Legendary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race winning skipper and champion sailor Mark Richards, and the company he founded in 1995 have joined forces with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) to help power and inspire the next generation of offshore sailors.
Palm Beach Motor Yachts which recently acquired the newly reborn 100ft Supermaxi Palm Beach XI have become the latest partner of the CYCA’s world renowned Youth Sailing Academy (YSA), signing on for the next three years.
The partnership will see Palm Beach Motor Yachts sponsor one of the CYCA’s Elliott 7’s, while Richards will provide guidance and sailing opportunities for the YSA’s up and coming sailors, including training sessions on Palm Beach XI.
This announcement comes just days after Palm Beach XI successfully validated her radical new C-foil configuration, flying up Sydney Harbour at almost 30 knots.
A nine-time Rolex Sydney Hobart Line Honours winner, Richards has long been at the forefront of yachting innovation, as a skipper and owner of competitive racing yachts, alongside his role as founder and CEO of one of the world’s leading luxury motor yacht brands.
CYCA Commodore Dr. Sam Haynes welcomed the partnership and the involvement of Richards.
“Mark Richards is one of sailing’s most iconic figures and to have him partner with the CYCA and our Youth Sailing Academy is an incredible opportunity and one that will no doubt leave a legacy on the next generation of young offshore sailors,” Dr. Haynes said.
“Mark’s record as a sailor and skipper speaks for itself, but his commitment to innovation with Palm Beach Motor Yachts is something everyone in the industry can learn from and we are grateful to have his experience and knowledge behind the YSA.”
“Partnering with the CYCA and the Youth Sailing Academy means a lot to me and Palm Beach Motor Yachts,” said Richards. “The CYCA has been such an amazing supporter for both my sailing and business career, in fact, the whole industry. I feel very honoured to be able to give back to the club through supporting youth sailing, and I very much look forward to having these talented academy students aboard Palm Beach XI between the Blue Water Series and lead up to the 2026 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.”
About the CYCA
Established in 1993, the CYCA Youth Sailing Academy is regarded globally as one of the world’s leading full time sailing academies. With over 500 sailors to date graduating from the Academy, many have gone on to compete in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, Olympic Games, America’s Cup, World Match Racing Tour, SailGP and The Ocean Race.
Among the YSA graduates are Will Ryan (Olympic gold and silver medallist – 2020 & 2016), Olivia Price and Lucinda Whitty (Olympic silver medallists – 2012), Sam Newton (SailGP champions – 2021 & 2022 – Team Australia) and Kyle Langford (SailGP champions – 2021 & 2022 – Team Australia, The Ocean Race and 2013 America’s Cup champion – ORACLE Team USA).
Over the years, the YSA has also provided scores of young girls and boys the opportunity to either learn the basics or to help make the successful transition from dinghies to keelboat sailing.
Through its Winter Squads, holiday camps and school and community programs, the YSA has nurtured young sailors, brought families together and ignited the passion for sailing in hundreds of young people, many who still participate in the sport and are proud Members of the CYCA.
For more information, visit www.cyca.com.au
About Palm Beach Motor Yachts
Founded in 1995 by ocean racing champion and yacht builder Mark Richards, Palm Beach Motor Yachts was born from a passion for precision, performance, and design excellence. Every yacht reflects the brand’s racing heritage, combining elegant, timeless lines with advanced composite construction and meticulous craftsmanship. At the heart of every build is the company’s proprietary V-Warp Technology®, delivering exceptional efficiency, balance, and stability while significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Today, Palm Beach Motor Yachts offers a refined portfolio of highly customizable yachts across its Classic, GT, and GT RS series. Each yacht is designed and built at the company’s state of the art factory, supported by sales and service offices across North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Palm Beach Motor Yachts is subsidiary of Grand Banks Yachts Ltd. (GBY:SP) and is publicly traded on the Singapore Exchange.
For more information, visit www.palmbeachmotoryachts.com
About Palm Beach XI
Palm Beach XI serves as a powerful strategic marketing platform: elevating global brand visibility, enhancing the owner experience, and strengthening our brand on the world stage.
Palm Beach XI marks an exciting new chapter for Palm Beach Motor Yachts, emerging at a time when our industry is embracing the next evolution of high performance, semi foiling design. This is our company’s DNA, innovation, technology, and performance.
The Palm Beach XI program is a deliberate strategic direction for the company: a proving ground where every lesson learned on the racecourse flows directly into our motor yacht range, driving continuous improvement and ensuring our owners benefit from technologies tested at the highest levels of competition.
For more information, visit www.palmbeachxi.com
