Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta & Maxi Yacht Cup underway

Eight yachts headed for Virgin Gorda: live tracking on YCCS and IMA websites

The eight maxi and super yachts participating in the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta - Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup crossed the starting line off Santa Cruz de Tenerife at 1 p.m. (GMT) yesterday. The fourth edition of the event, this year organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and the International Maxi Association, will see the fleet of sailing giants navigating approximately 2700 miles to reach the finish line in Virgin Gorda where the YCCS is putting the finishing touches to its new Clubhouse, set to complement the Club's existing superyacht marina on the island. Depending on weather conditions during the Atlantic crossing, the yachts may be expected to complete the course in approximately 8 to 10 days. Live tracking on the websites www.yccs.it and www.internationalmaxiassociation.com will show each yacht's progress in real time.

Racing got underway today in 10 to 12 knots of north north-easterly breeze and only the Wally 107 Kenora chose to head south of the Island of Tenerife while the remainder 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 66 metre Hetairos and the 50 metre Zefira, both recently launched. The remainder of the fleet is composed of two Wally yachts (Indio and Kenora), two Swans (the Swan 80 Emma and the Swan 82 Grey Goose of RORC); the Farr Sojana and the X-Yachts Karuba 5.

"We are pleased that this regatta is bringing new life to the idea we had in 2007 when we chose Tenerife as the starting point of the first edition of the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup. The finish line has been moved from Sint Maarten to Virgin Gorda thanks to the collaboration with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, which is inaugurating its new Clubhouse in the British Virgin Islands." Commented Gianfranco Alberini, Secretary General of the International Maxi Association.

"Having eight such magnificent maxi and super yachts on the starting line for the first crossing from Tenerife to Virgin Gorda is fantastic," underlined Edoardo Recchi, Sports Director of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. "Despite the difficult economic situation we have an exceptional fleet here, including the new Hetairos which is making its racing debut. We hope that our new Clubhouse and Marina in Virgin Gorda will fast become a reference point for maxi and super yachts in the Caribbean in the way that our base in Porto Cerva has been for many years."

The Commodore of the Real Club Nautico de Tenerife, Don Eduardo Fernandez Quintana also emphasised how the image and the economy of Tenerife is linked to International yachting events.