The final day at the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta 2022 drew to a close yesterday with Allegra and Magic Carpet Cubed reigning champions of their respective categories. After four days of racing around the La Maddalena archipelago the event closed with a prize giving ceremony held at the YCCS Piazza Azzurra. 
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe weather conditions for the day were overcast skies and a shifty variable breeze with the race once again scheduled for 12:30pm. The Race Committee made the decision to opt for a shorter southerly course due to low winds, with the starting line located off Porto Cuervo. Both the Multihull and Superyacht Division would round the island of Soffi, before heading for the Bisce pass and the finish line. The Multihulls once again started first, with the Superyacht Division following with a staggered start procedure.
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe Multihull Division saw Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s, Highland Fling XVII win the day’s race and secure his first win of the event. The Multihulls had been battling it out all week, with Adrian Keller’s Allegra winning three consecutive races. But it was due to Allegra’s tactical decision to sail close to the coast on the approach that allowed her rival Highland Fling XVII to overtake her right at the finish line. The race saw Highland Fling XVII finish one second ahead of Allegra, which would translate to one minute and five seconds in real time. 
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiPaul Larsen, tactician on Allegra said “Racing with our opponent was always tight, today we lost the race by a minute, probably because we had a little too much weight on board. Every detail can make the difference, from gusts to the speed of manoeuvres, that's why we updated the boat with faster winches, and you can see the results."
Despite this, Allegra finished first overall after winning three races in Costa Smeralda, Italy. “This is a perfect place for multihull sailing, really special, it's right in the mix of loading these boats up and on the edge of flying hulls, and then you look at the scenery and just go whizzing past and try not to be distracted by it.” said tactician Paul Larsen.
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe Southern Wind Rendezvous saw five yachts from the Southern African shipyard compete in friendly day sails with the award for the best performing yacht awarded to Morgana. The Southern Wind Director Andrea Micheli presented Sorceress and Ammonite awards for their performances on the water as well as their interpretation of racing.
Will Apold of Sorceress commented “It’s a pleasure to return to this club, this organisation does a wonderful job! It worked out very well for us, we had some very good starts, so we are very pleased to be back again!”
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe Superyacht Division saw nine diverse superyachts from schooners to sloops once again fight it out for the overall lead of the competition. With an extraordinarily wide score sheet, Magic Carpet Cubed was forced to defend her overall lead after her win on day one. Her pursuers, Bullitt and Magic Blue were closing in on her lead, and had respectively placed within the top three positions on various days.
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe day’s racing saw the Wally Magic Carpet Cubed finish in first place with the 28.3-metre Bullitt finishing in second place. Yesterday’s winner Ribelle dropped down to fifth place in yesterday’s race while the Wally 95 Magic Blue finished in third.
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiOverall, the Superyacht Division saw three Wally yachts on the podium, with third place awarded to Magic Blue, and Bullitt finishing in second. The top scoring yacht in the division was Magic Carpet Cubed who also won the Silver Jubilee Cup for the best result among the members of the organising club, and the Pantaenius Trophy for the best starts.
Magic Carpet Cubed tactician Johen Schuemann commented on their performance “We are happy, this win shows that we have made good progress after a slower than expected start to the season.”
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe Traditional Superyacht Trophies were presented by YCCS board member Salvadore Trifirò for the top scoring traditional superyachts over 30.5-metres long with full cruising interiors. Third place was awarded to Morgana with second place going to Ribelle. After a couple of year’s hiatus from superyacht racing, Inoui was awarded first place.
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) Commodore, Michael Illbruck commented “I'm delighted with the success, both at sea and ashore, of our regatta dedicated to superyachts. I'd like to thank Giorgio Armani for having chosen the YCCS and the Superyacht Regatta.”
Photo: Carlo BorlenghiThe YCCS racing season continues with the Italia Yachts Sailing Week from the 15th to 18th June and the ORC World Championship from 22nd to 30th June. The next edition of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta is scheduled for 2023.