Eight of the most stunning Big Class yachts in the world have been confirmed by the Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) to come and grace the shores of the Solent and compete in the second edition of the Westward Cup regatta, held in June 11-16, 2012.
The beauty of Big Class yacht racing in Cowes during the inaugural Westward Cup in 2010 - Photo by Franco Pace
Run in association with the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) with the RYS as the Organising Authority, the Westward Cup was first held in July 2010 and was a tremendous success for everyone taking part. It marked the revival of and interest in Big Class yacht racing in the Solent and around the world.
55m luxury charter yacht ELENA
46m sailing yacht LULWORTH
The Clubs have now extended invitations to the owners of the following yachts to race in June:
39.50m sailing yacht Altair by Fife & Co.
55m charter yacht Elena by Factoria Naval de Marin
46m sailing yacht Lulworth by Hakvoort Yachts
38m super yacht Mariquita by Fife & Co.
41m luxury yacht Cambria by Fife & Co.
50m sailing yacht Eleonora E (ex Eleonora) by Van der Graaf
42m Mariette superyacht by Herreshoff
32m super yacht Moonbeam IV by Fife & Co.
38m luxury yacht MARIQUITA
Speaking on behalf of the RYS, David Aisher, Rear Commodore Yachting, commented that after the immense success of the inaugural event in 2010, the organisers are delighted to once again be staging the Westward Cup in Cowes and are hoping for maximum take-up of the invitations to enter the Westward Cup 2012.
41m super yacht CAMBRIA
He said, “The Westward Cup is a unique event for these exquisite racing yachts. Apart from the competitive and challenging racing opportunities that the Solent and adjacent waters can provide, there is the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere of Cowes and the many clubs here, the true ‘home of yachting’ to many of these yachts. The RYS will provide a base for the owners and their guests, and, by staging the Westward Cup in Cowes, will also be providing the devotees of Big Class yachting a spectacle rarely seen in Solent waters.”
50m ELEONORA superyacht
The RYS will run the racing along the successful lines of 2010, making maximum use of the waters around the Isle of Wight to ensure the captains and crews enjoy challenging and competitive racing that only these waters can deliver. Racing will be scored under the International IRC Rule.
42m sailing yacht MARIETTE
The RYS may also produce results under a modified CIM rule to enable comparison of results using a rule used at other regattas by these magnificent yachts. It is also the intention to include a race around the Isle of Wight, subject to weather conditions.
32m super yacht MOONBEAM IV
