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
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.
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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.
