Charter yacht ‘Maltese Falcon’ triumphs at Perini Navi Cup 2018

By Rebecca Bradbury 24 September 2018

The 88m/289ft sailing yacht ‘Maltese Falcon’ dominated three days of racing to secure the overall win in the Perini Navi Cup 2018, held at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo.

Maltese Falcon topped the leader board in the eight-strong Corinthian Spirit Class, beating 52m/171ft sailing yacht TAMSEN and the 64m/210ft charter yacht ‘Spirit of the C’s’.

In a separate race, the 50m/163ft sailing yacht SILENCIO, won the four-strong Cruiser Racer class, ahead of the 60m/197ft charter yacht SEAHAWK and the 43m/143ft charter yacht ‘Victoria A’.

superyacht Maltese Falcon underway during the Perini Navi Cup 2018 in Porto Cervo

sailing yacht SILENCIO sailing to victory at the Perini Navi Cup 2018 in Porto Cervo

yachts cut through the waters of Sardinia during the Perini Navi Cup 2018

In total, a fleet of 21 Perini Navi yachts gathered for the regatta, which takes place around the La Maddelena archipelago off the northeast coast of Sardinia.

Usually a biennial event, the cup was last held in 2015, when superyacht Maltese Falcon was placed in fifth after winning both the 2009 and 2011 editions.

This year, on the first day of the competition, wind speeds of 18 to 21 knots and long downwind stretches suited the three-masted charter yacht and she returned to her winning ways.

charter yacht Maltese Falcon heads up the racing fleet at the Perini Navi Cup 2018 in Sardinia

She was able to replicate this form for the next two days, with strong winds on day three testing all the competitors as they headed south to circumnavigate the islands of Mortorio and Soffi.

With wind speeds reaching 27 knots, the course had to be shortened but Maltese Falcon was able to cross the finish line five minutes ahead of second-place finisher, the 45m/148ft charter yacht BLUSH.

Maltese Falcon was able to cross the finish line five minutes ahead of second-place finisher, the 45m/148ft charter yacht BLUSH

The third day saw exciting action in the Cruiser Racer class too, as SEAHAWK beat SILENCIO to the finish line by 20 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to knock the class-winner off the top spot.

Accompanying each day of racing was a brilliant social programme, including wine tasting and a cocktail event. The regatta also highlighted the beautiful cruising grounds of the Italian island and what scenery and facilities travellers can expect from a Sardinia yacht charter.