Culture Spy - Full Sail Summer
While many of the world’s best-known regattas have already sailed by the end of spring, the summer into early fall still offer plenty of thrills and lively waterborne events. Here is a trio of lesser-known sailing happenings that guarantee not only an unmatched level of competition, but also a joyful, celebratory atmosphere.
Where: Club de Mar-Mallorca, Palma, Mallorca
When: June 25-28, 2025
A new exclusive venue, new competition classes, and a raft of most welcome new vessel entries highlight the announcements for this year’s offing of Europe’s longest-running superyacht regatta.
The event’s new base of operations at the swanky Club de Mar-Mallorca promises for a more convenient, centralized racing series and superior spectator viewing than ever before. “Having the opportunity to host all the superyachts racing at our event on the dock together at the heart of Palma is what the Superyacht Cup is all about, and interest from competitors is at an all-time high,” event director Kate Branagh says. The always vibrant SYC Race Village experience continues as one of the most talked-about social scenes in the regatta world.
Where: Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth, UK
When: July 10-13, 2025
Also known by the sobriquet of “the yachtsman’s regatta,” organizers at the Royal Western Yacht Club in Plymouth on England’s channel shores tend to lean into a more yeoman-like, traditional, shipshape competition for their race week. But that’s all part of the charm of this event.
Competing teams can take full advantage of the rare opportunity to sail the same challenging waters that have hosted televised Sail GP and America’s Cup
World Series events in recent years, and that means the regatta attracts some serious global talent.
After each race day, the club hosts a full afternoon and evening of social activities at its facilities, offering an opportunity for more casual social interaction.
Where: Newport, Rhode Island
When: July 12-13, 2025
Arguably, there may not be city in the United States that is more closely associated with serious sailing than understated Newport, Rhode Island. But what started as an in-the-know regional summer regatta in 1984 has grown into a still-locally-flavored, authentic competition gaining more and more global attention.
The sailing purity of gathering 14 or so one-design classes for four-circle racing cannot be denied, and the Newport Regatta has a reputation for staging many, many races with precious little spectator downtime. If you want to witness some fast-and-furious competition, Newport is just the ticket for you.
While the racing may be all-business, summer in the town of Newport is notoriously all-fun. The Gilded Age aura of the town’s history as a getaway for the New York and global elite is still in full effect, but Newport now attracts visitors of all stripes with unmatched dining, cultural, and nightlife options.
Where: Malta
When: October 18 – 25, 2025
Organized by the Royal Malta Yacht Club, the Rolex Middle Sea Race features a 606-nautical-mile course starting and ending in Valletta. Malta’s Grand Harbour, with the dramatic backdrop of Valletta and the echo of cannon fire from the Saluting Battery, creates a cinematic atmosphere that is unmatched in the sailing world. The course circumnavigates Sicily and passes iconic landmarks, including the Aeolian islands, offering a visually spectacular and challenging experience.
Spectators of the Rolex Middle Sea Race can also expect a thrilling and visually spectacular experience. The camaraderie and team spirit in the Grand Harbour creates a memorable atmosphere, while those watching from various vantage
points will witness a dynamic spectacle of a diverse fleet, with yachts ranging in size and skillset.
Read Next
Navigator Newsletter Stay informed on all things yachting and luxury lifestyle with the bi-monthly Navigator newsletters.
