The Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta is gearing up to be one of the most impressive gatherings of racing royalty since before the pandemic. Taking place from May 31 to June 4, the event will welcome a fleet of 14 superyachts to the shores of the Costa Smeralda for four days of racing in the La Maddalena archipelago. Take a look at this year’s contenders…

Mariette of 1915

Mariette of 1915 is widely considered one of the most beautiful classic sailing yachts of all time and will be returning to the racecourse to prove that age is only a number. The twin-masted Herreshoff schooner was delivered in 1915 and is one of the oldest yachts still sailing today. She has undertaken countless transatlantic crossings and competed in many a regatta in her century at sea, but has been well maintained by a number of owners with regular refits at Pendennis keeping her racing fit.

WinWin

WinWin is no stranger to the racecourse and has lifted her fair share of trophies since leaving the Baltic Yachts shipyard in 2015. She can often be spotted leading the fleet around the top mark at the Superyacht Cup Palma before hoisting a racing-green spinnaker and heading downwind at pace. Reaching 12 to 13 knots in true wind, she sits comfortably at 11.2 knots close-hauled; downwind, with the assistance of a smaller top-down furling kite, she can zip along at 18.5 knots.

Geist

Geist is the largest single-masted wooden yacht to be built in the UK since Shamrock V in 1930. She was constructed in a wood epoxy composite supported by a stainless steel space frame at British-based shipyard Spirit Yachts and is the largest sailing yacht to leave the yard to date. Don’t be fooled by her classic looks as they conceal an advanced technical specification with a carbon mast and high-tech sail-handling…