The highly-anticipated Cyclades Cup has drawn to a close, with BOAT International proud to have partnered with the regatta for its inaugural event. From 14 to 16 June, sailing yachts over 30 metres partook in two days of Corinthian Class superyacht racing across the picturesque inlets and islets of Antiparos, Greece.
The Cup also extended an invite to all motor yachts over 30 metres to gather and enjoy a relaxed, intimate social programme complete with sunset cocktails and sightseeing. And an impressive number of owners answered the call.
BOAT takes a closer look at the coolest yachts that attended, beginning with one of the most iconic Perini Navis ever built...
Social entries
Maltese Falcon
Length: 88m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2006
Maltese Falcon is undoubtedly one of the most unique and technologically innovative sailing superyachts in the world – kitted out with radical unstayed masts made of "weapons-grade" carbon fibre, a FalconRig and computerised sail and mast control system. She took a staggering six years to complete and her 2023 refit at Lusben was suitably thorough while remaining sensitive to the yacht's heritage, as BOAT International discovered. Maltese Falcon also recently attended the 2024 St Barths Bucket.
Aristarchos
Length: 39.9m
Builder: Nautor Swan
Year: 2006
The largest Swan built to date, Aristarchos was built for and by an experienced yachtsman as his third Swan and has sailed under the same owner ever since. A series of extensive refits – the most recent in 2021 – has left her in sail-away condition, including a refreshed "Panamax" carbon-fibre mast, boom, spreaders and boom-vang. She tops out at 13.5 knots and is currently on the market for €7,500,000.
Racing entries
Burrasca
Length: 55.7m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2003
The first unit in the shipyard's 56M series, Burrasca blazed the trail for her following ten sisterships, including the most recent delivery Fidelis. An aluminium hull rather than the yard’s former choice of steel combined with a slippery hull line optimised by Ron Holland, and a deep, ballasted centreboard gives her much improved sailing performance over her Perini predecessors.
Almyra II
Length: 49.8m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2000
Almyra II (ex Felicità West) is owned by Greek-born Ilia Rigas who won it in a tense bidding war between herself and an unnamed Russian. Rigas is also a World Superyacht Awards judge and the co-organiser of the Cyclades Cup. The yacht is the second unit in the shipyard's 50M steel-hulled series and underwent a sensitive refit in 2021 that transformed her into a stylish family yacht with an interior aesthetic described as "Hermès meets Ralph Lauren".
Fivea
Length: 45m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 2010
According to Perini Navi, this sailer belongs "to one of the most distinguished Greek families" and was built as a gift to the owner's family. A twin-screw propulsion system sets Fivea apart among her three sisterships, while her in-house interiors are "distinctively nautical". She is also captained by the owner himself and can reach a top speed of 14 knots.
La Belle
Length: 42.9m
Builder: Vitters
Year: 2002
This all-aluminium cruiser has circumnavigated the globe twice. La Belle (ex African Queen) has a draft limited to under 3.9 metres, a high-stability hull shape and a streamlined deckhouse and cockpit that promises "powerful performance" according to the shipyard. She was designed by Dubois Naval Architects Design while her mahogany interiors are owed to RWD.
Seabiscuit
Length: 42.9m
Builder: Holland Jachtbouw
Year: 2005
Seabiscuit (ex This is Us) was designed inside and out by Andre Hoek and features a keel design and structure "revolutionary for a yacht of this size". According to the shipyard, she is also the first neoclassical schooner with a high aspect ratio lifting keel and a spade rudder. Seabiscuit was triumphant in the 2012 St Barts Bucket Regatta and her six-month refit in 2013 also secured her a nomination at the World Superyacht Awards.
Christianne B
Length: 42m
Builder: Perini Navi
Year: 1986
Christianne B was originally built for a treasure hunter and reproduces all the features of La Numero Uno – Perini Navi's first ever yacht – on a slightly larger scale. She circumnavigated the globe immediately after her launch which was quite the feat at the time. The yacht cruises at 11 knots and reaches a top speed of 15 knots.
Wally B
Length: 32.7m
Builder: Pendennis
Year: 1998
Wally B is characterised by open uncluttered desk and constructed from carbon composite – making her light, fast and simple to handle under sail. Her outer skin in 100 per cent Kevlar while her inner skin is carbon, separated by a structural foam core. Described as "simple as a dinghy and as fast as a Maxi racer", she was designed by Brenta Design and is able to reach a maximum speed of 12 knots.
WinWin
Length: 33m
Builder: Baltic Yachts
Year: 2014
WinWin remains true to her name with wins at the 2016 Superyacht Cup as well as a three-year streak of victories at the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Superyacht Cup Palma. A 7.9-metre beam at the transom and low displacement means she can be handled by a crew of four thanks to a design by Javier Jaudenes. WinWin has been designed to take a square-topped racing main and has a bolt-on bowsprit that will allow for more powerful kites.
Barong D
Length: 33.5m
Builder: Wally
Year: 2016
The newest delivery on this list, Barong D was developed for an existing client of the Italian builder who previously owned the 28.5-metre Barong C and 24-metre Barong B. The all-carbon sloop was designed by Frers Naval Architecture and was created with power and performance in mind. "Wally employed all its advanced know-how to produce a fully equipped cruising superyacht displacing only 65 tons: two tons lighter than predicted," explained president and CEO Luca Bassani.
Read More/BOAT International partners with the Cyclades Cup as media sponsor