Style Edit: Set sail with the first ever Richard Mille Cup – June’s spectacular regatta will see classic yachts race between Britain and France, with the winners taking home Garrard-designed trophies

Jun 19 , 2023

Timeless elegance on the high seas: the inaugural Richard Mille Cup will be a sight to behold. Photos: Handout

Demonstrating its commitment to excellence, tradition and timeless elegance, luxury watchmaker Richard Mille recreates historical races with classic yachts at the inaugural Richard Mille Cup

Just 200 sailors will compete on 15 yachts in the regatta, with the winners receiving specially commissioned trophies designed by Garrard, jewellers to the British royal family

Richard Mille has announced the very first edition of the Richard Mille Cup.

From June 10 to 25, the regatta will attract aficionados and collectors of historical yachts competing between Great Britain and France, from Falmouth to Le Havre, with stopovers in renowned sailing landmarks Dartmouth and Cowes in a series of inshore and offshore races.

The Richard Mille Cup regatta will take place from the June 10 to 25.

“Classic yachts bear a living, breathing testimony to the highest values of workmanship, heritage and tradition passed on to us through centuries. By creating this challenge, we aim to set sail through history and to bring this high-end craft very much back to life” says Richard Mille.

The Richard Mille Cup can be defined by one single word – authenticity, promoting the beauty and pageantry of iconic handcrafted vessels.

“Restoration alone isn’t enough, though. These yachts need an environment in which they can thrive, and that’s why it’s so important to involve the Yacht Clubs allowing competitors to mingle in an atmosphere redolent of the true spirit of the pre-War era”, states Richard Mille.

“Classic yachts bear a living, breathing testimony to the highest values of workmanship, heritage and tradition,” says Richard Mille.

Fifteen yachts dating from the end of the 19th century to the late 1930s will compete in Schooner and Cutter categories. The presence of 2 spectacular 60-metre-long three-masters will add to the drama along coastlines on both sides of the Channel. Race participants will navigate through centuries of history in the hallowed institutions that are the Royal Cornwall and Royal Dart Yacht Clubs, the Royal Yacht Squadron before speeding across the Channel towards the final line at the Société des Régates du Havre.

Among Richard Mille’s family members, Pierre Casiraghi who has been with the brand since 2018 as a sailor, will be joining the race on Tuiga, the Yacht Club de Monaco’s legendary flagship vessel.

Richard Mille once again champions craftsmanship, this time on the high seas, with its Richard Mille Cup.

“The Richard Mille Cup strives to recapture the spirit of the pre-war British racing circuit. We see these yachts as important cultural artefacts,” explains William Collier. Organiser of the world-renowned Fife Regatta since 1998, Collier has spent his life restoring historical yachts to superb standards, making him the ideal partner for Richard Mille in this new endeavour.