The 20-metre X-Yachts X65 Karuba 5 (CRO) took overall victory on corrected time ahead of the 66-metre Baltic Yachts ketch Hetairos in The Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta & Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup

Sir Peter Harrison presents the Transatlantic IMA Challenge Trophy for the first yacht to cross the finish line to Captain Vincent Fauquenoy of Hetairos.

The 20-metre X-Yachts X65 Karuba 5 (CRO) took overall victory on corrected time ahead of the 66-metre Baltic Yachts ketch Hetairos in second place. Tobias Koenig's Swan 82, Grey Goose of Rorc (GBR), took third place overall. Hetairos, which was launched in July of this year, claimed line honours having completed her 3069 mile crossing from Tenerife in 8 days, 10 hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds at an average speed of just over 15 knots. The event was organized by the YCCS in collaboration with the International Maxi Association and saw eight superyachts and maxi yachts participate.

Vincent Fauquenoy, captain and racing manager aboard Hetairos, was understandably pleased with his crew's result: "It is certainly with great pride that we secured line honours in the race and even who knows, maybe a new speed record for this particular route. On a personal note, having been involved for the last two years in the very complex building process of Hetairos, managing to race her fresh out of the box across the Atlantic also brings me a sense of achievement. Hetairos performed admirably and we all enjoyed very much sailing her. We did not have the perfect wind and had to chase it most of the time but it has been a good training test for the boat and her crew for the next regattas of the season."

At the prize-giving ceremony, trophies were also awarded to Hetairos as the first IMA member to cross the finish line and to Andrea Recordati's Wally 101 Indio as the first YCCS member to finish. Peter Harrison's Sojana also received a special prize for having participated in all four editions of the transatlantic race organized since 2007.

Premier Dr. Orlando Smith was in attendance and commended the organisers on the success of the event and commented on its impact on the country’s global image as a sailing destination.

“The BVI has always been known as a good sailing destination due to the topography of the islands and is called the sailing capital of the world,” said the Premier. “But with the addition of the yacht club here and the finish of the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta and Maxi Yacht Cup with these beautiful boats in the BVI for the first time, the reputation of sailing in the islands has been taken to another level altogether and I think after this, we can truly say that the BVI is the sailing capital of the world.”

The Premier went on to congratulate all sailors on their participation and safe crossing.

During the prize giving dinner hosted by YCCS, Club Commodore Ricardo Bonadeo shared his remarks on the event: "I am delighted to see this beautiful fleet of sailing giants lined up at YCCS Marina and their owners and crews enjoying a 'sneak preview' of our new Clubhouse which will be officially inaugurated in January," commented Commodore Bonadeo. "The level of participants in the event was extremely high and my sincere congratulations go to Hetairos: it is not often that a boat fresh from the shipyard wins a transatlantic crossing by such an impressive margin on her first regatta outing. I hope to see her back here, together with the rest of the fleet, in March for our next superyacht regatta."

"I am very pleased with the level of participation of IMA members - six out of the eight yachts - in this regatta," declared Gianfranco Alberini, Secretary General of the International Maxi Association. "I was very impressed by Heitaros' performance but all of the boats raced in a very competitive way. I am sure that with the cooperation of the YCCS and thanks to the Club's outstanding facilities here in BVI the regatta will further grow in the near future."

The Transatlantic Maxi Yacht Cup was created in 2007 and then run in 2009 and in 2010. The event was created by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with IMA in response to requests from owners for a transatlantic race dedicated specifically to maxi yachts. The regatta is also part of the IMA’s efforts to establish a seasonal circuit for maxis that will allow owners to compete in summer offshore events in the Mediterranean and Europe before moving to the Caribbean for the traditional winter racing season.