2023 SuperYacht Racing Association Annual General Meeting
Date: Wednesday 15 March, 2023
Time: 1700 – 1815
A social hour will follow
Place: Capitainerie, Gustavia St Barthélémy – 2nd Floor Deck, can be accessed via outside stairway.
2023 is going to be another exciting and challenging year for Superyacht Racing. Your participation will help to shape our priorities and plans.
2023 SYRA Annual General Meeting Agenda PDF
2023 SYRA Annual General Meeting Exhibits are posted on the SYRA Member Meetings page, as are minutes and exhibits from previous SYRA Member Meetings.
I look forward to seeing you!
Best regards, Peter
Peter@superyra.org
Mobile: +1-617-755-7316
RSVP: jeanne@superyra.org
2023 SYRA Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, 15 March, 2023 1700-1815 / Capitainerie, Gustavia St Barthélémy
As in previous years, the AGM will take place on the Wednesday evening prior to racing. The meeting is open to all SYRA members and prospective members. There will be an opportunity for attendees to catch up over a glass of wine or beer immediately following the meeting.
Racing Rules & Appendix SY Review
Thursday, 16 March, 2023 0830-0945 / Salle de Théâtre
International Judge, Jim Capron, is back to conduct his superyacht racing rules review. Jim was instrumental in the creation of the Appendix SY and its evolution over the past 10 years. Included in the discussion will be World Sailing’s recent acceptance of Jim’s submission for “Continuing Obstructions”. All afterguard members and other interested parties are encouraged to attend.
Superyacht Racing Fleet Building
Friday, 17 March, 2023 1700-1800 / Capitainerie – 2nd Floor
This 2023 SYRA initiative began with a zoom call in early February that included superyacht builders and designers. This was followed with a Regatta Organizer call. The continuing discussion will include exploring reasons why participation is down following the two Covid years and considering ways to attract new yacht owners and captains to superyacht racing events. There will be a moderator leading the discussion and panel. All are welcome.
Addressing Cruising to Racing Mode Conversion
Date and Time TBD / Capitainerie – 2nd Floor
Specific to the challenge of ‘Fleet Building’, one barrier that has been identified is the resources required to transition a yacht from cruising to racing mode and then back to cruising following the regatta. This endeavor varies from yacht to yacht, however, it often times represents a meaningful commitment of resources from the captain and permanent crew. How can this be changed or made less impactful? Organizers, ORC, captains and program managers will be on hand to seek solutions.
20 October, 2022
TURNING THE PAGE
A successful 2022 racing season bodes well for the coming year
Regatta organizers and superyacht owners worked together to manage the pandemic challenge, getting superyacht racing back on track with a successful 6-regatta circuit in 2022.
One of the obvious highlights was the superyacht regatta in Ibiza, which experienced growth at their second edition with 11 yachts and projections for more entries in 2023. Ibiza JoySail is clearly here to stay with a fall regatta now available to yacht owners in the Mediterranean.
Going forward over the next several months, we will continue working closely with the ORC on handicapping issues that were raised this past year. Meetings at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda this spring and fall on the ORCsy VPP and application of OPF’s were very productive. We were assured that items raised by the SYRA’s technical advisor would be evaluated and addressed in the next iteration of the VPP, which was in fact delivered as promised just last week. Additionally, The SYRA is assisting organizers with the challenge of racing-oriented yachts entering and competing against cruising yachts. More on that issue later this fall.
We are also making a concerted effort to grow SYRA membership as we strive to get our yacht and company numbers back to pre-pandemic levels. It’s a long road back and we encourage current members to help encourage companies in the superyacht racing arena as well as racing yacht owners and captains to participate ( Current SYRA Members ).
We are hearing about new yachts in build and some recently launched, with owners keen to race. One such 2021 sloop will be debuting at the Bucket in the Corinthian Spirit Class. There are also some yachts recently sold, which haven’t been seen on the racing circuit for years, coming back under new ownership. We expect to see some at the 2023 sanctioned regattas this winter. The organizers of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua and St Barths Bucket are well along in preparation for these two popular Caribbean events.
The 2023 Annual General Meeting will again take place in St Barths on the Wednesday evening just prior to the Bucket (15 March). For those participating in the Bucket, please plan accordingly. The link to the 2022 AGM Minutes, Agenda and Exhibits is here: Member Meetings.
We are very much looking forward to a successful 2023 superyacht racing season! Please feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions, and your ideas on improving the superyacht racing experience for the yacht owner.
All the best,
Peter
Peter Craig
Executive Director
SuperYacht Racing Association
peter@superyra.org
+1 781-639-9501
Skype: petercraig.pri
29 June 2022
SUPERYACHT RACING IS BACK!
A most welcome return with six 2022 sanctioned regattas in play
Superyacht owners and crews have been eager to put Covid restrictions behind them and get back to racing. They are doing just that at a familiar slate of regattas in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the US East Coast.
The Superyacht Challenge Antigua showcased two classes and started off the week with an Around Antigua race: SYC Antigua Results. The 30-yacht fleet at the St Barths Bucket featured Corinthian Spirit and J classes along with the debut of the ’90 Foot Class’: St Barths Bucket Results.
The two Caribbean regattas in March featured challenging conditions with 20-25kts and big seas each and every day. Safe racing was the priority at both venues as many of the crews and yachts were returning after a 1-2 year hiatus from racing. Tragically, there was a loss of life in Antigua when a crewmember was seriously injured on one of the practice days, and later passed away (Sam Richmond Obituary). The association is involved in discussions regarding this incident, hoping to share any onboard safety lessons, actions and advisories.
Mediterranean racing got started earlier this month with the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta. Their 9-yacht superyacht class was augmented with a multihull class and a Southern Wind Rendezvous: Giorgio Armani SY Class Results. The Palma Superyacht Cup, which includes a 4-yacht J Class, gets underway this week: Superyacht Cup Palma Results.
The 2022 edition of Safe Harbor Race Weekend, an August regatta in Newport, Rhode Island, will again have a superyacht class And the second edition of the Ibiza JoySail regatta reports 9 yachts registered with another 6 committed to enter. A successful debut last year, coupled with the late September regatta dates, appears to be a winning formula.
The 2022 Annual General Meeting took place in St Barths just prior to the Bucket. The link to the AGM Minutes, Agenda and Exhibits is here: Member Meetings. Given the impact Covid had on superyacht racing and the association, the AGM served as an overview of the previous two years and presented organizational and membership initiatives. Five EXCOM members were represented.
This summer, our intent is to focus on the superyacht handicap rule, membership initiatives, and insurance issues that have come to light in recent months. EXCOM member, Edoardo Recchi, and I met with Bruno Finzi, the President of ORC, to discuss concerns with the superyacht rule’s VPP. It was a productive session that will result in an SYRA working party collaborating with ORC in the coming months to improve the 2023 VPP.
We will be striving to restore yacht and company memberships back to pre-pandemic levels. A new individual membership option is offered to include representation from individuals active in the superyacht racing arena ( Current SYRA Members ).
We look forward to a successful conclusion to the 2022 superyacht racing season. I do hope you have exciting plans for the first summer in some time where Covid isn’t the overriding consideration.
I hope you will reach out with any concerns and your ideas on improving the superyacht racing experience for the yacht owner.
All the best,
Peter
Peter Craig
Executive Director
SuperYacht Racing Association
peter@superyra.org
+1 781-639-9501
Skype: petercraig.pri
December 2021
A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR
A return to superyacht racing in Antigua and St Barths
Superyacht owners made it clear last summer and fall that they were eager to get back to racing and they did just that at five regattas taking place between June and October. While Covid protocols will continue to be a reality at all events globally, the entry lists for the Superyacht Challenge Antigua and St Barths Bucket reinforce that desire of owners to get back into action.
The Antigua organizers have 13 expressions of interest while the Bucket’s 30 plus entries feature Corinthian Spirit and J classes along with the debut of the ’90 Foot Class’, an SYRA fleet building initiative.
We were pleased to welcome a new SYRA Sanctioned Regatta to the superyacht racing calendar last fall. The Ibiza JoySail regatta ( www.ibizajoysail.com ) debuted in October and the organizers have already announced their 2022 dates (22-25 September). These dates should prove to be excellent for concluding the season’s racing in the Med.
With a full schedule that also includes the Palma Superyacht Cup, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta and Safe Harbor Race Weekend, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and address superyacht racing issues that are relevant to yacht owners. On the list are a working party to delve into ORCsy scoring options and addressing safe racing and handicapping issues that were under discussion prior to the pandemic.
Our thanks go out to those who have agreed to join the SYRA’S Executive Committee. We have succeeded in expanding this group to eleven and meeting our goal of broader representation ( SYRA Executive Committee ).
Speaking of broader representation… we call on all members to help grow our membership back to pre-pandemic levels, with both yachts and companies. Additionally, an individual membership option is offered to include representation from individuals and sailors in the superyacht racing arena.
Please plan on joining us at the 2022 Annual General Meeting, which will take place in St Barths just prior to the Bucket on Wednesday, 16 March from 1700-1815.
We look forward to ramping things back up this winter and seeing many of our friends in Antigua or St Barths in March!
All the best,
Peter
Peter Craig
Executive Director
SuperYacht Racing Association
peter@superyra.org
+1 781-639-9501
Skype: petercraig.pri
July 2021
BACK TO RACING!
Superyacht racing in Porto Cervo, Palma and Newport ends the pandemic driven hiatus
When the winter spike in Covid cases forced the cancellation of two Caribbean March superyacht regattas, it was a frustrating time for superyacht racing programs and organizers. But fortunately, just when many thought that the long wait might continue through 2021, along came positive news from three superyacht summer regattas.
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in early June was the start for summer racing yccs.it/regate-2021/loro_piana_superyacht_regatta . The event featured 16 yachts that included a competitive 5-yacht superyacht class, 7 Southern Wind rendezvous participants, and a 4-boat multihull class. The 33m MISSY (Malcolm McKeon/Baltic) prevailed with only 3 points separating the 2nd through 4th place finishers.
The 25th Superyacht Cup Palma followed three weeks later with a 9-yacht fleet racing in two classes. NILAYA (Reichel-Pugh/Vitters) had her way in Class A, however, the racing was close with a mere 10 second margin of victory for NILAYA over MISSY in race 1. The 43m sloop RAVENGER (Frers/Royal Huisman) made an impressive racing debut, winning Class B and the Superyacht Cup Palma Overall Trophy thesuperyachtcup.com/en/results.
Proof that superyacht racing is alive and well in the U.S. is a robust superyacht class lining up for the inaugural Safe Harbor Race Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island shmarinas.com/safe-harbor-race-weekend. With seven yachts entered and another three planning on racing, this mid-August event will provide owners with a fun Corinthian Spirit oriented competition. Entries include the 56m Perini Navi ketch ZENJI and the J Class yacht HANUMAN.
The SYRA Executive Committee will expand in 2022 with the intent of achieving broader representation from the superyacht racing industry and fleet. In addition to organizers, builders, designers, and sailmakers, the EXCOM will include a boat captain, a professional sailor and an insurance industry representative. An individual membership option will be offered for the first time next year. Additional information on both initiatives will be shared with you later this Fall. As in past years, working parties will be formed to address these and other pertinent issues.
We look forward to interacting with the sailing superyacht industry and programs as we go about providing superyacht owners with the safe, sanctioned events and the fair racing they so enjoy.
With kind regards,
Peter
Peter Craig
Executive Director
SuperYacht Racing Association
peter@superyra.org
+1 781-639-9501
Skype: petercraig.pri
2021 Spring Update
March 2021
ANOTHER CHALLENGING YEAR FOR SUPERYACHT RACING
Cancellations in the Caribbean, success in New Zealand, and optimism in Europe
One step forward… two back. It has been a frustrating time for those who race superyachts. The post-holiday spike in Covid cases globally took its toll, negatively impacting travel and leading to increasingly restrictive protocols in the Caribbean. This ultimately forced organizers’ hands with the two March superyacht regattas in the islands having to cancel and set their sights on 2022.
Down under, the annual Millennium Cup was postponed from Mid-February until later in March, while the America’s Cup affiliated Mastercard Superyacht Regatta went off without a hitch in Auckland. The Ron Holland designed ketch Tawera capturing top honors in this 4-day, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron regatta, results can be seen here.
Despite the best intentions and careful planning for scaled back events, the St Barths Bucket and the Antigua Superyacht Challenge were not to be. Heightened Covid related restrictions and protocols in the islands as well as in Europe and the United States last month eliminated all options for these two popular events.
On a more positive note, planning continues for the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta and the 25th Superyacht Cup Palma in June. There is reason for optimism with case numbers trending down over a considerable period of time in most countries and multiple vaccines now in play.
The SYRA Executive Committee held two conference calls in recent weeks and another is scheduled later this month. The focus is on priority issues that were tabled during the recent ‘pause’. Among the first issues being addressed is sustainability of the association through expansion of the membership base. As in past years, working parties will be formed to address these and other pertinent issues.
We all look forward to the long overdue reopening around the world and to the prospects of interacting with the sailing superyacht industry as we go about providing superyacht owners with the events and racing they so enjoy.
With kind regards,
Peter
Peter Craig
Executive Director
SuperYacht Racing Association
peter@superyra.org
+1 781-639-9501
Skype: petercraig.pri
2020 Annual General Meeting
A virtual 2020 Annual General Meeting was held and documents are posted here.
Important ORCsy Updates for the 2020 Racing Season
SYRA Note Regarding ORCsy Sail Changes (pdf)
ORCsy 2019 Update (pdf)
2019 Notes
Productive AGM and committee meetings for the SYRA
It has been an exciting and eventful few months for superyacht racing with the three largest 2019 regattas now in the books.
The St Barths Bucket enjoyed near ideal conditions that produced six worthy pursuit class winners. The debut of the Bucket Owner/Driver award proved popular and this marked the 3rd consecutive year of Corinthian Spirit Class racing in St Barths.
The 12th Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta featured Performance and Cruising classes with the former having a staggered start format on the first day followed by conventional fleet starts for the remainder of the week. The Superyacht Cup Palma, the longest running superyacht regatta in the Med, produced three worthy class winners just last week.
The SYRA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in St Barths was well attended with members contributing many constructive ideas and feedback on the current challenges to superyacht racing. The minutes, agenda and exhibits are posted on our Member Meetings page. The SYRA also held three productive committee meetings during the Bucket – Fair Racing/Handicapping, Superyacht Racing Rules and Fleet Building.
We value and enjoy interacting with our members on site at the various regattas and hope that you will
take advantage of both planned and informal meetings in the future. A positive outcome of the Fair Racing meeting was the formation of a Working Party to assess the accounting of sails in the ORCsy rating rule and make recommendations to the ORC. There were follow-on meetings during the Loro Piana regatta. Details on this important issue are posted in the Fair Racing section.
I am pleased to share the very good news that Newport’s mid-summer Candy Store Cup is back following a 1-year hiatus. And there will likely to be a superyacht class again at the September Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at the YCCS.
I look forward to seeing and hearing from members during the remainder of the 2019 superyacht regatta circuit. At any time, if you have questions or feedback, please do reach out: peter@superyra.org.
Peter Craig
SYRA Executive Director