The Multihull Cup Formula

For a decade, the principle has been refreshingly simple: bring together some of the world’s most exciting performance-cruising multihulls, their owners and crews, and race in one of the Mediterranean’s great sailing playgrounds.

These boats are designed for comfort at speed. They cross oceans and explore distant coastlines. Then the cruising gear is stowed, the race sails come out and the same yachts are pushed hard around a racecourse by world class sailors.

That spirit has defined the Multihull Cup since the first edition at Port Adriano in 2016. Mallorca has long been an epicentre of Mediterranean sailing, and the event has added its own flavour: fast, sophisticated boats, serious competition and a relaxed attitude once the racing is done.

The 2026 fleet reflects the diversity of the performance-multihull world, with designs from Gunboat, Nigel Irens, VPLP, Morelli & Melvin and Frers.

A rivalry renewed

At the centre of the sporting story is another encounter between Adrian Keller’s Allegra and Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling XVIII.

The 84-foot Nigel Irens-designed Allegra is the defending Multihull Cup champion and a three-time winner. The VPLP-designed Gunboat 80 Highland Fling XVIII won in 2024.

Their latest meeting came only weeks before Port Adriano at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, where they finished tied on points. Allegra won the final race, but three earlier victories gave Highland Fling XVIII the title on countback. Laidlaw’s team also recorded the outright top speed of 34.7 knots at the prestigious regatta.

Highland Fling XVIII had already won the 2026 Superyacht Cup Palma Multihull class, while Allegra combines her Multihull Cup success with Multihull class victories in the Rolex Middle Sea Race, RORC Caribbean 600 and Rolex Fastnet Race.

Gunboat from the beginning

Gunboat has been part of the Multihull Cup story from the outset. The Gunboat 66 Coco de Mer finished second in the inaugural edition. She had been due to return in 2026, but a technical issue forced the team to withdraw.

The Gunboat connection remains strong. Alongside Highland Fling XVIII, Andrew and Anne Nisbet return with the Gunboat 72 Layla, a yacht capable of taking her owners far beyond the racecourse yet with enough performance to win the 2025 IMA Caribbean Maxi Multihull Series.

Different routes to performance

Zachary Plavsic’s 65-foot Morelli & Melvin-designed Gaea returns after making an immediate impression on her Multihull Cup debut in 2025, when she finished second overall. Since then, she has continued to campaign among the leading performance multihulls in the Mediterranean and arrives back at Port Adriano with another season of top-level racing behind her.

The 60-foot German Frers-designed Ocean Explorer Cool Beauty II makes her Multihull Cup debut and brings a very different interpretation of the performance-cruising concept. Designed to combine fast, efficient sailing with the comfort and capability to cruise serious distances, she adds another distinctive profile to the fleet. With relatively little established racing form against this group, Cool Beauty II is one of the more intriguing unknowns in the 2026 line-up.

Port Adriano: right place, right atmosphere

Port Adriano has been the Multihull Cup’s home from day one. Designed by Philippe Starck and recognised as one of the Mediterranean’s most modern and best-equipped marinas, it combines first-class berthing and technical facilities with restaurants, bars and waterfront spaces.

An award-winning destination, Port Adriano has also earned recognition for its environmental standards and sustainability initiatives, including internationally recognised environmental accreditation and Blue Flag status. Stylish without feeling formal, it gives owners and crews an ideal setting to step ashore and enjoy Mallorca.

Open water lies almost immediately outside the harbour, giving the fleet quick access to the racecourse, while the coastline, islands and offshore marks give the race committee plenty of options.

Life ashore

The Multihull Cup has never tried to become a huge regatta. Its scale is part of its appeal. Owners, professional sailors, friends and crews mix easily around Port Adriano, with an intentionally relaxed social programme.
Friday’s Gunboat Race Day 1 finishes with sunset drinks. GT Rigging Race Day 2 on Saturday flows into the regatta dinner. On Sunday, the final North Sails Race Day is followed by the 10th anniversary Multihull Cup prize-giving.