THE RICHARD MILLE CUP

From June 10 to 25, sailing enthusiasts have a date on the Channel for the first edition of the Richard Mille Cup. They will have the privilege of seeing some of the most beautiful classic sailing boats over the 2 weeks. The Richard Mille Cup 2023, first edition of what will become an annual event, is organized with the help of the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, the Royal Dart Yacht Club and the Société des Régates du Havre.

This Classic regatta is born from a desire to create a challenging sporting event with competition through a range of inshore and offshore races. The brand is already associated with classic racing car races such as Le Mans Classic and this unique race will present an opportunity for the most beautiful classic yachts and their owners to express themselves on the seas and to unleash the potential of their vessels.

By invitation only, this gathering already proclaims itself as an exclusive event. The selection criteria are along the similar strict lines as an automotive elegance competition. The selected yachts must have been built before 1939 or be extremely faithful replicas of such yachts and the minimum size to enter is 10 meters length at the waterline.
Amongst them, boats designed by William Fife will be part of the line-up, including the Moonbeam IV, one of the few large classic gaff cutters still sailing. Designed by the renowned William Fife III, it was the last and the biggest of the “Moonbeams” to be built. It is today considered as one of the most beautiful classic yachts in the world, not just for its exterior but also for its luxurious details. Winner of the prestigious British King’s Cup in 1920 and 1923, it will sail alongside other Fife beauties like Mariquita, Moonbeam 3, Altair, Tuiga and The Lady Anne , as well as other classic yachts including Mariette, Atlantic, Kelpie and Thalia.

The race is a combination of inshore regattas and offshore courses between 65 and 100 nautical miles on both the English and French sides of the Channel. Meeting in Falmouth, Cornwall in the southwest of England on June 10, participants will be offered 3 days of coastal regattas by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club. On June 14, they will set sail for Dartmouth, where the Royal Dart Yacht Club has been an institution since 1866. On the 16th, they will set sail for Cowes and the mythical Royal Yacht Squadron which has ruled the world of yachting for over 200 years. The last stage will be at Le Havre in France and its deep-water port, where the Société des Régates du Havre (SRH), oldest sailing club in France created in 1838, will welcome the sailors.

The Richard Mille Cup will be raced under the CIM (Comité International de la Méditerranée) handicap system, one of the first times CIM has been used on the English side of the Channel. All yachts entering will have to provide a valid CIM certificate.

Such an event deserved a worthy reward. Richard Mille wanted to create a trophy befitting the event and its competitors. The House of Garrard has a rich heritage in iconic sporting trophies, designing and making among others the America’s Cup.

Standing a metre high, the Richard Mille Cup has been crafted in sterling silver. The design takes inspiration from the elegance of the yachts that will compete for the trophy. The detail and movement of the sails are captured hovering above the waves in a modern Garrard design. The Richard Mille Cup is a perpetual trophy and the winner will be presented with a 40cm high replica also made by Garrard.

The Richard Mille Cup is a testament to the brand's unwavering commitment to excellence, elegance and its passion for the marine universe. The inaugural Richard Mille Cup marks a new era in classic competitive sailing and will definitively promise to deliver a thrilling and captivating spectacle for all sailing enthusiasts.