The already classic Mallorcan appointment for large sized yachts finally got together 12 units gathered in the categories of performance and traditional yachts.

The J Class Ranger with its victories in compensated time and the carbon schooner Senso One, the old Mari Cha IV, were the stars at the exciting and well organised, Palma regattas. Even though with a lower participation than in last edition, that thanks to the combination with the America’s Cup in Valencia reunited a fleet of 52 large boats and therewith the elite of owners, builders and specialists, this year’s Superyacht Cup - Ulysse Nardin, held from the 11th to the 14th of June in the bay of Palma, was very good to consolidate an unavoidable appointment in the calendar for large sailboats: indeed, Palma being a gathering point for the units that prepare the summer season and those that come from the Caribbean, their logistic capacity and their appeal are combined with the celebration of an event such as this one.
In the previous edition, due to the concentration of participants and mainly due to their size, with several units over 50 metres length, the Superyacht Cup and the Port of Palma transferred the operations to the Porto Piquay, also used as venue this year. The organisation, managed by Patrick Whetter announced after the races that the 2009 edition will take place between the 24th and the 27th of June and will go back to its original base, the Mollet or muelle viejo in Palma, located just a few minutes away from Palma old town and much closer to the airport.
The bay of Palma was once again key for the success of the competition that, although threatened on the days previous to the race by adverse meteorology, was able to host with excellent weather the three planned races: The Regatta Fortis of the 12th of June, the New Zealand regatta on the 13th and the race sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Emirate on the 14th.
The IRC division was new in the organisation of the race, it is a time compensation system used in several regattas worldwide and that is considered more equitable, especially between fast yachts, than the calculation used by the organisation on previous editions. Along with the IRC division, with fleet starts, another group was created that raced with staggered starts.



















DIVISION IN TWO CLASSES
Among the 12 yachts, a considerable amount if we consider that another competitive regatta was held in Porto Cervo just a week after, stood out the 47 metres Scheherezade, designed by Bruce King and built in cold moulded wood by the North American shipyard Hogdon; Hyper yon was remarkable, the 47 metres Frers designed also built by Royal Huisman and that belonged to the actual owner of the three masted Athena; Scorpione del Mare the 30 meters Tony Castro designed Jongert, or the Philippe Briand designed Gliss, also built by Royal Huisman, a regular in Palma that enters in all competitions.
Senso One, the old Mari Cha IV, with its 42 meters length and that thanks to its carbon fibre hull and its minimalist interior weights slightly more than 50 tons. Its two 45 meters masts make her unmistakable. It still holds the mono hull Atlantic passage record, made in slightly more than 6 days, and can ver y easily reach speeds of two digits, besides having been spotted once sailing at almost 40 knots. It was designed by Philippe Briand, Greg Elliot and Clay Oliver, and in Mallorca brought together some thirty crew members ranging from experts coming from the professional sailing world to guests. Its superiority in real time was absolute, but luckily for its competitors, like the crew of the J Class Ranger, the compensation balanced enough the differences.
Ranger, on the other hand, is a replica of the famous J Class designed by Olin Stephens that successfully defended the America’s Cup in 1937 against Endeavour II. It was built in 2003 by Danish Yachts Skagen, and later it had modifications made in his rig and appendages from the Gerry Dijkstra studio, the Dutch considered as the leading specialist in J class boats. With its three first positions in compensated time, with no doubt she pleased her owner, who had chartered as by stander for his crew and guests the mythical Cristina O.