Nilaya is First In Class at the 2019 Superyacht Challenge Antigua
Antigua (February 3, 2019) – The ninth edition of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua kicked off the 2019 superyacht regatta season and featured four races for six 24 to 44m yachts all racing under the superyacht rule ORCsy.
The Reichel/Pugh-designed 112’ Nilaya, helmed by owner Filip Balcaen, took 1st place in Class C: Corsairs. Nilaya was built by Baltic Yachts and launched in 2010.
Seven-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran, Bouwe Bekking, called tactics on Nilaya and previously explained that, “the team on Nilaya has been together for a number of years, so I think that allows us to sail a superyacht like a smaller boat and that does make a difference. This regatta is very much in the style of gentleman’s racing, which produces a great atmosphere. Personally I like to race to win but I believe that the owners of the yachts really enjoy this style and that is great.” Bouwe commented this year that, “This is a really good [season] kick-off regatta. The sailing is important but the fun also helps put your team together, which is good for the owners and the crew because we have a good time, and that is what it is all about. Speaking to my owner he is really keen to do a Round Antigua Race, even if it is not part of the regatta. It would be nice to have a Superyacht Trophy and have a go at the record. Nilaya has sailed around the island at record pace but that was unofficial.”
The 2020 Notice of Race for the 10th edition was announced with the 2020 edition moving to a new date 11-15 March, just before St. Barths Bucket when many superyachts are in race mode.
About The Superyacht Challenge
This ninth edition of the regatta is still proving popular with six Superyachts taking part, in two different classes. Designed to be solely for the pleasure of superyacht owners, their guests and crew, the fleet takes part in four days of close racing, using the International Superyacht Racing Rule. With daily pursuit races along the stunning south coast of Antigua and laid back social events, The Superyacht Challenge Antigua is a wonderful celebration of sailing.
About the Builder
Baltic Yachts
Nilaya Photo © Claire Matches
A Clean Sweep for Reichel/Pugh Designs at the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart
Hobart, Tasmania (December 30, 2018) – Phillip Turner’s Alive representing Derwent Sailing Squadron Inc has won the double for the 2018 Rolex Rolex Sydney Hobart. Winning the George Adams Tattersalls Cup for Overall Winner on IRC and the Charleston Trophy for Overall Winner on ORCi. Alive’s Navigator Wouter Verbraak has won the Bill Owen Memorial Trophy – for the navigator of the overall winner on handicap and the City of Hobart Trophy – for the Navigator of the first Tasmanian yacht on handicap. Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design have won the Alan Payne Memorial Trophy – for the designer of the overall winner on handicap.
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Redemption! Wild Oats XI Wins 9th Line Honors Victory in the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race
Hobart, Tasmania (December 28, 2018) – The Reichel/Pugh-designed Wild Oats XI surges to victory to take her 9th Line Honors win in the 2018 Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race.
Three years of trauma and heartache for the Wild Oats XI family has ended, after a premature retirement from the 2015 race with a torn mainsail, followed by Bob Oatley’s death in January 2016 and another race retirement in 2016 due to hydraulic ram issues, and then the much publicized 2017 race when Wild Oats XI was penalized one hour after an incident with Comanche and lost her line honors crown and a new race record to Comanche. Val Oatley described Wild Oats XI 2018 Rolex Sydney Hobart line honors victory perfectly alongside the dock in Hobart this morning: “Three years of misery to this moment,” and you could not wipe the smile from her face or that of her sons Sandy and Ian, as they waited for their Supermaxi to moor alongside the pier. Wild Oat’s skipper Mark ‘Ricko’ Richards handed over the helm to the Late Bob Oatley’s grandson, Daniel (Ian Oatley’s son, on his third Sydney Hobart on the family yacht) on the final leg to the finish. It was a blissful moment for the Oatley family and their supporters as their silver Supermaxi crossed the Hobart finish line at 08:07:21 on Friday, 28 December. Read More …
RORC Transatlantic Record for RP’s 130′ My Song
Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s 130′ Supermaxi My Song finished the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race on December 4th at 17:47:11 UTC taking Monohull Line Honours. The Baltic 130 owned by Pier Luigi Loro Piana, a member of the International Maxi Association (IMA), has also set a new Monohull Race Record after completing the 3,000 mile race between Lanzarote and Grenada in an elapsed time of 10 days 5 hrs 47 mins 11 secs, shaving 1hr 19mins 48 secs off the previous monohull race record set in the 2015 race by Jean-Paul Riviere’s French Finot-Conq 100, Nomad IV.
My Song, delivered in 2016 and features a rotating retractable propulsion system, high-performance keel and other innovative features. Her naval architecture and engineering is by Reichel/Pugh, Interior, deck design by Nauta Yachts of Milan, and she was built by Baltic Yachts with project management by Nigel Ingram, MCM. Following World Superyacht Awards for Best Sailing Yacht between 30m and 39.9m and the Showboats Design Awards in which she was voted Most Innovative Sailing Yacht and took the Best Exterior Design and Styling award, she also won the International Superyacht Society’s 2017 award for the Best Sailing Yacht between 24m and 40m. Read More …
Reichel/Pugh-designed 86’ Spirit of Portopiccolo Wins the Barcolana, Again!
Trieste, Italy (October 14, 2018) – Warm congratulations goes out to the skipper and crew of the Reichel/Pugh-designed, canting keel 86’ Spirit of Portopiccolo, formerly the Morning Glory, as overall winner of the 50th Barcolana Regatta. This year there was a record 2,689 boats on the starting line. More stunning photos can be found in @studioborlenghi 50th Barcolana album.
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