Each year ultra-exclusive Italian cashmere brand Loro Piana, maker of the world’s most luxurious fabrics, sponsors a series of luxury superyacht regattas attracting the world’s most expensive and stylish vessels. This year’s first race, the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous, is taking place in Virgin Gorda from March 20–23. Headlining the entrants is the 184-ft. Panthalassa (above) designed by famed British architect Lord Norman Foster. Constructed by the renowned Italian shipyard Perini Navi, builders of the world’s finest sailing superyachts including the 289-ft. Maltese Falcon, the Panthalassa is available for charter at about $275,000 per week. 21 sailing yachts and six motor yachts have signed up for the regatta, which is being staged in conjunction with Sardinia’s exclusive Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, established by the Aga Khan in 1967.
The luxury label’s main event, the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, will be held at the yacht club in June. This year, following the Caribbean Regatta & Rendezvous, the luxurious craft will also be able to vie for the Loro Piana Superyacht Trophy in a race from Virgin Gorda to St. Bart’s on March 25. Competing alongside the Panthalassa will be the beautiful Wally 101 Indio, winner of last year’s event and the 138-ft. Royal Huisman built Hanuman, a modern recreation of the Super J Class yacht Endeavour II and winner of the 2011 event. Dashing Loro Piana CEO Pier Luigi Loro Piana will himself be competing in the sleek South African-built 100-ft. Cape Arrow, Superyacht Times reports.
