Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous round up

Closing on Saturday 14^th March 2015, the final race day of the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Redezvous was a fittingly gripping affair that brought three days of hard-fought racing to a close. Overall victory was awarded to sailing yachts 'P2' in Class A, and 'Marie' in Class B.

The annual event, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Boat International Media, ran from 11^th to 14^th March 2015 off the coast of Virgin Gorda, with the new ORCsy handicap rules implemented for the first time to provide competent racing and scene-stealing finishes throughout.

The final day of the 2015 regatta saw Class A and Class B participants complete an anti-clockwise round-the-island course that took them from a downward start toward Round Rock off of the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, followed by a challenging upward stretch which saw the boats battle 10-foot waves, finishing just off the North Sound.

Only two points separated the top three hulls in Class A heading into the final race, making it a close call for victory. A battle to the finish ensued between P2, Freya and Cape Arrow with less than 40 seconds separating their finish times after the 29-mile race; the 38m Perini Navi sloop, P2, took the lead at the last second to be announced as Class A winner.

Gerhard Andlinger of P2 said, “We won by just seconds, the new rating system is really working out. It was pretty relaxing until the last 15-minutes when you see the competition. You see the sails, you see how fast they’re going and you begin to mentally calculate. I have a great crew and this victory is theirs, not mine.”

In Class B, 'Seahawk' earned her second win of the event after a DNF in the first race, caused by a rigging failure, meant she was unable to climb higher than third place in the overall event rankings. Although she was not the final race day winner, and the efforts of Royal Huisman sloop 'Wisp' were not enough to prevail, the 55m ketch Marie took the top spot, which she had held since day one.

Tony Rey, tactician on board Marie added, “This kind of racing is spectacular. The ORCsy rating couldn’t have asked for a better soft launch. This event at YCCS was absolutely spectacular and the perfect way to introduce it. The fact we had a few different winners, close finishes: that’s what we want and that’s what we got.”

Loro Piana deputy chairman of Pier Luigi Loro Piana was thankful to all those who organised and took part in the event. He said, “I want to express my gratitude for everything that was organised this week by the BVI government and the yacht club. It was a spectacular, beautiful week and I am certain many of these boats will be joining us both for the Porto Cervo event and the 2016 edition in Virgin Gorda.”

During the prize giving ceremony, P2 also received the Loro Piana Prize – Boat International Media trophy for the lowest scoring superyacht overall.

The Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous returns to Virgin Gorda on the 9th March 2016.

For more information on the regatta, visit Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous.