Falmouth, Cornwall, will again provide the showcase start for one of the world’s most prestigious classic yacht regattas this summer after the historic harbour so impressed luxury Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille with its organisation and unique setting for the brand’s inaugural Classic Cup event last year.
The Richard Mille Cup will gather a fleet of around 15 beautifully restored classic superyachts in a contemporary take on the regatta circuits of pre-war years, beginning with three days of racing hosted by Falmouth Harbour and the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club from June 2 and ending in Le Havre, France, on June 15.
The event will bring around 500 competitors and their guests to Falmouth as well as hundreds of spectators, crowds of whom last year took to the water or lined the coast around Falmouth Harbour and Bay, St Mawes and St Anthony Headland to watch the majestic vessels’ fierce competition.
Dr William Collier of Classic Regattas who organise the Richard Mille Cup says, “A lot of thought and planning went into the 2023 event, the feedback from participants was tremendous and when we started to discuss the 2024 regatta we realised that the best was simply stay with the proven formulae of Falmouth, Dartmouth, Cowes and Le Havre.
“These are all mythical destinations for sailors and the yacht clubs at each of the venues excelled themselves so we are very happy to return knowing that we will get a warm welcome and excellent racing.’’
The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club has been a feature of Falmouth’s iconic harbour since 1871 and as a vibrant club today hosts many national and international events. During last year’s Richard Mille Cup the RCYC Sailing Trust took eighty local young people out on the water to watch the racing aboard the pleasure boat Princessa and proved such a focus the watchmaker will be supporting a similar outing this year.
Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Commodore Sarah Hancock says, “I was delighted to receive the call asking if the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club would host the Richard Mille Cup again this year. Owners and crews clearly appreciated the racing and the hospitality of the onshore facilities that we provided and expressed a strong wish to return.
“I think it’s due in part to the stunning location, but also to the huge effort put in by our race management team to cope with what were very challenging, light-airs conditions in 2023. And for spectators, what could be better than watching the spectacular majesty of these classic yachts racing so competitively in our historic bay, as they did over 100 years ago?”
Falmouth Harbour will showcase the first events of the two-week competition featuring schooners and cutters joining from around the world, some of which are well over a century old. From Falmouth the fleets will race to Dartmouth in Devon, then Cowes, Isle of Wight and on to a spectacular finish at Le Havre, France.
Some of the yachts, including last year’s overall winner the 42m twin-masted schooner Mariette and the 65m three-master Adix, have been restored or refitted on many occasions over the years by Falmouth’s own superyacht specialists Pendennis Shipyard – in between their voyaging and competing across the world.
Falmouth Harbour CEO Miles Carden says, “Falmouth – the third deepest natural harbour in the world with a history steeped in boatbuilding and renovation – is an incredibly hospitable port town. Mooring and berthing in the heart of our inner harbour accentuates the spectatorship of the Richard Mille Cup for the community and for crews and guests – an opportunity to step straight off these beautiful boats into our vibrant town.
“Hosting the prestige and size of these vessels is not without its complexities but all do-able thanks to a brilliant Harbour team. We are delighted to again be hosting the start of this incredible race.”
The Richard Mille contenders are invited owners and charterers of yachts built before 1939 or faithful replicas of such yachts, with vessels competing in the Schooner and Cutter categories. The event includes racing and social events organised by the Royal Cornwall and the Royal Dart Yachts Clubs and the Royal Yacht Squadron, before the final race of the Société des Régates du Havre in France
The second Richard Mille Cup will take place from June 2 to June 15 2024 with further details of the events, races and competing vessels announced in due course. For more information visit www.richardmillecup.com
