In June, I joined a selection of superyacht owners from around the world at The ShowBoats Rendezvous in Monaco.
The Rendezvous, now in its twenty first year, is renowned for its unique “on the water” events but there is something for everybody, varying from musical events to fashion, beauty, sport and food.
During the event, for the second year in a row, I met with my fellow judges of the ShowBoats Design Awards to consider the shortlist of outstanding finalists. The winners will be announced at the Gala Awards evening in Palm Beach, Florida in October.
Among the ShowBoats Rendezvous fleet this year was our design, Felicita West. She is the largest aluminium sailing yacht afloat and, when she was launched in 2003, was the first aluminium sailing yacht classified MCA over 500 GRT. Her 61m main mast towered over the Rendezvous fleet in contrast to the other mainly motor yacht participants. Felicita West marked the first Perini Navi / Ron Holland collaboration.
Felicita West will compete again in this year’s Perini Navi Cup, an inshore regatta dedicated exclusively to sailing yachts built by Perini Navi, which will be held off Porto Cervo, Sardinia in September. 2011 will be the fourth year of the Perini Navi Cup. It is a wonderful opportunity for these exceptional yachts to challenge each other for sport and fun.
Since 2003, Ron Holland Design has collaborated with Perini Navi in the creation of no less than 22 large sailing yachts, of which 17 are in various locations around the globe and 5 presently under construction. I look forward to seeing many of them at the Perini Cup in September.