140 boats already registered for the fifth edition of The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy

2023 Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy © Mirpuri Foundation

The 5th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy will take place in Cascais, Portugal, between the 5th and the 7th of July 2024. Over 150 sailing boats, including conventional and high-performance cruisers, are expected.

Organised in partnership with the Clube Naval de Cascais, the sustainable regatta will see a large number of sailing boats take to the Atlantic coast of Portugal, to raise awareness and important funds for marine conservation programs.

With ten weeks to go until the start signal, the entry list is firmly growing, with 140 boats already registered. This year's edition also sees the introduction of the popular J70 class for the first time, which will race along with the NHC, ORC, SB20, Snipe, Finn, and Optimist classes.

Established in 2020 to help raise funds for marine conservation, the entry fees for the sustainability-focused regatta are donated to ocean health projects by title sponsor the Mirpuri Foundation. And until the 6th of June 2024, all entry fees will also be 50% sponsored by the Foundation.

As an annual event, the regatta is fast becoming one of the highlights of the European summer sailing calendar and a signature event for the city of Cascais and the organisers Clube Naval de Cascais.

Sailing fans and visitors to Cascais can expect a sailing spectacle when the yachts line up for the start in July. The beaches of the Portuguese Riviera are famous for attracting visitors from across the world and the waters are recognised as one of the best spots for yacht racing in Europe, courtesy of the reliable summer breeze where the Azores High meets the low pressure coming off the Iberian Peninsula.

The annual sailing extravaganza has already attracted the interest of many of the world's biggest names in professional sailing, racing some of the best boats, including the IMOCAs and VO65 that compete in The Ocean Race. Local professional team and 2020 and 2023 line honours winners the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, will compete for the fifth consecutive time onboard their eye-catching VO65 "Racing for the Planet".

On Saturday, July 6, ceremonial cannon fire from the Portuguese Navy will commence racing in all classes, including the popular Optimist class, which the Mirpuri Foundation recognises as an essential feeder class into professional sailing, sponsoring the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Academy for young sailors at the Clube Naval de Cascais.

Sunday, July 7, the second and final day of the regatta, will again see all seven classes competing, after which the impressive Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, currently held by the VO65 Racing for the Planet, will be handed over at a ceremony hosted by the Mirpuri Foundation.

This memorable sailing festival comes to a close with the spectacular prize-giving event. The 35 winning teams of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2024 will receive their prizes, and both the Mirpuri Foundation Ocean Award and the coveted perpetual trophy, a piece of art designed by the artist Jorge Lé Moura and manufactured with solid gold and silver by Leitão & Irmão, Jewellers of the Portuguese Crown, will be awarded.

Sustainability is at the core of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, which is a single-use plastic-free event and a platform to communicate the Mirpuri Foundation's marine conservation initiatives.

The Mirpuri Foundation has a legacy in competitive sailing as a global platform to share important marine conservation messages and encourage positive change to better impact the planet. Through the 'Turn the Tide on Plastic' campaign in the 2017-18 edition of The Volvo Ocean Race, the Mirpuri Foundation was part of a global movement against plastic pollution, and in the 2021 and 2022-23 editions, the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team focused on raising awareness and driving action on climate change, as the team boat carried the message 'Racing for the Planet' across the seas.

Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy schedule

5 July 2024
Event Opening
Training Day

6 July 2024
9:30 Sailors Warm-up Session
12:00 Ceremonial start cannon
Coastal racing NHC, ORC
Inshore racing J70, SB20, Snipe, Finn, Optimist
20:00 Sunset Party

7 July 2024
9:30 Sailors Warm-up Session
12:00 Race Start
Coastal racing NHC, ORC
Inshore racing J70, SB20, Snipe, Finn, Optimist
18:00 Prize-giving Ceremony

Register here