There’s no doubt about it: 2026 has really got off to a flying start for Richard Mille. And if three strikes are a charm, then here they are.
The first comes from the oceans. At the beginning of the year, news of The Famous Project‘s feat made its way around the world – in every sense of the word: the all-female crew led by Alexia Barrier, aboard the maxi-trimaran IDEC Sport CIC, completed a non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. The finish line, between the French island of Ouessant in Brittany and Lizard Point in England, was crossed after 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes. A record destined to go down in the history of ocean sailing. The hands of Richard Mille timed this feat.
The second clue points to one of the most fascinating technological challenges of recent years. The launch of the Ferrari Hypersail, the revolutionary 100-foot monohull equipped with foils on the keel, is just around the corner. This project aims to redefine the way we sail the oceans and set new records on the world’s routes. Needless to say, Richard Mille will be alongside Giovanni Soldini’s challenge as watchmaking partner.
The third clue comes from the Mediterranean. The Swiss maison has recently announced that it will be the title partner of the Superyacht Cup Palma, one of the most prestigious regattas on the international sailing calendar. This partnership takes on special significance in the year in which the competition celebrates its 30th anniversary.
‘As a company, Richard Mille has evolved over the last 25 years while maintaining the spirit of a united family, a characteristic that we also deeply recognise in the Superyacht Cup Palma,’ commented Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille. “In this regatta, we find the same commitment to engineering, performance and long-term vision that characterises everything we do. The Mediterranean, and Palma in particular, offer an extraordinary setting for high-performance sailing. And as we strengthen our presence in Spain with the opening of our Madrid boutique, this partnership reflects our growing commitment to the region and the world of elite sport. We are delighted to be at the heart of this prestigious event for the next three years.”
After all, there are many factors that contribute to making the Superyacht Cup Palma one of the most iconic regattas of the Mediterranean sailing season. The prestige of the event is evidenced by the pedigree of the boats that have competed in the waters of the Balearic Islands over the last thirty years.
There is also great anticipation to discover the protagonists who will be on the starting line from 24 to 27 June. Among the most eagerly awaited new additions are two J Class boats of the calibre of Rainbow and Svea. But that’s not all: the entries also include the Wally 100 Inco, the 28-metre Spiip and the Baltic 108 Win Win.
Multihulls, increasingly prominent in high-level sailing competitions, could not be missing. The strong initial interest in the newly formed Multihull Division includes potential participants such as Highland Fling, its sister boat Layla designed by French studio VPLP, Allegra designed by Nigel Irens/Green Marine and Gaea, designed by Morelli & Melvin.
” The Superyacht Cup Palma 2026 was already set to be a historic celebration of three decades of success and loyalty from the fleet,‘ said Kate Branagh, Event Director of the Superyacht Cup. ’Welcoming a partner of the calibre of Richard Mille for a long-term commitment is extremely exciting. Their approach to precision, performance and innovation is perfectly aligned with the values of our regatta. This three-year partnership gives us great confidence as we look ahead to the next chapter of the competition.”
Once upon a time, when you thought of Richard Mille, your mind immediately turned to Formula 1, tennis or athletics. But in recent years, the Swiss maison has also found in the world of sailing an equally natural terrain in which to express its philosophy: extreme technology, cutting-edge materials and uncompromising performance.
Matteo Zaccagnino
