This time next week, Ibiza JoySail 2023 will be in full swing. The third edition of the regatta that rounds off the Mediterranean superyacht season will have the largest participation in its history, with a total of fifteen yachts.
This year, Ibiza JoySail has been invitation-only and will feature two J Class in a special guest class, as well as a range of superyachts.
This race, organised by STP and Marina Ibiza, has caught the attention of participants because it perfectly combines competition at sea around Ibiza and a great shoreside atmosphere, a truly successful pairing that has made its mark in just two editions.
The fleet will be divided into four categories: World Cruising, Performance Cruising, Performance, and J Class.
The J Class
The arrival of two J Class in the form of Svea and Topaz have also firmly put Ibiza JoySail on the map for this class, with the two beauties arriving straight from Porto Cervo.
The champion in Porto Cervo was Svea herself, a 43.6-metre sailboat built by Vitters. She sports a design based on original lines from 1973, styled by Tore Holm, and revived by Hoek Design Naval Architects. She features a carbon fibre mainmast of 53.75 metres and is famous for her lightness, displacing just 182 tons.
Topaz is the other J Class who will be racing at Ibiza JoySail, coming in at one metre shorter than Svea at 42.6 metres. Built by Holland Jachtbouw, she’s based on a 1938 design revisited by Andre Hoek. Her hull design features a reduced wetted surface and higher keel aspect ratio, making her quick on the waves.
The superyachts
The credentials of this year’s participants in descending order of LOA:
Scorpione of London (Baltic 151) is a custom yacht whose first name was Pink Gin, launched in 2006. During her time as Pink Gin, she won the New Zealand Millennium Cup, among others, in her debut season. This yacht boasts a large rudder with direct cable steering, a lifting keel, and she flies 1,891 square metres of sail downwind.
Moat (Swan 115) is an Ibiza JoySail veteran now, having notched up two back-to-back wins. Her design is optimised for downwind performance and is the result of a partnership between Nautor Swan and German Frers. She was born into a racing dynasty as the fifteenth Highland Fling.
JASI (Swan 115) was tailored specifically with racing in mind, boasting a specially designed hull, deck, sailing systems, mast, and keel. She features cordless technology to make the sails easier to handle. His original name was Odin.
Aurelius (Dystra 111) is a Dykstra-designed modern classic who is the result of the work of the owner himself and his business partner, who set up their own shipyard to build his vision. She will be making her debut in the race.
Kiboko Tres (SW 105) is a Southern Wind delivered in 2018 and optimised for the Mediterranean superyacht circuit with a larger sail plan and twin rudders.
Alarife Cien (Custom 99) is a one-off sloop built in Tarragona to a design by German Frers. She has crossed the Pacific and rounded Cape Horn on various outings, even reaching New Zealand.
Aragon (SW 94) is another Southern Wind yacht, having been delivered in 2013 as Windfall. Having won several regattas in her lifetime, she was the second of three SW94 models designed by Reichel-Pugh Yacht Design and features a carbon mast, rigging and boom.
Prevail (Tripp 90) is a YYachts sailboat built entirely of carbon fibre and featuring a roll-up mast with hydraulic boom and self-tacking jib.
Allsmoke (SW RP 90), second-placed in the 2022 Ibiza JoySail, is another custom Southern Wind sailboat with a single rudder, detachable bowsprit, lifting keel, and a generous 469 m2 sail plan.
Dark Horse (Swan 80) has been faithful to Ibiza JoySail since its inception. In last year’s race she finished third, winning the Corinthian prize for non-professional skippers.
Why Not (Y8 80), built in France in 1993, is 24.26 metres long. She’s the only Maxi 78 model and was penned by Farr Yacht Design. Her top speed is 10.5 knots.
Shambho (Y7 70) is a cutting-edge YYachts creation. Built in carbon, this 22-metre-long yacht weighs just 29 tons and has a sail plan of 300 m2.
Ibiza JoySail is being held from 27 to 30 September, with yachts setting sail on the Wednesday from STP Shipyard in Mallorca on a Palma-Ibiza record race. From the Thursday to the Saturday, the fleet will be based at Marina Ibiza, starting point for nearshore racing around Ibiza and Formentera.
