Ibiza JoySail, now in its fourth year and one of the key events at the end of the Mediterranean superyacht calendar, started today in glorious style with an opening race around the island of Formentera, which lies to the south of Ibiza.

The eighteen superyachts, which vary in length from 70-195 feet, had been gathering Marina Ibiza for the past week, and today’s opening race did not disappoint, with tight racing the whole way around the 24nm course.

“We have had great racing today.  The fleet had a fantastic start by just off Punta Prima, to the east of Formentera, an upwind leg was followed by the whole fleet under spinnaker in the bay of Mitjorn to the south of the island.  The final leg of the 24nm course was interesting with boats under different sail configurations to the finish just off Punto Pedreras,” commented Nacho Postigo, Race Director.  “It is great that there is such a wide range of boats, and such a healthy mixture of Corinthian and professional teams.” He concluded.

Today’s racing started just off Punta Prima at the south of Formentera with the Race Committee giving starting each boat two minutes apart.  Nostromo, a Dubois 100, opened 2024 Ibiza JoySail racing calendar, while four-time entrant Moat, Swan 115 was the last to cross the start line.

Despite the wide range of super yachts racing was tight, especially around the south of the island the whole fleet under with spinnaker criss-crossed for the nine miles across Bay of Mitjorn, with some of the fleet opting for a course close to the shore.

The competitive nature of the fleet continued to the finish line, while Moat, the overall winner of the last three editions in the Performance Class of this race crossed the line first place, in anelapsed time of 2 hours and 7 minutes.  Maximus finished in second place, while Morgana  closed the Performance class in third despite a close tussle with Bliss to the finish line.

The Ibiza JoySail fleet is divided into five classes and after today’s racing Moat leads the Performance Class, Open Season leads in Performance Cruising M, Bliss leads World Cruising XL, Gelliceaux PerformanceCruising, L’Hippocampe in World Cruising L.