These are the eight centenary boats that will sail in the Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época

“Cariad”, “Mariska”, “Tuiga”, “The Lady Anne”, “Rowdy”, “Chinook”, “Spartan” and “Gipsy” are part of the select club of historic vessels that will take part in the regatta organized by the Club Marítimo de Mahón, starting August 26th.

The XXI Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época will once again gather the finest classic fleet in the Mediterranean. Among the 48 yachts pre-registered for the event, organized by the Club Marítimo de Mahón, are eight centenary vessels that have become part of sailing history.

The Big Boats category, which groups together the longest yachts, features a quartet of boats that are over 100 years old. The oldest of all is “Cariad” (1896), a 36-meter-long Summers & Payne design, now 130 years old, arriving in Menorca after a long and costly restoration.

Alongside it will race three survivors of the 15-Meter International Rule class, which set the benchmark for speed and technology in the early 20th century: “Mariska” (1908), “Tuiga” (1909), and “The Lady Anne” (1912). These three yachts were designed by the legendary Scottish naval architect William Fife III, who created nearly 600 yachts throughout his career.

The other four century-old boats are registered in the Época Cangreja category. Among them, the Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época will see a renewed duel between “Rowdy” and “Chinook”, both Nathanael Herreshoff designs launched in 1916. Belonging to the NY40 class, they share a similar performance. Slightly larger is “Spartan” (1913), also designed by Herreshoff, and the sole surviving unit of the nine NY50s launched in the early 20th century.

The youngest of this fleet of centenarians is “Gipsy” (1927), just one year shy of reaching the century mark. This Colin Archer design was the only civilian vessel built at the Echevarrieta y Larrinaga shipyard in Cádiz, a facility otherwise dedicated to military and commercial ships.

These eight yachts will compete in Mahón, in the regatta to be held in the waters of Menorca from August 26 to 30. The fleet will be divided into five classes: Big Boats and Época Cangreja, as well as Época Bermudiana for pre-1950 yachts with that rig; Clásicos, for boats launched between 1950 and 1975; and Espíritu de Tradición, which refers to classic-style yachts either modified or built with modern materials.

The XXI Copa del Rey Repsol de Barcos de Época, sponsored by Repsol and supported by the Consell Insular de Menorca and the Ayuntamiento de Mahón, will once again be the benchmark event for vintage and classic sailing in Spain, and one of the must-attend regattas within the Mediterranean Champions Cup circuit, alongside Les Régates Royales, Vele d’Epoca di Imperia, Argentario Sailing Week, Les Voiles d’Antibes, and the Illes Balears Clàssics hosted by Club de Mar Mallorca.

The regatta program will officially open on August 26 with the race office opening, participant registration, and yacht inspections. In the evening, the owners and crews will be welcomed in an official ceremony. Racing will take place from August 27th to 30th, with up to five races scheduled. Whenever weather and maritime traffic permit, the regatta finishes will take place inside Mahón’s natural harbor, a unique feature unmatched by any other competition of this kind worldwide.