The 4th edition of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, one of Europe’s flagship sailing events, will unfold in the bay of Cascais from the 7th to the 9th of July 2023, with a record number of entries set to take part.

Organised in conjunction with Clube Naval de Cascais, the sustainability-focused regatta, established in 2020 to help raise funds for marine conservation, was recently recognised by UNESCO as an official Ocean Decade event.

The designation was received for the regatta’s efforts to help raise funds for ocean health projects by donating all the entry fees to projects which benefit the health of the oceans. 

The event was additionally lauded for its partnership with the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which together with the Mirpuri Foundation presents the annual Ocean Award to companies or individuals who present a scientific project that has a beneficial impact on ocean health. The monetary prize also provides the opportunity to receive global recognition and gain exposure for exemplary environmental work.

Visitors to Cascais will be met with a spectacular sight when almost two hundred boats compete on various race courses within the bay. This year the regatta welcomes a record number of entries racing across the six classes,  with eleven national flags represented.

Adding to the spectacle of the racing fleet will be a Portuguese Naval vessel performing start duty, as a replica of the Portuguese discoverer’s Caravel, the Vera Cruz.

The annual regatta is fast becoming one of the highlights of the European summer sailing calendar and in the past has attracted many of the world’s best racing boats, including the IMOCAs and VO65s that compete in The Ocean Race. 

One of the biggest attractions for fans will be the chance to see the Cascais-based professional sailing outfit, the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team in action. The team took victory in The Ocean Race Europe and will be competing for the fourth consecutive time onboard their eye-catching carbon fibre VO65 “Racing for the Planet.

The regatta gets underway on Friday, 7th of July with the first of three days of racing in the Snipe South European Championship.

On Saturday 8 July, ceremonial cannon fire from the Portuguese Navy will commence racing in the NHC, ORC, SB20, Snipe and Finn classes, as well as the popular Optimist class which the Mirpuri Foundation recognises as an important feeder class into professional sailing, with their sponsorship of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Academy run out of the Clube Naval de Cascais.

Sunday 9th of July, the third and final day of the regatta will again see all 6 classes competing, after which the impressive Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy currently held by the 107ft superyacht Green Eyes, will be handed over at the popular prize-giving ceremony hosted by the Mirpuri Foundation.

Paulo Mirpuri, Chairman of the Mirpuri Foundation commented: “To be preparing for our fourth edition together with the Municipality of Cascais and the Clube Naval de Cascais is a wonderful achievement and something we are very proud of at the Mirpuri Foundation.  Additionally, recently receiving the Ocean Decade event recognition from UNESCO will help amplify the regatta’s efforts to help protect our oceans even more.”