According to race reports, the light breeze off Bermuda’s north coast may have offered a benign start to the America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta 2017, but there were few complaints from the 19 crews who enjoyed a relatively straightforward day of racing that, in association with Rego Sotheby’s International Realty, was a coastal round the buoys passage contest of between 13 and 16 miles long.

In the competitive five strong J Class fleet, racing in association with Bermuda Business Development Agency, Hanuman came back from a premature start to recover quickly and take the race victory ahead of Ranger. Meanwhile the biggest superyacht in the fleet, the iconic 289-foot long Maltese Falcon scored the biggest win in the regatta’s biggest division.

But just look at these photos. There’s no denying that modern America’s Cup boats flying in hydrofoils at well over 50 miles per hour are some of the most exciting thigs on the water

But even the most die-hard performance sailors agree, nothing compares with the elegance of the J class, or the sheer power of the Maltese Falcon under full sail.

The America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta goes on until June 15. In addition, the J Class will have their own regatta on June 16 before the racing for the actual America’s Cup starts on Saturday, and it will continue on June 19-20.

And that was only day one. The America’s Cup Superyacht Regatta goes on until racing for the America’s Cup itself starts on Saturday.

Stay tuned!