The Ibiza JoySail concludes a successful fourth edition exceeding expectations

The fourth edition of Ibiza JoySail once again exceeded its own expectations. It had the highest number of registrations, with eighteen superyachts, including the largest superyacht ever to participate in the history of the regatta, the “Maximus,” a 195-foot ketch designed by German Frers.

The competition was intense across the five divisions, with more than half of the fleet sailing in Corinthian mode, striking a balance between competition at sea and relaxation on land, thus becoming one of the core reasons for the Ibiza JoySail.

Juan Ball’s “Moat,” a Swan 115, which this time featured Alicia Ageno at the helm, was the leader from start to finish in Performance, achieving its fourth victory in four participations at Ibiza JoySail. Ball commented, “In the first year, we were four boats, and it’s getting increasingly difficult to win,” adding that “this year has surpassed expectations; we had very good races on the water, and I feel that all the teams will want to come back.” Regarding the secret to their successes, he said, “We are a group of friends who respect each other a lot; there are no egos, everyone has their role, and if someone needs to help another, they are available.”

In Performance, “Maximus” finished second, while “Morgana,” a Reichel Pugh Nautic 100 with an Italian flag, was third, featuring double Olympic champion Luis Doreste as tactician.

Tony Rey, tactician on “Maximus,” making his debut at Ibiza JoySail, commented, “Aside from the fact that Ibiza is one of the most spectacular places to sail in Europe and almost in the world, this was also my first time at Ibiza JoySail, and it has been magnificent. Our team loved it, our owner is enjoying it a lot, and the parties are fun. It has everything you could ask for in JoySail, which has delivered every day. Hopefully, we will be back next year.”

In the Performance Cruising class, the performance of the SY 108 Hybrid “Gelliceaux” and the Café Racer “Open Season,” captained by Hugo Ramón, won in the Performance Cruising L and Performance M classes, respectively. Both teams made their debut at Ibiza JoySail.

In the World Cruising class, the Swan 100 “L’Hippocampe” won in the World Cruising L class, with three victories in each of the three races, followed by “Nostromo” and the only Spanish supermaxi in competition, “Alarife Cien” owned by Juan Entrecanales from CN Costa Brava-Vela Palamós.

Meanwhile, in World Cruising XL, the Dubois 120 “Bliss” maintained its lead overall with a third victory, ahead of “Aurelius,” a Dystra 111. The Dubois 147 “Gitana” completed the podium in this category.

The balance between competition on the water and activities on land creates a great atmosphere in the Hospitality area at Marina Ibiza. With over 400 people, including crew members, organizers, and guests, everyone enjoyed the nights and also took advantage of the good vibes that Ibiza offers.

This balance between competitive racing during the day and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere on land has allowed Ibiza JoySail to grow from four boats in its first edition to eighteen in just four years.

Jesper Bank, tactician of the Dubois 100 “Nostromo” and second helmsman for the Spanish Challenge at the 2007 America’s Cup, commented: “Ibiza JoySail creates the perfect atmosphere where people can socialize, a very pleasant environment and well-considered good races. I think some of the bigger events should take note of what they are doing. It’s enjoyable, and the atmosphere is calm; I’ve had a great time.”

Ibiza JoySail 2024 concluded with an awards ceremony at the Village of Marina Ibiza, complete with a show. Along with the awards for the winners in each of the five classes, the Perpetual Trophy was also awarded for achieving the record between Punta Cala Figuera (Mallorca) and Isla Tagomago (Ibiza) to “Maximus,” which completed the 48-nautical-mile course in 3 hours and 31 minutes.