Reichel Pugh Brief

Reichel Pugh Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News

Full 2013 order book for Southern Spars

May 23, 2013

The 2013 order book of Southern Spars is full of projects, including four America’s Cup AC72 wing sails, up to ten Volvo 65’ One Design rigs, multiple superyacht rigs, as well as a new era of Grand Prix racing rigs. All of these demonstrate that Southern Spars is leading the way with design, technology and manufacturing of composite spars and rigging.

One of the 2013 Southern Spars projects - WallyCento superyacht Magic Carpet 3 - Photo by J. Renedo

One of the 2013 Southern Spars projects - WallyCento superyacht Magic Carpet 3 - Photo by J. Renedo

“This year we’ve been busy producing the AC72 wings for Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge,” says Richard Lott, Southern Spars’ managing director. “At present, the Volvo 65’ One Design rigs and numerous superyacht projects ranging from 30 to 90 metres are moving through our Custom Projects facility in Auckland, New Zealand.”

Lott and Southern Spars director and co-founder Mark Hauser believe the yachting sector appears to have pushed through the hump of the global financial crisis. “It’s great to see the marine industry slowly recovering,” says Lott. “With the America’s Cup ramping up with a new era of racing in the exceptional AC72 foiling catamarans and the Volvo Ocean Race taking a new turn into One Design, we’ve seen grand prix racing teams coming back in full force as they gear up for the 2013/14 busy regatta calendar. There are exciting times ahead for Southern Spars and clients around the world.”

Hauser adds: “Southern Spars was founded on the backbone of this Grand Prix yacht racing with one of our first major projects resulting in Sir Peter Blake’s Steinlager II winning all six legs of the Whitbread Round the World Race – that’s a record yet to be trumped. Since then the team at Southern Spars has pursued a passion for excellence, building and supplying the world’s finest carbon spars and rigging.”

Other significant projects delivered by Southern Spars in 2013 include the recently-launched WallyCento superyacht Magic Carpet 3 and the Mills 72’ yacht Alegre.

Hauser says: “Both Magic Carpet 3 and Alegre sport the latest high performance technology from Southern Spars, with high modulus Thin Ply Technology (TPT) throughout. Both masts have all the bells and whistles from internal tangs through to the latest Top-Lok (locking mainsail car for square top sails), racing booms with nomex honey cone cores and EC6 carbon continuous rigging.”

Developed by Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design with the exterior styling and interiors by Wally, sailing yacht Magic Carpet 3 fully exploits the WallyCento box-rule to create a fast, seaworthy cruiser-racer that benefits from the latest performance technology while respecting the Wally spirit. Magic Carpet 3 is the second WallyCento be launched to date; Southern Spars also supplied the rig package for the 30m WallyCento superyacht Hamilton which won the first Superyacht Cup Cowes regatta after just five days of sailing since her launching in July 2012.

A stunning performance also marked the debut for Magic Carpet 3 – just two weeks after her launch, she competed in Gaastra Palmavela regatta (Mallorca, 1-5 May) out-matching competitors in all races in real time and crossing the finish lines between five and 20 minutes ahead of the closest competitor.

Magic Carpet 3 yacht’s owner and helmsman Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones commented: “I’m highly satisfied with the outcome of this ground-breaking project. Magic Carpet 3 is precisely what I wanted and expected her to be, totally fulfilling my goals and briefs – fast, beautiful, comfortable, technologically-advanced, and easy to sail.”

Presently, Andy Soriano’s brand-new sailing yacht Alegre is getting ready for her busy regatta season in Valencia, Spain. With her Southern Spars rig package stepped and tuned, the 72-footer, designed by Mark Mills and built at Longitud Cero, has successfully completed her maiden sea trials.

Alegre yacht’s owner’s representative Dave Williams comments: “We are very happy with the new Southern Spars rig and rigging package. It is exactly what we expected and the Southern team have done an excellent job.”

Hauser adds: “For the team at Southern Spars, it was great to get back into the mini maxi game after a little downturn in this market. We’re delighted to hear we have yet another happy customer.

“We are also pleased to announce that we have recently received orders from three of the world’s most high profile racing teams: Ichiban (newly-designed Carkeek 65’), superyacht Wild Oats XI and Loyal (ex-Speedboat).

“This year’s Sydney to Hobart will be one to watch, with all three going head-to-head with their newly-stepped, fully-specified Southern Spars rig and rigging packages.

“The positive feedback we have from Americas Cup teams, grand prix race teams and superyacht owners about why they choose to work with Southern Spars means a great deal to everyone in the company. We continually strive to be at the forefront of the world’s mast and rigging industry in terms of design, technology, manufacture, safety and performance.”

All-new WallyCento sailing yacht MAGIC CARPET3 makes her debut at Gaastra Palmavela regatta

May 07, 2013

Excellent performance marked the premiere of the all-new WallyCento sailing yacht Magic Carpet3. Just two weeks after her launch, Magic Carpet 3 yacht participated in Gaastra Palmavela regatta, running in Mallorca, from 1-5 May, out-matching all races in real time. She crossed the finish lines between five and 20 minutes ahead of the closest competitor.

WallyCento Yacht Magic Carpet3

WallyCento Yacht Magic Carpet3 competing in the Gaastra Palmavela regatta - Photo credit to Jesus Renedo

“I’m highly satisfied with the outcome of this groundbreaking project, that engaged myself and my team for over two years,“ enthusiastically says the Owner and helmsman Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones. “Magic Carpet3 is precisely what I wanted and expected her to be, totally fulfilling my goals and briefs. She is the natural evolution of my breed of yachts: very fast, beautiful, comfortable, technologically advanced, and easy to sail.”

WallyCento, the new generation of sailing cruisers
Developed by Reichel Pugh naval architects with the exterior styling and interiors by Wally, she fully exploits the WallyCento box-rule to create a fast seaworthy sound cruiser-racer that benefits from the latest performance technology, respecting the Wally spirit.

“Cruising in comfort at the speed of the fastest maxi racer and racing at the highest level of competition is the dream of every passionate yachtsman – says Luca Bassani Antivari, Wally Founder and CEO – WallyCento is the first and only super yacht making this dream come true, and Magic Carpet3 truly reflects this concept.”

“We are thankful to Sir Owen-Jones who actively contributed to the definition and development of the WallyCento box-rule – continues Bassani – and gave Wally the opportunity to produce such an innovative super yacht carrying the unmistakable Wally pedigree.”

Luxury yacht Magic Carpet 3 is a step forward in yachting evolution: she embodies the new generation of high performance sailing cruiser, setting new higher standards in naval architecture, systems, equipments, and construction technology.

“As a truly passionate yachtsman and lover of performance and technology, the starting point of the development of Magic Carpet3, that is my third Wally, was the brief to design the fastest cruiser-racer in the World, with no limitations or other requirements,” explains Sir Owen-Jones. “We selected Reichel Pugh because they have great experience of designing very high performance maxi racers. They successfully interpreted the WallyCento box-rule and produced along with Wally, an explosively fast boat on all points of sail and in all wind conditions.”

Luxury yacht Magic Carpet3 - view from above

Luxury yacht Magic Carpet3 - view from above - Photo credit to Jesus Renedo

Maxi-racer performance
Fully equipped with all the cruising amenities, her performance are closer to those of the fastest maxi racers (only -2% than Esimit) than to those of a traditional Wally 100-footer (10% faster on a windward-leeward course, and 25-30 % faster reaching).

Superyacht Magic Carpet3 is very fast in all conditions: in light air she behaves like a light yacht, in strong air she is so stable and powerful, to resemble an aircraft carrier! She shows incredible acceleration, and after a tack she is back to full speed after just 20 seconds.

During the sea trials in Saint Tropez, Magic Carpet3 yacht exceeded 21.5 knots of speed reaching in 20 knots of true wind speed. In the transfer to Palma de Mallorca, the Captain Danny Gallichan steadily sailed at 18 knots of speed with the small jib only (no mainsail), in 25 knots of true wind!

Sailing yacht Magic Carpet3 is the new “yacht to beat” in the Wally Class circuit as well as in other divisions of the Med regattas, and she will engage epic duels with Hamilton yacht, the first WallyCento that was launched in 2012 and showed the potential of this new type of yachts.

Ultra light displacement
The 100-foot cruiser, Magic Carpet3 yacht, is the epitome of Wally DNA, combining the latest and most advanced technology and design to produce a fast, easy and beautiful yacht. The quality of the construction of WallyEurope, using high/intermediate modulus carbon and female moulds CNC machined to limit the fairing, along with the extreme attention paid to each component and detail throughout all the construction, produced a breakthrough super yacht, very balanced and in perfect trim.

Characterised by the reduced displacement (only 50 tons), she is the lightest cruising yacht of this size ever built: compared to that of the previous 100-foot Wallys like charter yacht Y3K and luxury yacht Indio, the construction weight of Magic Carpet3 is 40 % lighter!

Superyacht Magic Carpet3 at full speed

Superyacht Magic Carpet3 at full speed - Photo credit to Jesus Renedo

Cruising in comfort
As well as being a racing thoroughbred, superyacht Magic Carpet3 is first and foremost a very comfortable cruising super yacht featuring the latest easy-sailing systems, big interior volumes and large open-air living areas.

On deck, the social cockpit seats up to ten guests for formal dining. Large flush areas forward and aft, are fitted with sunpads for relaxing and enjoying life onboard. The twin-helm station is aft the social cockpit, where all the manoeuvres are concentrated enhancing safety for children and guest not involved in sailing.

The self-tacking jib simplifies sail handling with reduced crew when cruising. The teak laid slim coachroof is camouflaged with the rest of the deck, and the two minimal coamings are mother-of-pearl painted.

The colour scheme is a continuation of the previous two Magic Carpets: navy and white, that have become the distinctive mark of this series of yacht.

Down below, the salon with dining and lounge areas plus navigation and office, separates the service area aft from the guest accommodation that includes two double guest cabins with en-suites and the forward owners’ stateroom with ensuite separate head and shower rooms.

The large forepeak serves as an additional crew cabin when cruising, and is converted into sail locker in racing mode. To enhance the cruising capability, the aft lazzarette is equipped with an additional fridge and it increases storage capacity.

The interior style is bright, simple and clean, with teak and maple joinery combined with lacquered white ceiling and sides, and carbon details. The interiors are also built using lightweight construction technology. The overall aesthetics is innovative, elegant and timeless.

Never ending (re)evolution
With Magic Carpet3 yacht, Wally once again is far ahead in yachting development. “What attracts me about Wally is the development of the latest technologies and the continuous R&D to simplify sailing and improve performance, as well the Italian design flair peculiar to Wally that makes these yachts aesthetically unique and very appealing both outside and inside. And we have indeed achieved this result with my new Magic Carpet3,” concludes Sir Owen-Jones.

Main technical specifications of luxury sailing yacht Magic Carpet3:

type WallyCento
year 2013

length o.a. 30.47 m 100’ 0”
beam 7.20 m 23’ 7”
draught 4.40 m 14’ 5” keel up/6.20 m 20’ 4” keel down

displacement 49.95 tons 110,231 lbs
sail area upwind 640 sqm 6,890 sqft
sail area downwind 1,420 sqm 15,285 sqft
sail plan sloop, self tacking &108% jib, square head mainsail
mast height from deck 46.00 m 150’ 11”

accommodation 6 guests + 2/4 crew
owner’s stateroom 1 double bed, en-suite separate shower room and separate head
guest cabin 2 beds, en-suite head and separate shower
guest cabin 2 beds, en-suite head and separate shower
crew cabin 2 pullman beds, en-suite head and shower
crew cabin 2 2 bunks in the forepeak
saloon seats and tables for 10 people, navigation station, office desk

concept & development Wally / Luca Bassani
design Wally / Luca Bassani
naval architecture Reichel Pugh Yacht Design
engineering Reichel Pugh Yacht Design
styling & interior design Wally / Luca Bassani
construction WallyEurope, Italy
classification Germanish Lloyd Structural Design

construction type advanced composites PRE-PREG high / intermediate modulus carbon
deck finish teak & titanium
interior joinery Nomex Core
paint Awlgrip
speed (engine) 11 knots

mast and boom Southern Spars, super/high modulus carbon fiber,
swept back spreaders, V boom
rigging Southern Spars EC6
deck hardware Harken – #10 winches, blocks and tracks/Cariboni jib furler/Magic Trims for main and jib sheets/powered running back stays/main traveller/light weight tensioning devices

sails North Sails
hydraulics Wally Grand Prix light weight package
sail controls Wally push button system
electrical system Wally Grand Prix light weight package

engine WM 350 Hp
propeller retractable

generators 15kW, 50 Hz, 230 V
watermaker Osmosea100 l / hour – 26 US gal / hour
anchor windlass Maxwell

navigation & comm B&G H3000 WTP3
auto pilot B&G
GPS Hemisphere

air conditioning Frigomar 45,000 BTU
refrigerator Waeco

fuel 1,500 l – 396 US gallon
fresh water 1,500 l – 396 US gallon

VHF Sailor
3G Netgear
Sitcom Salior Fleet Broadband

entertainment Apple system
TV Samsung

galley Techimpex gas burner with 3 burners and oven, carbon sink, crew mess

Antigua Sailing Week 2013 Venue for Big Yachts of the Caribbean

January 28, 2013

Antigua Sailing Week has always been hosting the big yachts of the Caribbean and the 46th edition will be no exception. An international fleet will be participating in Racing Class One from Australia, Germany, Great Britain, Russia as well as the United States. Antigua Sailing Week will bring down the curtain on the Caribbean racing season and a celebrity cast is expected to take centre stage.

Peter Harrisons magnificent 115-foot charter yacht SOJANA - Photo by Kevin Johnson

Peter Harrison's spectacular 115-foot charter yacht SOJANA - Photo by Kevin Johnson

Peter Harrison’s magnificent 115-foot charter yacht Sojana was the star of the show in 2011, winning the Lord Nelson Trophy and the event overall. In 2012 Sojana came desperately close to a second year of success, only to be beaten on countback by Geoff Hill’s Australian Santa Cruz 72 yacht Antipodes.

“Sojana has crossed the Atlantic twice since last year’s regatta, and with a win in the Supermaxi class of the IMA Transat, will definitely be very competitive again this year,” said Sojana’s Captain, Marc Fitzgerald, who also confirmed that Sojana is delighted to have King Harald of Norway on board for Antigua Sailing Week.

Marc goes on to say, “King Harald has a huge amount of racing experience which will complement the regular crew, and has owned more Farr designs than Peter Harrison himself. We are one of the largest yachts racing and, as such, we will hope for the big conditions that Antigua Sailing Week is well known for. Sojana is in great shape having had a little refit after many miles of ocean sailing over the past 12 months and we will definitely be looking to win our class, having come so close last year.”

Superyacht Sojana will once again face stiff opposition this year. The 92-foot luxury charter yacht Bristolian, skippered by Patrick Wynn, will be a force to contend with especially upwind in big breeze. Also racing in the big boat class is Jose Arozamena’s Farr 73 Maximizer, a previous winner of Class One at Antigua Sailing Week. Maximizer will be racing under the New York Yacht Club burgee with a crack crew led by Spanish round the world sailor Pachi Rivero and Danish grandmaster Ib Andersen, President of North Sails Europe.

Bristolian - Profile

Bristolian - Profile

The big boat class also boasts many glamorous blue water cruisers including: Oyster 82 yacht Starry Night of the Caribbean; Gareth Moody’s Oyster 72 Bill and Me; and Tony McBride’s Reichel Pugh 78 Idea of London. Greg Snowball’s Dream Catcher III has a fine racing pedigree and Christian Potthoff-Sewing’s Judel & Vrolijk 53 yacht Auliana II is making her Antigua Sailing Week debut.

“Including over 30 bareboats not yet showing on the entry list, we now have over 70 yachts committed to Antigua Sailing Week 2013, which is well above the numbers we had at this time last year,” confirmed Kathy Lammers, Chairman of the Regatta Organising Committee. “With such a large number of big boats committed, we also expect a great turnout for the Yachting World Round Antigua Race, which will take place on the Saturday before Antigua Sailing Week officially begins.

Alison Sly-Adams, Head of Shoreside Organisation, confirms plans are well underway for fantastic shoreside activities after racing. “The new Management Team has now been in place for close to three years and it has continued to listen to competitors. The format of a daily prize giving and all aspects of the regatta being based in and around English Harbour have proven very popular. There is every indication that the 46th edition of Antigua Sailing Week is going to be a real cracker.”

The Notice of Race can be found online and if one would like to participate in the regatta, his entry can also be submitted online.

Superyacht Challenge Antigua 2013, January 25 – 27

January 09, 2013

To be held in Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua from January 25 to 27, the Superyacht Challenge Antigua will once again offer all the facilities to stage an ideal event for an amazing choice of yachts, where fair competing as well as good companionship are valued above all else. So far eight entries have confirmed their participation, comprising sailing yacht Adela, charter yacht P2, charter yacht Sojana, Timoneer, Unfurled and Visione. The 45-metre Reichel Pugh-designed Visione has undergone a recent refit at Baltic Yachts. She now boasts a new carbon Rondal Rollaway Slab Reef (RSR) boom.

Perini Navi P2 - Main

Perini Navi P2 - Main

The regatta will continue with a limited entry of 12-15 yachts depending on the type of vessels. This decision was made to ensure that the magnificent amenities available at Nelson’s Dockyard would comfortably host the event. Furthermore the event will have no sponsorship, to ensure that the Superyacht Challenge Antigua will be held for the pure enjoyment of the participants without any conflict of interest with a third party.

Sailing yacht TIMONEER - Photo Credit Rick Tomlinson

Sailing yacht TIMONEER - Photo Credit: Rick Tomlinson

Last year’s regatta was extremely well received by all who took part. However following on feedback the 2013 event will have some tweaks afloat and ashore. Four races are scheduled over a 3-day weekend with social evenings ashore hosted by the Admiral’s Inn, English Harbour.

Below is a video of the Antigua Superyacht Challenge 2012 by Acquafilms

First images of the Southern Wind SW 94 superyacht WINDFALL

December 19, 2012

The prominent South African shipyard, Southern Wind, is pleased to present the first images of its all new sailing yacht Windfall, taken during the sea trials in Cape Town on December 4. The spectacular 29-metre Windfall superyacht is the second SW 94 series cruiser, successfully launched last month.

SW 94 superyacht Windfall by Southern Wind during her sea trials in Cape Town

SW 94 superyacht Windfall by Southern Wind during her sea trials in Cape Town

SW 94 luxury yacht Windfall features naval architecture by renowned Reichel Pugh Yacht Design, while her both interior design as well as exterior styling are by well known Nauta Design.

Luxury yacht Windfall by Southern Wind

Luxury yacht Windfall by Southern Wind

SW 94 superyacht Windfall

SW 94 superyacht Windfall

Luxury superyacht Windfall

Luxury superyacht Windfall

Windfall yacht - aft view

Windfall yacht - aft view

Windfall superyacht - Guests Cockpit

Windfall superyacht - Guests Cockpit

Luxury yacht Windfall - Saloon

Luxury yacht Windfall - Saloon

SW 94 superyacht Windfall - TV Lounge

SW 94 superyacht Windfall - TV Lounge

Superyacht Windfall - Master cabin

Superyacht Windfall - Master cabin

Windfall superyacht - Crew quarter

Windfall superyacht - Crew quarter

Below is a selection of the luxurious charter yachts built by Southern Wind.

Southern Wind Charter Yacht Images

Rapture - Main
Rapture - Main
Rapture - Main Salon
Rapture - Main Salon
Rapture - Main Salon 2
Rapture - Main Salon 2
Rapture - Office
Rapture - Office
Rapture - Master Cabin
Rapture - Master Cabin
Rapture - Master Cabin 2
Rapture - Master Cabin 2
More: Southern Wind Image Gallery

Great success for the McConaghy built maxi yachts ICAP Leopard 3, Wild Oats X & XI and Esimit Europa

December 14, 2012

Chartered by Niklas Zennström’s Team Rán, Mike Slade’s charter yacht ICAP Leopard 3 has recently reached the course record for the 2,800 nautical mile IMA Transatlantic Race, smashing the record set in 2011 by the 66-metre megayacht Hetairos by over 25 hours. Leopard superyacht maintained an average boat speed of 19 knots, taking line honors in a time of 7 days, 8 hours, 59 minutes and 12 seconds.

Luxury charter yacht ICAP Leopard 3 with new interior by Design Unlimited Credit- Ocean Images

Luxury charter yacht ICAP Leopard 3 with new interior by Design Unlimited Credit- Ocean Images

Mike will be back on board ICAP Leopard yacht in the RORC Caribbean 600 in February and should have a great battle with Hetairos for Line Honours.

In Europe this year the McConaghy built 100 ft Reichel Pugh designed sailing yacht Esimit Europa (previously Alfa Romeo) has dominated the Rolex offshore races setting a new course record in the Rolex Giraglia race, winning the Maxi Yacht Rolex cup, and winning line honors in the Rolex Middle Sea race. Igor Simčič and his crew also added the Wally record from Monaco to Porto Cervo, the Barcolana in Trieste, and the Trieste to Malta record to his list of successes for 2012.

Superyacht Esimit Europa 2 - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Superyacht Esimit Europa 2 - Photo by Rolex/Kurt Arrigo

Back in Australia, Bob Oatley’s Reichel Pugh designed luxury yachts Wild Oats X & XI this week dominated the big boat race on Sydney Harbour. The sprint around the harbour is a high profile build up to the Rolex Sydney Hobart race which starts on December 26. The 100 ft Wild Oats XI yacht took line honors by a huge margin over Lahana yacht, while the 66ft Wild Oats X yacht won on IRC with the McConaghy built Reichel Pugh 60 yacht Loki coming second.

Wild Oats XI yacht and crew have almost completed their warm up for this years Hobart race, smashing last months Cabbage Tree Island race record in the process. McConaghy Boats have assisted the Wild Oats crew with modifications and a new dagger board this year which has so far proved to be very successful.

Wild Oats XI superyacht - Photo credit: Andrea Francolini

Wild Oats XI superyacht - Photo credit: Andrea Francolini

Stephen Ainsworth’s yacht Loki was the IRC overall winner in last years Rolex Sydney Hobart race, Stephen and his crew are well prepared for another crack at the trophy with a very successful season and a string of IRC victories behind them this year.

Other McConaghy Boats to watch in this years Rolex Sydney to Hobart race are the Ker 40 AFR Midnight Rambler, campaigned competitively by Ed Psaltis, Bob Thomas, Michael Bencsik, and Merlin a Kaiko designed 52 owned by Olympic Gold medalist David Forbes.

Southern Wind launch SW 94 WINDFALL yacht – sistership to S/Y Kiboko Dos

November 27, 2012

Southern Wind Shipyard is proud to announce the launch of the SW 94 sailing yacht WINDFALL. The event has taken place in Cape Town on November 11th. The 28-metre WINDFALL yacht  is an outstanding performance cruiser designed by Reichel Pugh and Nauta Design.

WINDFALL yacht by Southern Wind Shipyard - Sistership to Kiboko Dos - Image credit to NAUTIQUE

WINDFALL yacht by Southern Wind Shipyard - Sistership to Kiboko Dos - Image credit to NAUTIQUE

Light displacement, aggressive lines combined with modern but functional interiors, Windfall as her sistership sailing yacht Kiboko Dos, is one of the most representative project in the racing oriented semi-custom production of Southern Wind Shipyard.

Southern Wind Shipyard

Southern Wind Shipyard launched superyacht WINDFALL - Photo credit Nautique

S/Y Windfall will leave Cape Town about middle of January for her maiden voyage of 7300 nm to the Mediterranean. Windfall plans for 2013 are quite intensive, she will cruise and race all around the Med area. We might meet  her at Rolex Volcano Race, at Loro Piana Superyacht regatta, at Maxi Rolex Cup and Les Voiles de Saint Tropez and last but not the least at Monaco Yacht Show.

Six maxis and superyachts participating in the Transatlantic Superyacht & Maxi Regatta 2012

November 27, 2012

A total number of six maxis and superyachts taking part in the Transatlantic Superyacht & Maxi Regatta 2012 crossed the starting line off Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 1 p.m. (UTC) yesterday. During the fifth edition of the race, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda as well as the International Maxi Association (IMA), the fleet of sailing giants will cruise around 2700 miles to reach the finish line in British Virgin Gorda where the YCCS has its winter Clubhouse.

55m sailing yacht Shenandoah of Sark at the start of the race - Photo credit Juan Ruiz

55m sailing yacht Shenandoah of Sark at the start of the race - Photo credit: Juan Ruiz

The passage under sail usually takes from 10 to 16 days if the north-east trade winds collaborate, although the course record was set by last year’s line honours winner, superyacht Hetairos, in just under 8 days and 11 hours.

Live tracking is available on both the YCCS website and the IMA website. Live tracking will show each yacht’s progress in real time while links to several of the boats’ individual blogs covering the regatta are published on both the IMA & YCCS websites.

Racing got underway yesterday in 26 to 28 knots of north/north-westerly winds. Only the 55m superyacht Shenandoah of Sark headed south of the island of Tenerife, while the rest of the fleet left the island to port. The race start, set against the backdrop of the Santiago de Calatrava Auditorium and the island’s volcanic peak Pico de La Teide, was a sight to behold thanks to the dimensions of some of the competing yachts – such as the beautiful 55-metre triple-masted gaff schooner Shenandoah of Sark, and the two supermaxis, charter yacht Sojana and sailing yacht Nilaya, respectively a 35-metre Farr 115 and a 32-metre Reichel/Pugh 112. Nilaya was also first to the weather mark.

The fleet also includes two maxi racer/cruisers (the Southern Wind 100 superyacht Cape Arrow, and the 92-foot Med Spirit). Rounding off the lineup is the maxi racer Farr 100 charter yacht Leopard 3, a highly competitive entry with Niklas Zennström at the helm.

LEOPARD - Racing

LEOPARD - Racing

Trophies will be awarded at the prize giving ceremony scheduled to take place at the latest on December 12 in Virgin Gorda. The YCCS Virgin Gorda Clubhouse was officially inaugurated last January, while the purpose-built YCCS Marina has been operational since March 2011.

Second SW94 sailing yacht WINDFALL by Southern Wind launched

November 21, 2012

November 11 in Cape Town saw the official launch of the second SW94 sailing yacht Windfall by Southern Wind. The beautiful Windfall superyacht boasts slippery lines, as well as sexy and sporty appeal.

Second Southern Wind SW94 superyacht Windfall waiting for the launch

Second Southern Wind SW94 superyacht Windfall waiting for the launch

After completing the sea trials in the windy waters of Table Bay, the SW94 superyacht Windfall will soon leave South Africa, for her maiden voyage of 7.300 nm to the Mediterranean.

Launching of the Windfall superyacht

Launching of the Windfall superyacht

SW94 yacht Windfall - side view

SW94 yacht Windfall - side view

SW94 superyacht Windfall by Southern Wind

SW94 superyacht Windfall by Southern Wind

Luxury sailing yacht Windfall hitting the water

Luxury sailing yacht Windfall hitting the water

Luxury yacht Windfall is planning an intense cruising and racing programm for the spring/summer season in the Med.

Technical Specifications of the second SW94 yacht Windfall:

General dimensions

L.O.A.: 28.64 m.
L.W.L.: 25.96 m.
Beam max.: 6.66 m.
Draft: 4.5 m.
Displacement: 52,300 kg.(Light prelim.)
Sail area: 463 sqm.
Year: 2012

Materials

Composite (Carbon fibre, Kevlar and Epoxy resin and Corecell) sandwich

Designers

Naval Architecture: Reichel Pugh Yacht Design
Concept, Interior design and Exterior styling: Nauta Design

Below is a choice of the beautiful charter yachts built by Southern Wind.

Southern Wind Charter Yacht Images

Rapture - Main
Rapture - Main
Rapture - Main Salon
Rapture - Main Salon
Rapture - Main Salon 2
Rapture - Main Salon 2
Rapture - Office
Rapture - Office
Rapture - Master Cabin
Rapture - Master Cabin
Rapture - Master Cabin 2
Rapture - Master Cabin 2
More: Southern Wind Image Gallery

Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race to start on 26 December, 2012

October 11, 2012

Kicking off for the 68th uninterrupted year on 26 December, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is one of the world’s most amazing offshore competitions, representing the annual nautical challenge across 628 nautical miles from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, Tasmania. The competition is now well known all over the world, thanks mostly to the often turbulent as well as difficult conditions posed by the infamous passage across Bass Strait.

2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Start - Photo by Rolex Daniel Forster

2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Start - Photo by Rolex/Daniel Forster

Last year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart provided several moments of high drama including an enthralling cat-and-mouse battle for line honours between five-time winner and race record-holder, superyacht Wild Oats XI, and her fellow 30.48-metre/100-foot opponent, luxury yacht Investec Loyal. Heading into the last stretch in the Derwent River, in Tasmania, the two boats were tantalizingly close together, with Investec Loyal eventually winning by a mere 3 minutes and 8 seconds, the fourth-closest finish in the event’s rich history.

Chasing records
Wild Oats XI superyacht is determined to reclaim the line honours title she first won in 2005. That first triumph saw owner Bob Oatley and his crew, skippered by Mark Richards, claim a historic treble – line honours, race record and the Tattersall’s Cup which is awarded to the event’s overall winner. While Wild Oats XI has repeated her line honours success a further four times, bettering the race record of 1 day, 18 hours, 40 minutes and 10 seconds and claiming another handicap win has proved more elusive.

Last year the proud recipient of the Tattersall’s Cup was Stephen Ainsworth’s 19.3m/63-ft sailing yacht Loki. Ainsworth is eager to defend his title, but history is against him. No yacht has reclaimed its title the following year since 1965 when Freya triumphed for an extraordinary third year in succession.

Macht racing to Hobart - Photo by Rolex/Daniel Forster

Macht racing to Hobart - Photo by Rolex/Daniel Forster

Internationally revered
The 2011 race attracted a fleet of 88 crews and there is every chance that the number will be surpassed in 2012. The event enjoys a huge international reputation and the entry list currently welcomes four non-Australian entries – the Volvo 60 Ambersail (LTU), comprising the first-ever Lithuanian crew, the 16.5m/54-ft Bengal 7 (JPN), the 12.80m/42-ft Reichel/Pugh-designed Rikki (NZL) and Geoff Hill’s 27.41m/90-ft superyacht Genuine Risk (HKG), line honours winner at this year’s Rolex China Sea Race. A healthy local presence is guaranteed with yachts representing all Australian states.

The Rolex Sydney Hobart is organized by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in conjunction with the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT). The event is a sporting institution drawing keen interest around the world. With the warning signal for the start of the race sounding at 13:00 (local time) on 26 December, in the middle of the Australian summer and end-of-year festivities, the race start is the single most viewed sailing event on the globe as hundreds of thousands of people watch from the festive shores in Sydney, live on television and over the internet.

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