The 108-year-old Herreshoff schooner Mariette has been crowned overall winner of the inaugural Richard Mille Cup, having secured a perfect scoreline by winning all eight inshore races and passages across the two-week-long event.
The Richard Mille Cup is the newest regatta on the racing calendar that celebrates the pageantry and classic beauty of hand-crafted, pre-war sailing yachts built before 1939 (or faithful replicas). Starting in Falmouth on 15 June, the eleven-strong fleet was split into two classes – cutters and schooners – before embarking on a series of inshore and offshore races along the south coast of England, concluding with a sprint across the English Channel to Le Havre.
The twin-masted schooner Mariette started strong with back-to-back wins in the first inshore races out of Falmouth Harbour and never looked back, leaving classmates Atlantic and Adix scrapping for second place. Mariette and crew finished the regatta with 991 points and an additional piece of silverware to add to her already burgeoning trophy cabinet.
After switching between second and third place throughout the regatta, Adix failed to cross the start line for the passage from Falmouth to Cowes, which proved a fatal blow to her scoreline, giving Atlantic the upper hand to secure second place in the schooner class.
In the Cutter Class, it was the 24.4-metre Fife The Lady Anne, one of four 15-Metres still sailing today, that took the win. A shakey start saw her finish sixth in the first race out of the eight vessels in her class. A swift recovery saw her achieve a third place and second place before securing the win with a super hat-trick in the inshore races off Cowes. In second place was Mariquita and in third place was the Yacht Club de Monaco's Tuiga helmed by Pierre Casiraghi.
‘These early 20th-century sailboats were designed and built for nothing but speed, and it’s that extreme quality I appreciate. Their beauty and efficiency contribute to their formidable personalities," explained Richard Mille. "Whether you look at their lines, sails or masts – everything is gorgeous. Even the slightest detail proves to be exceptional – because each has its function."
"The spectacle of a fleet of pre-first World War gaff cutters and grand schooners racing hard has not been seen at these venues in our times. Racing for two weeks has been a real challenge of endurance and sportsmanship, which in turn has given way to the joys of great camaraderie and unforgettable memories. The Richard Mille Cup has opened a new dimension in classic yacht racing, and one which we will take even further in the future editions," he added.
Organisers hinted at a new location for the next edition of the regatta.
Overall Results
The Cutter Class
1. The Lady Anne – 935 points
2. Mariquita – 797 points
3. Tuiga – 659 points
4. Moonbeam IV – 609 points
5. Moonbeam – 427 points
6. Kelpie – 352 points
7. Cynthia – 306 points
8. Ayesha - 263 points
The Schooner Class
1. Mariette – 991 points
2. Atlantic – 435 points
3. Adix – 402 points