Candy Store Cup; A Sweet Spot for Superyachts
NEWPORT, R.I. (August 2, 2016) – The transition of the former Newport Bucket into the Candy Store Cup Superyacht Edition appeared effortless and suitably fabulous when a dozen of the world’s grandest sailing yachts competed off Newport, R.I. from Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31 and benefitted from the combined forces of co-hosts Newport Shipyard and Bannister's Wharf. In true Bucket fashion, social activities included a “yacht hop” on Friday night aboard the participants’ yachts, a gathering at Newport’s famous Clarke Cooke House, and a regatta dinner with live reggae music on the grounds of a Newport estate.
The 170-foot (52m) Royal Huisman schooner Meteor and the 138-foot (42m) J sloop Ranger were two of a dozen superyachts to compete in the 2016 Candy Store Cup. (photo credit: Billy Black) Click photo to download this and other photos in high resolution
“There was an easy camaraderie in the air as sailors from around the world renewed old friendships, but the real story was the spectacle on the water as superyachts such as Adix, Meteor, Columbia, Zenji and Ranger unfurled their sails off Castle Hill to begin racing,” said Newport Shipyard’s Owner Charlie Dana, who also sailed in the event. “It was a jaw-dropping sight.”
After three races over three days, the 92-foot (28m) yawl Bequia won the overall Candy Store Cup (filled with candy and champagne) for having the lowest point score for the regatta. With Tom Whidden (Essex, Conn.) as its skipper and tactician, Bequia also won its Class B with four points earned on two race victories on Friday and Saturday and a second-place finish on Sunday.
Tom Whidden skippered the 92-foot (28m) yawl Bequia to win Class B and the overall Candy Store Cup at the inaugural Candy Store Cup 2016 Superyacht Edition. (photo credit: Billy Black) Click photo to download this and other photos in high resolution
“There are a lot of great sailors here and the racing was really close, especially when you consider it was mostly light air,” said Whidden at Sunday’s awards at Newport Shipyard. “The top-five finishers in our class (Bequia, Wild Horses, Sirona, Sapphire and Sejaa) were all within seven minutes on corrected time today after the 13.6 nautical mile race, and yesterday, the top three were within three minutes of each other after a slightly shorter race.” (Friday’s race was the longest, at 15.6 nm.)
The 213-foot (65m) three-masted schooner Adix sails off Newport’s historic Cliff Walk during the 2016 Candy Store Cup.
(photo credit: Rod R. Harris) Click photo to download this and other photos in high resolution
Adix, a 213-foot (65m) three-masted schooner, won Class A (for the largest yachts) with a third and two firsts. Her magnificent presence on the water (she is still one of the largest sailing yachts built since the 1930s) was shared with thousands of visitors at the annual Newport Jazz Festival when the yacht sailed closely past Fort Adams State Park on Sunday afternoon with eight of her working sails drawing a fresh breeze. Her Captain Paul Goss turned her expertly head-to-wind, next to the massive raft-up of powerboats and sailboats out to hear the music. The Adix crew calmly doused the sails and tidied up on deck before the yacht ducked into Newport Harbor to head back to Newport Shipyard.
And with that, the conclusion that had once been foregone became officially validated. The “new” Candy Store Cup 2016 Superyacht Edition had successfully embraced all of the beloved traditions of Bucket-style racing: safe, fun racing for these stunning yachts; a spectacle like no other for those watching; and a casual, fun atmosphere for participants.
“Sure, there were winners, and they were deserving winners, because it didn’t come easy,” said Peter Craig, whose company Premiere Racing runs this and other superyacht regattas around the world, “but Charlie Dana, the Dana family and David Ray (owner of Bannister’s Wharf and also a yacht owner/sailor who founded the original Candy Store Cup) know that it’s not all about winning and losing. Owners and crew want great racing, yes, but they also want a special social side of things, too. The vibe here has been superb, and they’ve got something excellent to build on.”
Royal Huisman, Perini Navi, Vitters and Rybovich, which are major players in the superyacht industry and were all stewards of the Newport Bucket, remain sponsors of the Candy Store Cup Newport. Supporting sponsors of the event are Pantaenius Insurance, North Sails, Sentient Jet and Southern Spars / Future Fibres.
Candy Store Cup 2016 Superyacht Edition
Final Results
Finish Positions, Yacht, Type, Length, Builder, Designer:
Class A
1. Adix - Schooner – 213’ (65m) - Astilleros PdM / Pendennis - Holgate & Dykstra NA
2. Meteor - Schooner – 170’ (52m) - Royal Huisman - Dykstra NA
3. Ranger - J Sloop – 138’ (42m) - Danish Yacht - S&S / Dykstra NA
4. Columbia - Schooner – 141’ (43m) - W. Starling Burgess / John W. Gilbert & Sons
5. Zenji - Ketch – 184’ (56m) - Perini-Navi - Ron Holland
6. Sunleigh - Sloop – 105’ (32m) - Jongert - Tony Castro
Class B
1. Bequia - Yawl – 92’ (28m) - Brooklin Boat Yard - Stephens
2. Wild Horses – Sloop – 75’ (23m) - Brooklin Boatyard – White
3. Sirona –Sloop - 72’ (22m) - Martin Marine - Tripp
4. Sejaa – Sloop - 82’ (25m) - JFA, Chantier Naval - Judel & Vrolijk
5. Sapphire III - Sloop – 75’ (23m) - CNB 76 - Philippe Briand
6. Audrey II - Ketch – 89’ (27m) - Jongert - Jongert
More About the Hosts
Newport Shipyard, one of the most popular and recommended shipyards in the U.S., is a full-service marina and shipyard with over 3,500 linear feet of dock space that can accommodate yachts up to 300+ feet. Its amenities include a dockside café, ship store, fitness center, courtesy vehicles and crew housing. With its friendly staff, welcoming atmosphere and event planning capabilities, Newport Shipyard also is host to many other prestigious yachting events, including the biennial Newport to Bermuda Race Crew Party and the Newport Charter Yacht Show in June.
Bannister's Wharf, situated in downtown Newport, attracts visitors and locals alike with 20 shops and galleries that offer a diverse selection of life’s niceties. The social and gourmet focal point of Bannister's Wharf, and some say of Newport itself, is the Clarke Cooke House and in the midst of the eclectic dining and shopping experiences are the Bannister's Wharf Guestrooms and Marina, which put visitors and yachtsmen in the company of the fine racing and cruising yachts for which Newport has become justly famous.
Click here for full event schedule.
Click here for full list of competing yachts
Click her for a list of sponsors.
Information: www.candystorecup.com or contact Veronica Brown, Event Organizer, Newport Shipyard, +1 401 846 6000,veronica@newportshipyard.com.
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