Event
Making life easy
Superyacht regattas are immense fun but for many owners the perception of increased stress in exchange for a few days’ racing keeps them on the sidelines. The SuperYacht Racing Association is working to change that...
A recent onlinemeeting of the SuperYacht Racing Association (SYRA) saw a selection of global superyacht event organisers focus their collective minds on one particular issue. On the agenda was the apparent hesitancy of some superyacht owners, along with their captains, to experience the delights of regatta racing. While no single answer presented
itself and there was a general acceptance that some owners prized their solitude and would remain beyond reach, the overall takeaway from the SYRA gathering was that a variety of identified obstacles should and could be addressed and overcome. At the forefront of the campaign
to pull back the curtain and share the joy of racing is Kate Branagh, event director at Superyacht Cup Palma, Europe's longest-running superyacht regatta with the 27th edition set for 21-24 June. Branagh, who took the helm of the high-profile Mediterranean celebration of sail in 2013, recognises that the need to change is also in large part due to the covid pandemic which has dislocated previous patterns of behaviour across the sailing world, as in many other areas. However, whatever the driver,
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there is clearly a significant potential market for SYC and other SYRA sanctioned regattas around the world says Branagh. ‘There is a perception, and this
has always been there, that only raceboats go racing and some captains are possibly reluctant to introduce the idea to owners because either they think it's not appropriate for their boat, or that there is too much work involved,’ she says. ‘On both these points we can communicate better. It's not about having a superyacht that is built for racing, it's about taking superyachts that go cruising out racing. ‘I think sometimes people might
feel they don't want to be part of something that brings in a massive crew of pro-racers and changes the boat into something it's not. But that's not what it is about as they will be in a class where the boats can fairly race against each other. ‘For some of the owners of course
part of the appeal is racing with some of the biggest names in the sailing world. ‘On the other hand, there are
those who don't dip their toe in because they think that is what is needed, and I want to break that belief down. You only actually need
Above: the closely matched and competitive fleet of J-Class yachts is a spectacular highlight of Superyacht Cup Palma, which has its 27th
edition in June
a couple of extra people to advise on safety issues.’ Branagh highlights the fact that
the entire purpose of SYRA – set up in 2011 and led by yacht owners, event organisers, designers, and yards – is to enable superyachts to safely compete together within the confines of a racecourse. To that, of course, is added the
ORC Superyacht Rule (ORCsy) which is carefully designed to create a level playing field – and which could be dubbed “the wine and piano rating”. Branagh explains: ‘The whole
ORCsy rating system was developed specifically for superyachts because they are so vastly different. The rule is there for yachts that are not specifically designed to go racing. ‘It also works for boats that are
more performance orientated but it doesn't close the door on anyone. There will always be competitive boats in the fleet that will spend 10 days switching from cruising to racing mode. ‘But on the other end of the scale
there are boats that have a wine cellar and a grand piano onboard, and they don't take a thing off the boat. If you've got twomassive satcomdomes on your spreaders and you have to roll the headsail up
SAILING ENERGY/SUPERYACHT CUP PALMA
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