Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup & Superyacht Regatta 2011: ready to start

Eight sailing giants have assembled in Tenerife for the start of the 2011 Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta-Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup. The regatta is scheduled to leave Santa Cruz in Tenerife (Spain) on Monday, 21st November destined for Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) and the new winter base of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS).
The event, organized by the International Maxi Association (IMA) and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the collaboration of Real Club Nàutico de Tenerife, will see participating yachts cover approximately 2.700 nautical miles and encounter varied wind and sea conditions. The regatta is perfectly timed to tie in with the traditional transfers from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean for the winter season, and will have participants arriving on the other side of the Atlantic as the superyacht racing season kicks off there.
Actually at its fourth edition and always starting from Tenerife (2007, 2009 & 2010 editions), the event, reserved to maxi yachts and superyachts (with a minimum LOA of 80 feet) will see a wide range of maxi yachts competing in the 2011 edition: the largest boats in the fleet are the newly launched 66 metre Dykstra-designed ketch Hetairos, on her first regatta outing, and italian Zefira, owned by Salvatore Trifirò, a 49.70 metre Dubois yacht. The fleet also includes the 35 metre Sojana, owned by Peter Harrison, skippered by Marc Fitzgerald and winner of last year’s edition of the Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup, and Tobias Koenig’ Grey Goose of Rorc, a Swan 82. Andrea Recordati’s Indio will represent Italy and the Wally class. The Wally 107 Kenora is a Luca Brenta project (Omer Brand, 470 champion, will be on board, together with François Guiffant, french oceanic sailor, and Tim Houghton). The “smallest” in the fleet are the 18.20 metre Swan 60 Emma, owned by Johann Killinger, and the 20.2 metre Karuba V, even if “small” is not the right word to define this category of yachts: the biggest ones actually sailing all around the world.
After leaving Tenerife the participating yachts will be looking to pick up on the northeast trade winds between approximately 30° latitude and the equator which generally blow at a steady 11 to 15 knots. As the maxis near Virgin Gorda and the finish line  the more gentle Alizé Caribbean trade wind will kick in and crews can expect to be accompanied by 10 to 12 knots of north easterly winds.
A satellite tracking system accessible online will keep fans and supporters up to date on each yacht’s progress for the duration of the race.
Trophies will be awarded at the prize giving ceremony scheduled to take place on 8th December in Virgin Gorda: participants will enjoy a special sneak preview of the services and hospitality of the newly opened YCCS Clubhouse. The YCCS Virgin Gorda Clubhouse will be officially inaugurated on 3rd January 2012 while the purpose built YCCS Marina has been operational since March 2011.

For further information please visit www.yccs.com, www.yccsmarina.com or www.internationalmaxiassociation.com.