Wednesday 20 April 2016

Three Class Act Schooners to Compete in Palma

For 20 years now, the beautiful bay of Palma has been setting the stage for a mouth-watering selection of mega yachts to participate in a gripping superyacht regatta like no other. Most years, the Superyacht Cup draws entries from 300 tonne giants to sleek and slippery speed machines, but we're excited to announce that it is during this 'vintage' edition that we'll also see a selection of the iconic 'classic' schooners grace the racing circuit.

We already mentioned the 41m two-masted schooner Mariette of 1915 taking part. She was drawn up by Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, the renowned designer responsible for a whole array of unbeatable America's Cup defenders. Although this seasoned sail yacht was built 100 years ago, she not only remains in fine form, (premium partners Pendennis' refit facilities keep her in tip-top shape), but also still races at the top of her game. She scored premium slot at the 2012 Pendennis Cup, and additionally claimed a respectable third place in last year's Transatlantic Race, ahead of all-carbon racers Rambler and Comanche, no less.

SYC entrant, the breathtakingly beautiful Mariette still races at the top of her game.

The stunning Mariette of 1915 will be up against one of our newest SYC additions: the 60m traditional gaff-rigged schooner Germania Nova. She was built as a true replica of the classic 1908 racing schooner Germania, using the same hull lines, deck- and sail-plans as designed by the acclaimed Max Oertz. The original Germania was built to kick stern and with a top speed of 19 knots, in one year alone, came first in more than half of the races in which she competed. For the new Germania this will be her very first outing on the race course. We already know she is on a par with her predecessor's beauty and elegance...but will she also be able to match this record-breaker's winning ways? We'll need to wait another two months to find out.

The 60m traditional gaff-rigged schooner Germania Nova. Image courtesy of Northrop & Johnson.

Completing this jaw-dropping scene will be the 42m schooner Naema, designed by Hodgdon Yachts and built by Graafship NL.