The sailing yachts hoping to win the Superyacht Cup Palma 2018

Designed and built by Perini Navi as the third in its 50 metre series, Silencio was delivered in 2001 and most recently underwent a refit in 2012. Sold in 2017, her new owner will doubtless be hoping to build on Silencio's former glory as the winner of both the Perini Navi Cup 2013 and Millennium Cup 2015.

The newest and largest member of the J Class fleet, Svea was launched in 2017 by Dutch yard Vitters. Fresh from her class victory at the St Barths Bucket 2018, she will be hoping to continue her winning streak at the Superyacht Cup Palma.

Launched in 1997 by Kiwi yard Sensation Yachts, Mari Cha III is another Briand designed yacht due to race at the Superyacht Cup Palma 2018. More than 20 years after she was built from lightweight composites, this ketch-rigged sailing superyacht is still regarded as one of the fastest in her class. Look out for her distinctive spinnaker, which sports an oriental-style dragon motif.

"We are very excited to come back and participate in the Superyacht Cup Palma after a few years without racing,” said skipper Christian Lay. “Reuniting our team of highly experienced pros and past and present permanent crew is something we make a big effort to do. With consistent winds, a great race committee, good international access and a plentiful supply of hotels and restaurants this is the premier Mediterranean superyacht regatta.”

Saudade will take some beating at the Superyacht Cup Palma 2018. This sloop-rigged Wally 148 sailing yacht won her class at the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta for three years running from 2015 to 2017. Designed by Harrison Eidsgaard with naval architecture by Bill Tripp, Saudade is a force to be reckoned with.

Named after the Hindu god of wisdom and learning, the Vitters sailing superyacht Ganesha flies an image of her namesake on her bright orange spinnaker. She was designed more around handling than outright performance with a beam-to-length ratio that wouldn’t look out of place on a J Class yacht, and her generous rigging is bedecked with 2,212 square metres of 3Di sails from North.

Built by renowned Italian yard Perini Navi from a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, the flybridge sailing yacht Aquarius has been cruising the world since 1990. A 2010 refit saw new Formula masts fitted and in boom furling systems added to better control her 923 square metres of sail, which will be given a thorough workout at the Superyacht Cup Palma 2018.

Easily the largest sailing yacht competing at the Superyacht Cup Palma 2018, Athos was launched in 2010 by Holland Jachtbouw. Her 2016 refit at Orams Marine Services in Auckland saw new Doyle staysails and mainsails added with Stratis Carbon Technora membranes. She is widely regarded as one of designer Andre Hoek’s most beautiful creations to date.

Designed by Fred Elliott, with naval architecture by Reichel-Pugh and Paolo Scanu, modern J Class yacht Ranger was delivered by Danish Yachts in 2003. Currently for sale with Northrop & Johnson, Ranger is a regatta regular and has taken wins at the Rolex Maxi Cup and Les Voiles de St Tropez.