Dubois Cup dazzles in Porto Cervo
Under perfect skies and with promising winds, the fourth Dubois Cup officially kicked off last week at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in scenic Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Fourteen sailing and one motor yacht gathered for this invitational event, which saw some of the most beautiful sailing superyachts in the world compete for the cup.…
Under perfect skies and with promising winds, the fourth Dubois Cup officially kicked off last week at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in scenic Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Fourteen sailing and one motor yacht gathered for this invitational event, which saw some of the most beautiful sailing superyachts in the world compete for the cup.
The list of sponsors for the event was extensive and impressive: Feadship, Fitzroy Yachts, Pendennis, Royal Huisman, Alloy Yachts, Vitters Shipyard, Ayelsford International, North Sails, Reckmann, Rondal, Southern Spars, Doyle, Gateley, Hall, Pantaneus, Skynet Aviation Group and Sturge.
A spectacular fleet of Dubois-designed yachts attracts a crowd anywhere, and is ideally suited to the glamour and exclusivity of Porto Cervo. Some yachts attended for the first time, including the newly-delivered, Oyster-built 100 footer Sarafin and her 125 foot sister Twilight. The Australian-built Alcanara, delivered in 2009 and Salperton, a regular on the regatta circuit, made their first appearances at the Dubois Cup. Also competing was Timoneer, holder of the 2011 Dubois Cup.
"I've been in this business for over thirty years now, and this event relies on the patronage of a family of owners we're used to being with regularly," Ed said. "We have one owner here that we're now working on the eighth project for, and we have two three-project clients and a handful of two-boat clients. We see this event continuing every two years for as long as the industry is happy to support it and for as long as our owners continue to enjoy it!"
As the sternlines came ashore and the yachts aligned themselves for a few days' commiseration and competition, the crews inspected their friendly rivals, owners walked the pier admiring Dubois design, and potential new clients inspected the handiwork of the yards. It was a weekend to relax, to race for fun and to enjoy the camaraderie that such an intimate regatta can afford.
"We saw the wind speeds climbing over 30 knots, and it looked as though they'd keep increasing, so we I made the call to stay safe and we retired," – Barry Houghton
Despite clear skies on the first day of racing, the mercurial winds of Sardinia proved a challenge for the race committee who requested to inspect the options for the course and plan for the best wind. By 11am no clear options had emerged, though an amended version of course 19 had been suggested as a possible option, with winds to the North of Porto Cervo observed to be upwards of 20 knots by mid-morning. Winds to the south appeared to be calm and so expectations focused on tactics for a beat north into a good Northwesterly breeze, rounding the northern tip of la Maddalena island with a reach through what's affectionately known as Bomb Alley.
On the line at noon, there was no wind, and so the start was delayed as the race committee investigated options. With a new start line, the eight competing yachts set out at three minute intervals, with Genevieve out first. Quickly, the winds increased, with some yachts reporting estimated 40 knot gusts, at which point Salperton retired. "We saw the wind speeds climbing over 30 knots, and it looked as though they'd keep increasing, so we I made the call to stay safe and we retired," said Barry Houghton, owner of Salperton. "I've had an incident in the past and I simply won't risk the safety of my crew," he continued.
"We had it all today, didn't we?" commented Scott Mackenzie, Captain of Nostromo, who came in second. "Everyone on board had a fantastic day. Our owner was our helmsman, and he helmed the whole way and had a fantastic day as well."
"As we were coming through Bomb Alley, we were all making 13 or 14 knots, and it was just amazing to see," said Tom Saylak, owner of Genevieve, who won the day's racing on corrected time by a margin of 12 seconds over Nostromo. "As we approached the finish line, the winds shifted from the west to the east, and all the boats had to deal with that. Being a lower-rated boat we had a bit of advantage, but we thought we dealt with it well, and we were able to get in a win."
"I've been racing in Porto Cervo for 20 years," Genevieve tactician Mike Toppa of North Sails said. "The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda does a really great job, the coastline is gorgeous and you never know what you're going to get. That's a part of racing and that's part of what makes this one of my favourite places in the world to sail."
Every yacht was recognised for their participation in a jovial, casual ceremony that underscored the intimacy of the entire regatta.
Fitzroy Yachts’ 45m Salperton took the line honours on the second day while third-place Genevieve, the 37m Alloy-built sloop won the Cup on aggregate time. A perfect day of sailing concluded the fourth Dubois Cup, with all eight competing vessels under blue skies and just under 15 knots of wind – ideal superyacht racing weather. Nostromo took third place and the 50m Fitzroy sloop Zefira took second.
Genevieve’s captain Tony Pullar and owner Tom Saylak were exuberant, but modest in their win. "It wasn't the best conditions for us – it was a lot lighter than yesterday," Pullar said. "But we did our best and the crew really worked hard to get us to where we are."
Tom Saylak
"This performance is way above average for us," Saylak said. "We're really pleased to have won the cup. And I think it's important to point out that none of our crew are paid: They're all friends and colleagues and people who have been associated with the boat from the beginning, so that makes it really special for us. If we're here in two years, we'll absolutely come back and do this regatta again."
It's hard to overstate how ideal the weather and sailing conditions were: Several owners were heard to remark that Monday's sailing was the best day of racing they'd ever done. With spirits high and lovely evening weather, the fleet crews gathered on the terrace at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, where the prize-giving ceremony got underway. Every yacht was recognised for their participation in a jovial, casual ceremony that underscored the intimacy of the entire regatta. These are competitors in the most familial sense: Good cheer was always going to be the order of the day.
Genevieve was presented with the Dubois Cup, a beautiful carbon-fibre sail trophy designed by Dubois Naval Architects; the entire crew took to the stage for a rousing cheer. Zefira was recognised by the YCCS for being the top-placed yacht from the club. With all the trophies handed out, Ed Dubois offered his thoughts on the regatta.
"I think it's somehow poetic justice that Salperton, who retired from yesterday's race because they thought it was getting very marginal out there, came back and won the race today," Dubois said. "I think it was actually a very brave thing to do."
Superlatives come thick and fast after events like these, and so it can be difficult to summarize, but it can surely be said that the wide smiles and genuine camaraderie of owners and crew seemed to achieve that wonderfully elusive state of perfection. As one owner put it on Tuesday morning, "No one who was there will ever forget Dubois Cup 2013."
Nostromo underway
"Through this event, we are supporting the whole industry, and indeed, the whole industry is supporting us," Ed Dubois said, overlooking the gathering fleet. "We rely very much on the yacht builders and the suppliers to help us throw this event and to showcase what we do, and to make this a really wonderful family affair."The list of sponsors for the event was extensive and impressive: Feadship, Fitzroy Yachts, Pendennis, Royal Huisman, Alloy Yachts, Vitters Shipyard, Ayelsford International, North Sails, Reckmann, Rondal, Southern Spars, Doyle, Gateley, Hall, Pantaneus, Skynet Aviation Group and Sturge.
A spectacular fleet of Dubois-designed yachts attracts a crowd anywhere, and is ideally suited to the glamour and exclusivity of Porto Cervo. Some yachts attended for the first time, including the newly-delivered, Oyster-built 100 footer Sarafin and her 125 foot sister Twilight. The Australian-built Alcanara, delivered in 2009 and Salperton, a regular on the regatta circuit, made their first appearances at the Dubois Cup. Also competing was Timoneer, holder of the 2011 Dubois Cup.
"I've been in this business for over thirty years now, and this event relies on the patronage of a family of owners we're used to being with regularly," Ed said. "We have one owner here that we're now working on the eighth project for, and we have two three-project clients and a handful of two-boat clients. We see this event continuing every two years for as long as the industry is happy to support it and for as long as our owners continue to enjoy it!"
As the sternlines came ashore and the yachts aligned themselves for a few days' commiseration and competition, the crews inspected their friendly rivals, owners walked the pier admiring Dubois design, and potential new clients inspected the handiwork of the yards. It was a weekend to relax, to race for fun and to enjoy the camaraderie that such an intimate regatta can afford.
"We saw the wind speeds climbing over 30 knots, and it looked as though they'd keep increasing, so we I made the call to stay safe and we retired," – Barry Houghton
Despite clear skies on the first day of racing, the mercurial winds of Sardinia proved a challenge for the race committee who requested to inspect the options for the course and plan for the best wind. By 11am no clear options had emerged, though an amended version of course 19 had been suggested as a possible option, with winds to the North of Porto Cervo observed to be upwards of 20 knots by mid-morning. Winds to the south appeared to be calm and so expectations focused on tactics for a beat north into a good Northwesterly breeze, rounding the northern tip of la Maddalena island with a reach through what's affectionately known as Bomb Alley.
Winds reached speeds of 40 knots
On the line at noon, there was no wind, and so the start was delayed as the race committee investigated options. With a new start line, the eight competing yachts set out at three minute intervals, with Genevieve out first. Quickly, the winds increased, with some yachts reporting estimated 40 knot gusts, at which point Salperton retired. "We saw the wind speeds climbing over 30 knots, and it looked as though they'd keep increasing, so we I made the call to stay safe and we retired," said Barry Houghton, owner of Salperton. "I've had an incident in the past and I simply won't risk the safety of my crew," he continued.
Zefira hugs the coast of Caprera
The rest of the fleet pressed on, with some taking a wide line out to the east, while Zefira and others hugged the coast of Caprera in what remained a strong breeze. At Bomb Alley, the fleet were tight together, with Zefira in apparent lead as they rounded Abbatoggia and set up to reach south. Bliss and Prana were quick to hoist spinnakers, but all were confounded by baffling airs at the south end of the bay, where the winds reduced to a light breeze, then appeared to shift 180 degrees in a matter of minutes. "It was an absolute lottery there at the end," said Captain Lachie Paramor of Sarafin, who placed third. "It was just a confusing day, really, with no wind then 30 knots, then as quickly as it came, it left. It was good fun though!""We had it all today, didn't we?" commented Scott Mackenzie, Captain of Nostromo, who came in second. "Everyone on board had a fantastic day. Our owner was our helmsman, and he helmed the whole way and had a fantastic day as well."
"As we were coming through Bomb Alley, we were all making 13 or 14 knots, and it was just amazing to see," said Tom Saylak, owner of Genevieve, who won the day's racing on corrected time by a margin of 12 seconds over Nostromo. "As we approached the finish line, the winds shifted from the west to the east, and all the boats had to deal with that. Being a lower-rated boat we had a bit of advantage, but we thought we dealt with it well, and we were able to get in a win."
Genevieve and Nostromo battle for clear air
"I've been racing in Porto Cervo for 20 years," Genevieve tactician Mike Toppa of North Sails said. "The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda does a really great job, the coastline is gorgeous and you never know what you're going to get. That's a part of racing and that's part of what makes this one of my favourite places in the world to sail."
Every yacht was recognised for their participation in a jovial, casual ceremony that underscored the intimacy of the entire regatta.
Fitzroy Yachts’ 45m Salperton took the line honours on the second day while third-place Genevieve, the 37m Alloy-built sloop won the Cup on aggregate time. A perfect day of sailing concluded the fourth Dubois Cup, with all eight competing vessels under blue skies and just under 15 knots of wind – ideal superyacht racing weather. Nostromo took third place and the 50m Fitzroy sloop Zefira took second.
Genevieve’s captain Tony Pullar and owner Tom Saylak were exuberant, but modest in their win. "It wasn't the best conditions for us – it was a lot lighter than yesterday," Pullar said. "But we did our best and the crew really worked hard to get us to where we are."
Tom Saylak
"This performance is way above average for us," Saylak said. "We're really pleased to have won the cup. And I think it's important to point out that none of our crew are paid: They're all friends and colleagues and people who have been associated with the boat from the beginning, so that makes it really special for us. If we're here in two years, we'll absolutely come back and do this regatta again."
It's hard to overstate how ideal the weather and sailing conditions were: Several owners were heard to remark that Monday's sailing was the best day of racing they'd ever done. With spirits high and lovely evening weather, the fleet crews gathered on the terrace at Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, where the prize-giving ceremony got underway. Every yacht was recognised for their participation in a jovial, casual ceremony that underscored the intimacy of the entire regatta. These are competitors in the most familial sense: Good cheer was always going to be the order of the day.
The crew aboard Zefira
Genevieve was presented with the Dubois Cup, a beautiful carbon-fibre sail trophy designed by Dubois Naval Architects; the entire crew took to the stage for a rousing cheer. Zefira was recognised by the YCCS for being the top-placed yacht from the club. With all the trophies handed out, Ed Dubois offered his thoughts on the regatta.
"I think it's somehow poetic justice that Salperton, who retired from yesterday's race because they thought it was getting very marginal out there, came back and won the race today," Dubois said. "I think it was actually a very brave thing to do."
Superlatives come thick and fast after events like these, and so it can be difficult to summarize, but it can surely be said that the wide smiles and genuine camaraderie of owners and crew seemed to achieve that wonderfully elusive state of perfection. As one owner put it on Tuesday morning, "No one who was there will ever forget Dubois Cup 2013."
Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.
