Reichel/Pugh-designed 100' superyacht Galateia won the IRC-IMA Maxi Class at the International Maxi Association’s 2022 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge Palmavela with a perfect scoreline of six wins in six starts. In addition to the IMA Maxi class prize, Galateia also won the prize for the Best Placed IMA Member.
The Reichel/Pugh-designed 100' superyacht Galateia won the IRC-IMA Maxi Division at the International Maxi Association’s 2022 Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge Palmavela, Real Club Nautico de Palma’s traditional season opener, with a perfect scoreline of six wins in six starts. Over the four race days competitors underwent a ‘complete test’ with conditions spaning a solid 20-22 knots gusting to mid-20s on the opening day before dropping to the weekend’s lighter sea breeze.
Originally launched in 2004 as Maxi Race Week, IMA Maxi class welcomed a resurgence of maxi yacht interest in the event as the Bay of Palma and Mallorca showed why it is one of yacht racing’s most popular venues.
“We had a great week,” reflected Galateia’s Kiwi skipper Kelvin Harrap. “Sometimes you get a bit of momentum and confidence going and we had [six time America’s Cup winner] Murray Jones and [Olympic 470 gold medallist] Jordi Calafat sending us the right way. It was tricky, but with the changes we made over the winter the boat seems to be going a bit better: It is mainly sails and the way we are sailing the boat. The crew work was pretty good and the starts were going well. Sometimes you have a regatta where everything goes right.”
In addition to the IMA Maxi class prize, Galateia also won the prize for the Best Placed IMA Member.
Galateia | Reichel/Pugh Design No. 252
Naval Architecture & Engineering by Reichel/Pugh
Interior Design by Antonio Costamante - Aim Yacht Interiors
Built by Green Marine, U.K.
Launched September 2015
1st 2022 Palmavela IRC-IMA Maxi Division
1st 2017 Wally Class Season’s Championship
2nd 2017 Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta
1st 2017 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
3rd 2016 Les Voiles de St Barth - Maxi Class One
The IMA’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge continues week after next with the Maxi Yacht Sorrento Trophy, part of the IMA Maxi European Championship.
For more information on Palmavela visit here, full maxi results here
For more information on the International Maxi Association visit www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
source James Boyd / International Maxi Association
Photos: ©SailingShots by Maria Muina