Modern 6 Metre fleet regatta supported by the historic yacht Cariad 1896 raises more than £65,000 for the Andrew Simpson Foundation

Palma de Mallorca, Spain – May 2026

The international sailing community came together in spectacular fashion on 16^th – 17^th May 2026 for the inaugural Modern Six Metre Pro-Am Regatta, competing for the newly created Simpson Cup in support of the Andrew Simpson Foundation.

Named in honour of Olympic sailor Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, whose legacy inspired the creation of the Foundation following his tragic death in 2013, the Simpson Cup celebrates Bart’s passion for sailing, friendship, teamwork and opening up opportunities for others through the sport he loved.

Held in the stunning Bay of Palma and hosted from Club Nàutic Arenal, the event combined world-class racing, classic yacht heritage, unforgettable hospitality and meaningful fundraising, all in aid of transforming young lives through sailing and watersports.

The regatta was the brainchild of Nick Lykiardopulo and Merrick Rayner, whose vision was to create a unique Pro-Am event bringing together owners, professional sailors and invited guest sailors aboard the elegant Modern Six Metre fleet. Over two days of competitive racing in near-perfect Mediterranean conditions, the event exceeded every expectation both on and off the water.

Guest sailors, including double Olympic Gold Medallist Iain Percy, joined competing yachts for six tightly fought races across the weekend. Day One delivered exhilarating sailing conditions with 14 – 16 knot winds and a lively sea state creating tactical, close-quarters racing between the fleet.

Peter Morton, helming Stella, emerged as overnight leader after securing victories in two of the opening three races. One of the standout moments of the regatta came when Iain Percy aboard Valhalla recovered from a difficult start to charge through the fleet on the upwind leg, demonstrating the world-class skill and competitiveness that defined the event.

Racing operations were expertly led by Principal Race Officer Ariane Mainemare and the team at Club Nàutic Arenal, while boat logistics and management were coordinated with precision by Jez and Leah Fanstone and the Aera team.

Beyond the racing itself, the weekend created a memorable experience for supporters and guests. Twelve Andrew Simpson Foundation supporters enjoyed a day on the water aboard the magnificent classic yacht Cariad 1896, generously made available by owner Tim Hartnoll. The historic yacht provided a spectacular viewing platform for the racing, complemented by exceptional hospitality and catering from Verity Chase.

A vibrant social programme brought together sailors, supporters and friends of the Foundation throughout the weekend, including dinners overlooking Palma at Mariluz, an evening gathering at Real Club Náutico de Palma’s El Náutico restaurant, and a farewell lunch at Las Sirenas in Arenal.

Day Two saw lighter 8 – 10 knot breezes provide near-perfect racing conditions for three further races, with several boats taking individual race victories as the leaderboard tightened dramatically.

After six races, Peter Morton claimed the inaugural Simpson Cup with 24 points. Andrew Winch and Colin Campbell aboard Aera 1 finished second on 20 points, while Valhalla with Iain Percy and Tor McLaren tied for third alongside Astra, sailed by Stuart Robinson and Simon Perry, both finishing on 19 points. Esben Poulsson and Robert Rayner aboard Aera 2 enjoyed a consistently strong series.

The event also delivered a significant fundraising impact for the Andrew Simpson Foundation, with donations already exceeding £65,000, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of supporters and sponsors, all of whom enabled operational costs to be fully covered.

Miles Bradbury, Chair of the Andrew Simpson Foundation, said:

“”What made the inaugural Simpson Cup so special was seeing the sailing community come together with such generosity in support of Bart’s legacy.

Events like this allow the Andrew Simpson Foundation create meaningful opportunities for young people to build confidence, skills and connection through access to the water. We are hugely grateful to everyone who supported the event and helped make a real difference to the young people and communities we support.”

Merrick Rayner said:

“The ambition from the outset was to create a regatta that combined great racing with friendship, hospitality and purpose. To see the Six Metre community, Olympic sailors, supporters and friends of the Foundation come together so enthusiastically has been incredibly rewarding. The atmosphere across the entire weekend was special, and we are hugely grateful to everyone who helped bring the inaugural Simpson Cup to life.”

Leah Simpson said:

“Bart loved the camaraderie and spirit of sailing as much as the competition itself, and this weekend captured that perfectly. To see so many people come together in his memory, while supporting opportunities for young people to experience the water for the first time, means an enormous amount to our family. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who made the inaugural Simpson Cup such a special and successful event.”

The Foundation expressed its gratitude to Violeta Alvarez-Stelling, Nick Lykiardopulo and Paul Smith for entrusting their rare and beautifully maintained Six Metres to the regatta, alongside the professional crews, volunteers and partners who provided ribs, race management services and equipment in support of the event.

The event was professionally filmed throughout the weekend, capturing the racing and atmosphere in spectacular detail.

You can watch the Day Two highlights here.

The Andrew Simpson Foundation extends sincere thanks to all sailors, supporters, volunteers, sponsors and partners who travelled to Mallorca and contributed to making the inaugural Simpson Cup such an outstanding success.

To support the Andrew Simpson Foundation and help more young people access the life-changing benefits of sailing and watersports, please donate here.