As well as providing a feast for the eyes during three days of racing in Cornwall's Falmouth Bay, the classic superyacht regatta Richard Mille Cup is expected to bring an estimated £1m into the local economy.
The sailing yachts – crewed by some of the best sailors in the world – are racing towards Dartmouth, in Devon, before heading to Cowes, Isle of Wight, and finishing in Le Havre, France, on June 15.
The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club (RCYC) and Falmouth Harbour estimate the Richard Mille Cup’s 300 yacht-owners, crews and their entourages – along with a surge in visiting spectators – have brought a major boost in spending to the area.
“We cannot overstate the importance to our Harbour and its businesses of a prestigious regatta like the Richard Mille Cup choosing the perfect showcase of Falmouth for the first leg of this incredible regatta,” said event director for the RCYC Sarah Hancock.
“After last summer’s inaugural Cup event, beginning here in Falmouth, Richard Mille could have decided to race from different ports this year – but instead they chose to return, we believe because of the warm welcome and great race management, general organisation and cooperation they’ve enjoyed here.”
As they left Falmouth Harbour yesterday (Thursday, June 6) the fleet of pre-war classic yachts competing in the Richard Mille Cup gathered off Pendennis Point to remember thousands of Allied troops who embarked for the Normandy beaches - for the D Day landings - 80 years ago.
Twelve historic schooners and cutters gathered in Falmouth Harbour - with the Richard Mille contenders all invited owners and charterers of yachts built before 1939 or faithful replicas of these classics of the pre-war era.
The oldest vessel Thalia was built in Poole, Dorset, in 1889 while the youngster of the fleet, Viveka, was built in 1929 and spent the Second World War years as a US government spotter vessel.
“Falmouth has given us a tremendous welcome and terrific racing - it is the perfect environment to race and admire these beautiful classic yachts,” said Richard Mille Cup organiser and classic yacht expert Dr William Collier.
“As a combined team organising this unique regatta we aim to give pleasure and contribute to our host communities as well as our competitors; this is the spirit of the event.”
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