Spirit Superyachts Go Head to Head in Historic Match Race
by Helen Porter 15 Sep 16:54 BST
This summer, two 100ft+ Spirit sailing yachts met in Sweden for a landmark match race event. Spirit Yachts' 100ft yacht Gaia accepted a challenge from Spirit's award-winning 111ft yacht Geist for two days' competitive racing in the Stockholm archipelago.
The owners of both yachts have personal connections to the Swedish capital and its picturesque surroundings, which made the ideal backdrop for the challenge.
Attending the event, Spirit Yachts Marketing Director Helen Porter commented, "Gaia and Geist are the two largest single-masted wooden sloops launched since Shamrock V in the 1930s and to our knowledge it is the first occasion two such yachts have match raced in that time. Both yachts raced hard and tactically, leaving nothing in the locker; it was spectacular to watch.
"To be welcomed by the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, which is steeped in sailing history (KSSS was founded in 1830, and it is Sweden's largest and the world's second largest sailing club), for this milestone moment for Spirit Yachts was a real privilege."
On day one, the two yachts gathered on day one at the Sandhamn Seglarhotell, the summer home of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club in Sandhamn in the western archipelago. On arrival, they were fittingly met by the outgoing fleet of beautiful classic yachts finishing the annual Sandhamnsregattan, setting the tone for the event.
Owner of SY 111 Geist said, "This was the first time we could really put the two boats to the test. There is not much competition for a modern classic yacht that is this fast to go up against anything else, so to put these two next to each other on the water was an opportunity I wouldn't have missed.
With race management by Stockholm sailing club Gamla Stans Yacht Sällskap, day one saw three inshore races take place in the waters surrounding Sandhamn. Racing took the traditional windward/leeward match race format in six-leg courses, a similar style to the current America's Cup racing. Match race rules were observed with each yacht assigned an end of the line, having to cross into the start box and go below the start line, vying to be on starboard in clear wind to take control of the first upwind leg.
Despite close racing in near-perfect sailing conditions, Geist took three wins from three races on day one. As the sun set on Sandhamn, the two teams came together for a traditional Swedish dinner, drinks, and singing led by the Gaia crew at the Sandhamn Seglarhotell.
On day two, adrenaline was high as the two yachts set off from the start line for a three-part, 30nm passage race through some of the 30,000 islands of the Stockholm archipelago. Coming off the line fast and with intention, Gaia won the start of Race 4 and protected her lead up the first beat tacking on top of Geist in a closely fought, high-intensity tussle of tacking and tight manoeuvring.
As the two yachts made their way into the heart of the islands, Geist began to pull away, despite some tactical, close inshore navigation from the local knowledge onboard Gaia. Geist triumphed in Race 4, putting Gaia under pressure for Race 5, which began with a downwind start and the two yachts side-by-side with spinnakers up, each bow edging in front of the other.
Gaia won the second leg of the passage race (Race 5) and she took the final leg win (Race 6) into her home port of Stockholm, proudly flying her spinnaker past the famous Kastellet citadel in the heart of the city. After a series of fast-paced, competitive racing, Geist was awarded the overall regatta winner with four race wins at the final event party in central Stockholm.
The owner of Geist said, "This was the first time we had matched raced as a team and we had some of the best conditions I have ever sailed. 20-25 knots, flat seas, open waters and a great competition. For us it was a real eye opener to see what we could achieve as a team to make the boat sail so well. I still haven't metabolised it yet; it was an experience I will never forget."