Shipyard     Hoek Design     54.6m
My Song     Cookson Boats     Nauta Yacht Design / Reichel Pugh     25.4m
Open Season     Wally     German Frers     28.5m
Ryokan 2     Wally     Farr Yacht Design     24.4m
Saudade     Wally     Bill Tripp     45.2m
Scorpione dei Mari     Jongert     Tony Castro     29.0m
Solleone     Nautor Swan     German Frers     27.4m
Thalima     Southern Wind     Nauta Yacht Design / Farr Yacht Design     33.6m
Timoneer     Vitters Shipyard     Dubois NA     44.8m
Twizzle     Royal Huisman     Dubois NA     57.5m
Unfurled     Royal Huisman     German Frers     34.2m
Visione     Baltic Yachts     Reichel Pugh     45.0m
Y3K     Wally     German Frers     30.5m
Zefira     Fitzroy Yachts     Dubois NA     49.7m