Horus Superyacht Cup day two

10:52 PM Fri 26 Jun 2009 GMT

'Open Season - Superyacht Cup' Claire Matches &copy

Day Two of the Horus Superyacht Cup dawned calm and hot. It was anticipated that the light to medium winds of yesterday would be replaced by winds in the region of 12 knots, but in the end we achieved on average less wind than Day One.

Unfortunately this meant that many of the fleet racing a longer course than Day One returned to the Superyacht Village very late, despite requesting a shortened course from the ultimately unmovable race committee.

Yesterday's winner Antara had a Bucket rating revision of her day one handicap so finished second from last. I can confirm that, since she crossed the line a mere fifteen metres and seven seconds ahead of us! I had the joy and pleasure to sail today on Sunshine; a Fife gaff topsail ketch design hailing from the late 19th century. Despite that she was built in Burma over a period of four and a half years, completing in 2004. This beautiful classic yacht is host to primary regatta sponsor, Horus. This Swiss/Monaco based luxury goods manufacturer mainly produce unique, handcrafted watches. To get some idea of how unique and expensive, consider that a Horus watchmaker takes three months to assemble just one hand-made watch movement. Founder and designer Andr? Grossmann also showed me Horus' unique adjustable shoes whose 'movement' allows alteration of fit to suit time of day or even the altitude at which you are flying in your Gulfstream.

Surprisingly it was only on the last, and unwelcome final leg that both Meteor and Antara passed us; we were still last. Yet, the pleasure of the Horus Superyacht Cup is such that all onboard from the principal sponsor Horus, Informa Yacht Group and of course, The Yacht Report Group, celebrated and toasted our crew for a fabulous day and result.

It is perhaps a function of the eternally refining Bucket racing system, that some race places changed radically from day one to day two. Open Season currently first overall, only changed one position from day one to day two, yet Black Pearl changed six positions and Antara fourteen (a full fleet).

Crew - Superyacht Cup - Claire Matches&copy

Though this may sound bizarre, even artibary, the current overall position is close to the day two rankings.

In its new relaxed and comfortable location, the Superyacht Village tonight offers - as I write - paella washed down with sangria and later, yacht hopping, washed down with - at least on Antara - excessive amounts of bubbly beverage; Mickey Gooch, yesterday's winner, is hosting, celebrating and in true 80s fashion. And according to the banner on his yacht, 'Mickey Says Relax' - photos to follow!

Tomorrow's forecast calls for a low coming through. This may mitigate the Iberian nose-toasting sun downwind and offer those superyacht ladies of a certain age the opportunity to challenge their younger carbon and titanium bedecked sisters.

www.thesuperyachtcup.com/

by Tork Buckley - Editor The Yacht Report