Dubois Cup 2009. Image copyright Rick Tomlinson.
by Jill Campbell
Preparations are well underway for the start of racing in the Dubois Cup 2011 scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday 5th June. A fleet of nine Dubois-designed sailing giants will be racing on courses set using the granite islands of the La Maddalena archipelago as natural marks in the event organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. Several more sail and motor yachts from the Dubois stable are also currently gracing the quays of Porto Cervo Marina and their owners and crews will be joining in the busy social programme that accompanies each Dubois Cup regatta.
Participants range from the 49.7 metre Zefira, launched in 2010 and winner of the title "Sailing Boat of the Year" at the World Superyacht Awards held in May of this year, to the 30 metre Nostromo which boasts America's Cup veteran Harold Cudmore on tactics. The renowned sardinian Mistral is not expected to put in an appearance during the event, instead pleasant sailing conditions with light breezes of approximately 10 knots are forecast.
The social programme opens this evening with a welcome cocktail for all participants at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda's Clubhouse overlooking Porto Cervo Marina and will also include a gala dinner, barbecue and prizegiving party over the coming days.
The Dubois Cup is not all champagne sailing and celebrations however, as shown by the event's commitment to offsetting its carbon footprint - making it the first superyacht regatta to do so - and the promotion of the Dubois Child Cancer Fund. The Dubois Cup has always focused on raising money for child cancer charities and with the recent creation of a specific fund the event will act as a fundraising platform in addition to raising awareness of childhood illnesses. All donations to the new fund will go to dedicated research programmes selected by a team of clinicians and specialists, with Ed Dubois - founder and CEO of Dubois Naval Architects Ltd and Dubois Yachts Ltd - attending their meetings in order to understand and explain to donors the allocation of funds.
The Dubois Cup is taking place in Porto Cervo, Sardinia from 4th to 6th June 2011 with racing taking place on 5th and 6th. Several of the competing yachts will remain in Porto Cervo to participate in the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, also organized by the YCCS and taking place from 7th to 11th June.
For further information, a full entry list and detailed itinerary please visit www.duboiscup.com
