Magic Carpet 3, Silencio and Grande Orazio win at Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2019

The hotly contested Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta 2019, held from the 3 to 8 June at Porto Cervo in Sardinia, was won by 30.5-metre Magic Carpet 3, 49.8-metre Silencio and 24.72-metre Grande Orazio in their respective classes. Now in its 12th edition the regatta is organised and hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS).

Over 20 sailing yachts, ranging from 25 to 52-metres took part in the 2019 edition of the popular regatta. Three different classes – Cruising, Performance and Southern Wind Shipyard – saw yachts pit against each other for victory with three races completed in the Cruising and Performance categories and four in the Southern Wind category with light winds forcing some final day racing cancellation.

Racing was close and fast but it was Magic Carpet 3 and Silencio that delivered the most impressive performances, winning all three of their races. In the Cruising division Silencio took first place, followed by 39-metre Mariette of 1915, 47.67-metre Meteor and then 51.7-metre Q. In the Performance division Magic Carpet 3 took first place, with 33-metre Inoui in second place and 31.06-metre Open Season in third. In the Southern Wind category Grande Orazio, owned by YCCS member Massimiliano Florio, took first place for the second time, with 32.27-metre Kiboko Tres in second place and 27.5-metre All Smoke in third place.

Her hat trick performance secured Magic Carpet 3, owned by YCCS member Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, the Silver Jubilee Cup – awarded to the top yacht over 30-metres with a cruising set up. Both Silencio and Magic Carpet 3 gained equal points in the quest for the Cup, but Magic Carpet 3 was awarded the Cup due to her category having the most competitors. A special award in memory of the late Willy Persico, founder of the Southern Wind Shipyard, was also presented to Marcus Blackmore, owner of 24.86-metre Ammonite.  

At a special prizegiving ceremony owners and crews came together to receive the event awards, with Riccardo Bonadeo, Commodore of the YCCS, making a speech and thanking all participants. "I would like to thank all the owners and crews who have returned in great numbers to Porto Cervo for the 12th edition of the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta and everyone who made this event possible, both at sea and ashore, starting with the main partner, Loro Piana,” said Bonadeo. “Beside me sits a close friend and member of our club, Pier Luigi Loro Piana, who attended the event despite the accident with his beloved My Song. Together with him we have created a prize in memory of our dear friend, a YCCS member and above all the founder of the Southern Wind shipyard - Willy Persico."

The superyacht regatta season remains busy, with the Superyacht Cup Palma coming up at the end of June. The date of the next edition of The Superyacht Regatta in Porto Cervo was also announced at the regatta prize giving with 2020 dates set for 23 - 27 June 2020.