After a rollercoaster year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the 44Cup is ready to launch into 2021 with two new venues and a full fleet of nine boats.

The 44Cup will debut in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK, over the 11 to 15 August for event three of the 2021 season followed by the Italian resort of Marina di Scarlino for event four on 6 – 10 October.

44Cup Class Manager Bertrand Favre explains: “We are thankful to our event organisers and dedicated RC44 owners who have been able to shift the majority of the schedule to 2021. It allows us to ensure greater certainty and reduce travel in the early part of the year whilst still introduce two fantastic new venues to the fleet”.

The 2021 season will open once again in Portoroz, Slovenia, over 19 – 23 May. Hosted for the first time in Portorož town centre, the nine RC44s will be moored on the main town pier with the racecourse set against the backdrop of the walled historic town of Piran.

Following the season opener, the fleet will move on to Marstrand, Sweden, for event two over 30 June to 4 July. Home of Artemis Racing, Marstrand is a firm favourite on the 44Cup calendar thanks to it being the sole stopover in Scandinavia and its usually excellent conditions.

The 44Cup Cowes will take place on the Isle of Wight over 11 to 15 August as part of a busy summer schedule of racing, taking place during the week after Cowes Week and the Rolex Fastnet Race start. The 44Cup race course will be set each day in the eastern Solent by the prestigious Royal Yacht Squadron, with a start or finish each day signalled by the Squadron’s famous cannon.

Another new venue for the fleet in 2021 will be Marina di Scarlino, Italy. Located just a few kilometres from the island of Elba, Yacht Club Isole di Toscana lies at the heart of culturally rich Tuscany and will host the 44Cup for the first time. The Gulf of Follonica and its natural parks surrounding the marina help create a mild microclimate with ideal wind and sea conditions for sailing in any season.

To close the 2021 season in November, the 44Cup will travel south to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands for the Calero Marinas 44Cup hosted over the 17 – 21 November by Puerto Calero. “Having chosen Calero Marinas as their Canary Islands’ base since 2008 the 44Cup brings the world’s top sailors to Lanzarote for some thrilling racing. This prestigious class offers much to look forward to with their return in 2021,” explains José Juan Calero, CEO of Calero Marinas.

To find out more about the 44Cup visit www.44cup.org.

2021 44Cup Schedule:

19 – 23 May – 44Cup Portoroz, Slovenia
30 June – 4 July – 44Cup Marstrand, Sweden
11 – 15 August – 44Cup Cowes, UK
6 – 10 October – 44Cup Scarlino, Italy
17 – 21 November – 44Cup Calero Marinas, Puerto Calero, Lanzarote

by Jessica Gray