Luxury Living Magazine - Issue 2 Luxury Living Magazine - Issue 2 | Page 190

LUXURY LIVING SPORT u

THE SPORTING

SIDE OF SOTOGRANDE

Over its half a century of attracting wealthy villaowners, sports stars and visiting VIPs to the sunbaked southern Spanish coast, Sotogrande has made a name for itself as one of Europe’ s premier destinations for international polo and world-class golf. Its golf courses, including La Reserva, Real Club and Valderrama, rank among the best in the world and its polo fields welcome the top international names in the sport.
But Sotogrande is also carving a prestigious niche in a different sporting sphere, as a high-profile sailing destination. Since its marina was built in the 1990s, Sotogrande has been marking itself as one of the premier Spanish sailing hubs on the Mediterranean coast. Its 1,400-berth marina is lined with yachting and motor boat schools and private charter companies, along with shops and restaurants, all catering to the growing sailing community.
Sotogrande, Andalucia’ s largest privately-owned residential and leisure destination, cemented its international reputation as a world class sailing venue in the summer of 2016 when it played host for the first time to the World Championships for the RC44 and J / 80 yacht racing classes. This was also the year that saw Sotogrande host the penultimate event on the high profile GC32 Racing Tour- joining Lake Garda, Marseille and Copa del Rey MAPFRE in Palma de Mallorca which was attended by the King of Spain, His Majesty Felipe VI. These have helped build Sotogrande’ s reputation as a leading international regatta destination.
The location and facilities offered by the new Spanish regatta venue, along with the chance to race on the waters that straddle two continents – Europe and Africa – with the Rock of Gibraltar as a backdrop, have proved attractive with yacht owners and leading sailors from around the world.
Getting the opportunity to host two sailing World Championships plus a stop on the GC32 Racing Tour are a huge bonus to
Sotogrande. The GC32 catamarans represent the state of the art in yachting, as they‘ foil’- sailing mostly above the water rather than through it. They are also among the fastest sailing yachts afloat, with a top speed of almost 40 knots( 75kph) and are a close relation of the AC50 catamarans used in sailing’ s oldest and most high profile event, the America’ s Cup( which was hosted in Valencia in 2007 and 2010).
Among the names who took part in this year’ s La Reserva de Sotogrande Cup were the Monaco royal Pierre Casiraghi, who came sixth as the skipper of Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco but walked away with the owner-driver trophy. Swiss sailor Sebastian Schneiter, fresh from the Summer Olympics in Rio, celebrated his 21st birthday while helming Team Tilt for the first time. And New Zealand Olympian Sharon Ferris-Choat notched up another first for Sotogrande as the only female in the tour, as part of Flavio Marazzi’ s ARMIN STROM sailing team. But it was NORAUTO, helmed by New Zealander Adam Minoprio, who would prove victorious in this year’ s event.
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