Press R. Zefira: Boat International

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The Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvouswords: Kate Lardy and Marilyn Mower

photography: Carlo Borlenghi; Mark Sims; Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media

with near-perfect sailing conditions and a social scene

to rival the on-water action, this much-loved tropical jaunt

enjoyed a vintage 2012 edition


Conditions were near-ideal for racing. A staggered start meant that yachts began to compress as the races unfolded, as shown on a run (above), where Firefly, Ganesha, Zefira, Marie, P2 and Billy Budd saw close action. Bottom, left to right: Hanuman takes a dive; Sojana and Zefira battle it out; spiking the kite on Firefly; the motor boats get close to the action

‘It’s the perfect location, the perfect club on this side of the ocean. [For] sailing, wind, weather and scenery it’s beyond perfection. This is one of the nicest groups of people in any regatta I have ever been to and if

you don’t come back, either the boat has sunk or you’re dead’

Gerry Andlinger, owner of SY P2

‘YCCS and Oil Nut Bay are the number one location in the Caribbean without a doubt. I’ve never seen anything like this’

Dick Farmer, owner of MY Stellar

North Sound’s waters mirrored blue skies, and fresh trade winds cooled the undeveloped green hills, as 25 superyachts arrived at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) in Virgin Gorda, the British Virgin Islands.

Organised by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media, the second Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous attracted a diverse fleet of sailing superyachts for the three days of racing and motor yachts for the rendezvous, ranging from the 33.5 metre Burger Chanticleer to the 90 metre Royal Huisman schooner Athena.

The competition was truly international, with 13 sailing yachts representing 10 builders in five countries and owners from six nations. The monohull fleet ranged from the 21.9 metre Oyster AlbertOne 3 to the 54.6 metre Vitters ketch Marie.

Conditions were good to near-perfect for the three-race schedule. Race officer Peter Craig chose from 10 courses of between 13 and 29 nautical miles around Virgin Gorda, Necker Island, Ginger Island and various rocky outcrops. The 30.5 metre 2009 Wally Indio and last year’s winner, 42.1 metre J Class Hanuman, battled it out for supremacy, but there were many fierce duels in the middle of the fleet where tactics and sail handling made all the difference. On days two and three, shifty inshore conditions and dropping breezes favoured lighter boats such as Indio and 35.2 metre Firefly.


Some were phasing in new sails and crews for the St Barth’s Bucket, but the emphasis was on enjoyment. No one represented that better than Bob Eichler, owner of 29.3 metre Altair, sailing in his first regatta. A long-time cruiser, he appreciated the competitive spirit of his peers and never gave up, which won him the Spirit of the Regatta Award. Andrea Recordati, a YCCS member and owner of Indio, who finished one point ahead of Jim Clark’s Hanuman, has accepted the challenge to defend his title in 2013. To see detailed race reports and the final results, visit superyachtregattaandrendezvous.com.

While racing yachts were busy on the course, the rest of the rendezvous fleet enjoyed front-row seats to the action, a cruise to Peter Island for lunch sponsored by BVI Tourism at a private villa, a beach day at the Oil Nut Bay Beach Club and a pirate-themed treasure hunt.

Owners and guests also had the chance to sample 1912 Louis XIII cognac on board the host yacht Icon, while crew played with four varieties of rum from sponsor Mount Gay Distilleries in a cocktail competition.

Owners enjoyed a Loro Piana-hosted owners’ dinner under the stars, at the new YCCS clubhouse, while the crew celebrated on the beach at Leverick Bay. A gold-themed party on the final night at Oil Nut Bay got everyone on the dance floor. To see video highlights from the event and more stunning images, make sure you download the iPad version of Boat International...

‘It was such a great event last year – and being a first of its kind event with motor yachts and sailing yachts, it had the potential to not go that way – that we just had to come back and experience it again. The mix is fantastic’

Marty and Linda Sutter, owners of MY Chanticleer

Some boats were phasing in new sails and crews for the St Barth’s Bucket to follow, but for all, the emphasis was on enjoyment

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‘The event and racing is fantastic. The people are fantastic. YCCS is amazing. We had two wonderful starts; we’re loving it, I couldn’t be happier’

Bob Eichler, owner of SY Altair, and winner of the Spirit of the Regatta


‘The best part is I get to take home a pot of gold to my granddad on his birthday (St Patrick’s Day)’Lilly, age 4 – AKA the Pirate Princess – MY Shalimar

The social schedule kept up with the racing, including a well-received tasting of 1912 Louis XIII cognac on board Icon, as well as a cocktail competition using rums from sponsor Mount Gay Distilleries. The celebration on the final night was a gold party at Oil Nut Bay (left)

‘Last night’s (owners’) dinner was one of the most outstanding yachting events I have ever enjoyed. When we were up there dining, looking out at all these beautiful yachts, hearing the beautiful music, it was perfect, something very special’ Alan Goldstein, owner of MY Victory


The YCCS’s gleaming new clubhouse (left), overlooking the docks in Virgin Gorda, was the social hub for the event. Crews and guests enjoyed a pirate-themed treasure hunt (far left), while a crew party at Leverick Bay (below far left) provided extra Caribbean warmth; all hands to the headsail on Hanuman (bottom left); the yachts throng the YCCS marina in North Sound (below); Bliss duals with Ganesha on a windward leg

‘We didn’t really have this event on the calendar, but the owner wanted

to do an extra event. He is absolutely loving it in these

gorgeous surroundings’ Mark van Gelderen, captain of SY Firefly


Andrea Recordati, a YCCS member and owner of Indio (far right), triumphed in the racing, finishing one point ahead of last year’s winner, Hanuman, with the Perini Navi P2 taking third

overall. Prizes were awarded for attitude as well as points, and Bob Eichler, owner of Altair, won the Spirit of the Regatta Award for his unflinching positivity in the event

‘I go to Porto Cervo YCCS, which sets a very high standard and I judge that it will be the same here. The event is attracting a lot of big boats, and this will become one of the fixtures of the West Indian regatta season’

Peter Harrison, owner of SY Sojana

‘It was a lot of fun. Even if we hadn’t won, it was a fantastic regatta. It’s my first time here – we will definitely come back next year to defend our title’

Andrea Recordati, owner of SY Indio

‘It was a great day. We were not the fastest boat but we really enjoyed it!’

Pier-Luigi Loro Piana, title sponsor

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Press R. Zefira: Boat International