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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

The Costa Smeralda provides a stunning setting and a variety of challenging conditions for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, one of the highlights of the Mediterranean yachting season. The first Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (known then as the Maxi World championship) was held in Sardinia in 1980. The brainchild of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and its president, the Aga Khan, the regatta is now an eagerly anticipated annual event attracting a sizeable fleet of majestic maxi yachts to Porto Cervo each September.

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For the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, the Multihulls Are Here

For the first time, the regatta, which has always been for monohulls, will include big catamarans. Capsizing could be an issue.

By David Schmidt

Call it a game of speed, tactics, underwater rocks and double the number of hulls.

For the first time in its 43-year history, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup , which begins on Monday in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, will include up to five maxi multihulls. These fast and powerful catamarans, which measure at least 60 feet, bow to stern, can often sail faster than monohulls, but they don’t carry capsize-preventing keels.

This presents a challenge at the Maxi cup. The regatta is known for its coastal courses. These often wend past the Maddalena archipelago’s islands and submerged rocks, and, critically, through Bomb Alley.

This stretch of water, about 15 miles long, separates the archipelago from Sardinia’s north-northeast flank. When the strong northwesterly winds — called the mistrals — blow, Bomb Alley can get boisterous, which should yield exciting, if not scary, racing.

“This is an experiment, really,” said Andrew McIrvine, secretary general of the International Maxi Association , which organizes the regatta with the hosting Yacht Club Costa Smeralda . He said the decision was initiated by a member’s request.

“A lot of Maxi owners are getting a bit long in the tooth, and it will probably extend their racing life by a few years if they can race on a catamaran, rather than hanging on to the back of a Maxi,” he said.

Catamarans have two hulls to create stability, rather than a single narrow hull and a heavy keel. Critically, they generally lean over — or heel — less than a monohull, which makes it easier to move across the yacht during maneuvers. But if the sails are not adjusted to match the wind gusts, multihulls can lose their balance and capsize.

“There’s the old saying about running aground that sometimes gets applied to capsizing big multis: There’s two clubs, those who have and those that will,” said Paul Larsen, who is the race skipper of Allegra, an 84-foot catamaran. “It’s no joke.”

While the risks are real, regatta organizers were clear that they wanted to attract sophisticated racing-focused multihulls.

“There are a lot of horrible caravan multihulls,” McIrvine said, referring to cruising-oriented catamarans. “We won’t just take anything because it’s big, that’s for sure.”

Regatta organizers said that the multihulls would compete in their own class. However, weather depending, the catamarans could sail similar or separate coastal courses as the monohulls, potentially setting up passing situations with the slower-moving monohulls.

“I see the opening up to multihulls as a natural thing, a natural development of an event that has always been characterized by cutting-edge technology,” said Michael Illbruck, commodore of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. “This type of boat entirely fits with the Maxi world.”

Five Maxi-size catamarans initially entered the regatta, the maximum under the event’s rules, but one had a catastrophic fire and another capsized, sustaining season-ending damage.

Unless other Maxi multihulls enter the regatta at the last minute, that leaves three of the multihulls that will race, two of which will be making their racing debut on the Maxi cup’s coastal courses.

Regatta veterans describe these courses as aesthetically pleasing and tactically challenging, and regatta organizers said the islands could also modulate sailing conditions.

“The various courses around the archipelago of La Maddalena offer an area with limited waves when the prevailing mistral wind blows,” said Edoardo Recchi, the club’s secretary general and sports director. “This kind of course fits the characteristics of multihulls better.”

The archipelago’s often flat waters can make for fast sailing, but navigation can also be confined.

“The proximity to land puts real pressure into the decision-making as the consequences could be of far more importance than simply the race result,” Larsen said. “It’s challenging, thrilling and spectacular.”

This places a premium on crew choreography, especially when the mistrals howl.

“All the teams are working with big gear and very high loads, and mistakes can be very costly sailing amongst the archipelago,” said Kinley Fowler , an America’s Cup winner and the sailing team manager of Convexity², a Gunboat 68, describing the forces exerted by the big sails. “This will be exaggerated on the multihulls as we will be going faster, so it means that we will need to be thinking one or two steps ahead the whole time.”

Despite these scrawny margins, multiple teams are hoping for the mistrals.

“I’d prefer a windy regatta,” Larsen said. Of Allegra, he said, “The boat has proven itself to be strong and fast, and the crew know her well.”

Others are also confident about their boat-handling abilities.

“We have a really strong team and are not afraid to push the limits,” Fowler said. While the Maxi cup is the debut regatta for Convexity², Fowler said that the core team had sailed together for years. “Fingers crossed we get to light it up.”

While the three multihulls are fast and powerful, Lord Laidlaw’s Highland Fling 18, a new Gunboat 80, is built for speed. It should be able to sail at more than 30 knots in certain conditions.

“We are definitely on the edge of speed, loads, systems — and my helming ability,” he said, adding that helming a Maxi multihull is much different than a monohull. “Great to be learning something new at 80.”

As for racing the boat through Bomb Alley in a mistral, Lord Laidlaw, who has won his class at this regatta multiple times aboard his previous Highland Fling monohulls, was candid.

“A bit scary, if I am honest,” he said, explaining that the team had taken precautions to prevent capsizing. They include incorporating sail-handling equipment that automatically releases the ropes that control the sails if certain thresholds (loads or heel angle) are surpassed.

As for dealing with a possible capsize, the teams — and the regatta organizers — are prepared.

“We will also be wearing helmets and Kevlar vests with built-in life jackets, something we have never done before,” Lord Laidlaw said.

Recchi, of the yacht club, said safety boats would be on the racecourse. He also said the event would mitigate risk by monitoring weather forecasts and real-time reports, and by selecting courses that best match conditions.

“Additionally, in the event of a major issue, the Coast Guard is on standby with their boats to help, and a towing boat will be also on standby in Porto Cervo,” he said.

There are the submerged rocks to consider, too.

“It is very easy to ground around the northeast of Sardinia,” Lord Laidlaw said. “Many people who cut corners have regretted it.” He admitted that he had twice hit those rocks.

Unlike monohulls with fixed keels, multihulls can retract their daggerboards, which are the vertical underwater foils that enable the boats to sail a straight course. When the daggerboards are down, multihulls often draw as much water as their keelboat counterparts.

When the daggerboards are retracted, multihulls become shallow-draft vessels, which can create tactical advantages on courses that wend past islands and submerged rocks.

“The fact we can raise the boards — where keelboats can’t — might allow us to cut a few corners where there are outlying shallows,” Larsen said. “But this is a high-stakes game.”

Lord Laidlaw said raising the daggerboards on the Highland Fling 18 took seven seconds. But then you can go “sideways, maybe further into the rocks,” he said.

While all teams want a safe regatta, they also want to win.

“Let’s see how tight the racing is,” Fowler said about sailing near the rocks. “We may have to push the limits to get a jump on the competition.”

This wasn’t a one-off assessment.

“When the racing is tight,” Larsen said, “all cards are on the table.”

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Bella Mente among stars at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

• September 11, 2023

Again organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, the latest Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup offered competitors “sun, big waves and big breeze”. Words: Quinag; Photos: Rolex

Since the early 1980s, maxi yacht owners and sailors have been drawn to the Costa Smeralda and specifically the annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup. Considered the perfect sailing package, the event unites first-class organization, a majestic sailing environment and the world’s leading maxi yachts and professional crews.

Rolex and event organiser the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) have enjoyed a close partnership for nearly 40 years. The longevity of this collaboration has been at the heart of the event’s continued success and evolution. Support for the organization of the week-long regatta is provided by the International Maxi Association (IMA).

The 2023 edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will be considered a special vintage. Four days of racing offered the full repertoire of the Costa Smeralda sailing experience, from the strong breeze, big waves and robust sea state of the regatta’s initial exchanges to the light, unstable conditions which closed proceedings.

The Maddalena Archipelago’s myriad of race courses feature numerous narrow passages and rocky outcrops. On such testing fields of play, sailing powerful yachts at high speeds requires total synergy in teamwork and deft boat handling skills.

Sailors, drawn from the cream of professional sailing talent, were left enthralled by the week’s competition. Former Rolex World Sailor of the Year, Mike Sanderson, part of the afterguard on Bella Mente , was one such example.

“The location is so special,” Sanderson said. “Sun, big waves and big breeze. For so many teams this is the pinnacle event of their year. We have worked all year to develop the boat to be ready for this regatta.”

For Mitch Booth, two-time Olympic medallist, overall Rolex Middle Sea Race winning skipper in 2021 and tactician on Leopard 3 , the event is without equal: “Coming together in such an iconic place, it is a real season highlight and a clash of the titans, the best against the best in perfect sailing.”

Accolades went to the six class winners who showed great consistency and expertise in dealing both with the vagaries of the conditions but equally the formidable nature of the opposition. Proving triumphant were: Galateia (Maxi Class A), Bella Mente  (Class B), Spirit of Lorina (Class C), Y3K (Supermaxi), Svea (J Class) and Allegra (Maxi multihull).

Since its foundation, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has been the showcase for the evolution in maxi yacht design and technology. The 48-strong fleet at this year’s 33rd edition was one of the most eclectic to date. From the largest entrant, Svea (43.6m/143ft), through to the smallest, Blue Oyster (18.3m/60ft), an eye-catching range of yachts were on display.

Innovations for the 2023 edition included the first ever appearance of the maxi multihulls. As YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck explains, this aligns with the event’s perennial commitment to be at the forefront of developments.

“Change is a constant in the world of yachting, and continuous evolution has been the key to the success of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, right from the first edition in 1980 up to the present day,” Illbruck said.

“The inclusion of multihulls fits perfectly with this perspective, a natural development of an event that has always been characterized by cutting-edge technology. Opening up to other categories allows owners to continue to pursue their passion and may inspire others to do so.”

The oldest competing yachts included the J Class Velsheda and the recently restored Baruna , both dating back to the 1930s. Thomas Bscher’s Baltic 68 Open Season proved a highlight among the newer launches and one which symbolises a movement within sailing design to consider even more closely the environmental impact across all aspects of boat building and performance.

Creating fair and exciting competition across such a diverse fleet requires significant race management organization, one the event has long been renowned for. The rating system and division of classes is constructed with this in mind and to provide owners and sailors with the platform to pursue their passion for the sport.

On the water, one of the closest divisions was the eight strong Maxi B group where American yachts Bella Mente and Proteus  broke away to contest the title.

Going into what proved to be the regatta’s final race, they were tied on points. Bella Mente finished first to cap an impressive week on the water which saw the stellar crew, predominantly together for the past decade, claim two bullets and three second places.

Delight for owner Hap Fauth: “We come every year and it is the pinnacle of our season. This is our fourth victory in 11 years and the hardest fought.”

Even closer was the Supermaxi competition. Only three points separated the top three yachts – Moat , Inoui and eventual winner Y3K , the recently launched Wally 101.

It marked a return to Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup success for owner Claus-Peter Offen: “I have been racing here for 25 years. For us it is the highlight of the regatta season. This is where we want to be thanks to the beauty of the area and of the yacht club.”

For the class winners, crowned at the final prizegiving, victory at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is reward for overcoming world-class competition, an intense and challenging racing programme and having prepared in peak form for the pinnacle event in the maxi yacht calendar. The overriding sentiment was an appreciation for an event which always delivers on excellence.

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Galateia, Y3K and Svea win at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

The 33rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup drew to a close on Sunday after four days of close racing out of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo.

The final classification remained unchanged from the penultimate day of competition after the last day of racing was cancelled due to lack of wind. The race committee took the decision to send the 45-strong fleet back to port for prize giving.

Fresh off of a win at the PalmaVela regatta, David Leuschen and Chris Flowers' 30.5-metre Wallycento Galateia won the Maxi A class with a seven-point lead from Leopard 3 and eight points ahead of fellow Wally , Bullitt . While Leopard 3 made the strongest start to the event, Andrea Recordati’s newly refitted Bullitt won two races in lighter winds, but it was Galateia that maintained a consistent series of podium finishes.

On his return to the dock, David Leuschen said: "It has been an exceptional week, the key factors for our success have been our consistency, nothing but second and third-place finishes, and our starts, probably the best we have ever had in a regatta. Winning the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is an extraordinary achievement, for us it’s like the Holy Grail, so we feel very good."

In the Super Maxi class there was a two-horse race between Claus-Peter Offen’s new custom Wally 101 Y3K and Juan Ball’s Swan 115 Moat , both having scored two bullets, but with Y3K prevailing by one point in her first-ever event.

Y3K, the brand new Wally 101 owned by YCCS member Claus-Peter Offen, won the Supermaxi class on her debut outing, ahead of the Swan 115 Moat and the Briand 108 Inoui. Karol Jablonski, Offen's trusted tactician of many years, explained how they got there: "We are more than pleased with the result. We only had three days to test the boat and we are very happy with the job Wally has done. It is all about teamwork and how fast you learn about the new boat. We’ve been improving from day to day. I must admit that conditions in the first three days were perfect for learning about the boat, because it was blowing quite hard. Then we had light breeze conditions, so we had to learn very fast how to sail the boat in the light breeze as well. It’s a learning process, and we managed well in this first event."

The most dominant performance of this year's Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup was in the J Class where Niklas Zennström and Filip Engelbert’s Svea achieved a perfect scoreline, beating fellow Js Velsheda and Topaz in every race. The result means two class wins in a row for the 43.6-metre Vitters sailing yacht following her win at last year's Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup.

And for the first time, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup introduced a new Maxi Multihull class that welcomed three boats to the circuit: a 24-metre APC78 Allegra , the new Gunboat 80 flagship Highland Fling 18 , and a Gunboat 68 Convexity2. Allegra made a strong start claiming the first two races in strong winds, while it was Highland Fling 18 that prevailed in lighter winds that followed in the latter half of the week. Ultimately, Allegra claimed class victory finishing two points ahead. 

Owner Adrian Keller said: "We couldn't have wished for better, the venue is top class, the first two days were great racing, and I think some of our colleagues on the monohulls have understood that catamarans can also be competitive. I think we will see more participants next year, we have agreed among ourselves to make a joint effort to attract more boats, so it will be even more exciting in the future. A big thank you to Sardinia and the YCCS of which I am a member, wonderful hosts.”

The 34th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup will take place from 8 to 14 September 2024.

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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023 update

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Penultimate day at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

September 8, 2023 - Porto Cervo, Italy -   The Race Committee's decision to bring forward the start to 11 a.m. in anticipation of light and diminishing winds proved the right one on this fourth day of racing at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup . The 33rd edition of the event will conclude tomorrow, Saturday 9th September. The Maxi A and Maxi B classes set off punctually for their respective windward-leeward race on a course laid out just off Porto Cervo, while for the remaining classes the Race Committee set a coastal course that took the fleet to round the islands of Mortorio and Soffi counter-clockwise, before returning to Porto Cervo. The expected drop in wind resulted in the course being shortened to 15 miles instead of the planned 21 miles. The 6-7 knot north-westerly breeze reached maximum gusts of 10 knots on the southern part of the coastal course, while on the windward-leeward course it was unstable and prone to sudden shifts to the west, permitting only one race to be held. 

Andrea Recordati's Wally 93 Bullitt achieved her second consecutive win in the Maxi A Class , followed by two Wallycento yachts, Galateia and Magic Carpet 3 . Galateia consolidates her position at the top of the provisional overall classification, while Bullitt, thanks to today's victory, climbs to second place on equal points with Leopard 3 and My Song . All remains to be settled, therefore, in tomorrow's final race day.

The Maxi B Class also completed a single race around the cans, in which Bella Mente claimed victory over Pepe Cannonball. Third place went to Jethou , with a delta in compensated time of just 37 seconds from Pepe Cannonball after almost two and a half hours of racing. In the overall standings, Bella Mente leads Proteus by three points and Pepe Cannonball by six.

In the Maxi C Class , YCCS member Thomas Bscher's debutant Baltic 60 Open Season brought the winning strike of three consecutive victories to an end for Spirit of Lorina , who placed fourth today. Second place went to Wallyño , the 60-footer owned by Benoit de Froidmont, President of the International Maxi Association, with Gerard Logel's Swan 601 @robas in third.

Spirit of Lorina remains firmly in the lead in the provisional overall classification on just 7 points. She is followed by H2O , 12th today, and Oscar 3 , both of whom sit on 18 points.

Matt Humphries , tactician on Open Season : "Today was a tricky day, with light air and residual waves. Plus, we are just starting to get used to the boat and knit together as a crew, so we are particularly pleased with the win, it was quite a battle with Spirit of Lorina. Our owner helmed very well, it's not easy with such wide hulls like ours, which have to sail at a specific heel angle and, more in general, the training we did yesterday, taking advantage of the lay day, certainly paid off.

Among the multihulls , it was Lord Irvine Laidlaw's Gunboat 80 Highland Fling 18 that took the win over the Gunboat 68 Convexity 2 . Third place for Allegra , no doubt penalised by the light breeze.

French multihull veteran Loick Peyron commented on Highland Fling 18 's performance: "Today was the fourth day of racing, and every day we learn something new, which is very satisfying. My role on board is to get to know the boat and improve performance, a mix of coach and floater involved in various aspects of the race, today we saw how the crew did in light winds and waves. Our owner and helmsman is enthusiastic, and the crew is doing a great job with no problems."

In the provisional overall classification, Allegra holds onto her lead by just two points ahead of Highland Fling 18 and Convexity 2, who are sitting on equal points. Tomorrow's result will be decisive in defining a very tight ranking.

In the Supermaxi Class , Juan Ball's Swan 115 Moat won over Claus-Peter Offen's Wally 101 Y3K . Third place today went to the Spirit Yachts 111 Geist after overtaking Inoui . Again in this division the classification is wide open, with Y3K in the lead by just 1 point over Moat, and 3 points over Inoui.

Among the J Class , Svea's unblemished reign continues, ahead of Velsheda and Topaz . A mere reading of the results, however, gives no idea of how close the competition is between these huge yachts. Topaz in particular, helmed by match racer Peter Holmberg, is constantly on the attack, striving to cover the direct rival of the day. On today's starting line, Svea took the left side of the course, while Velsheda started on port, immediately looking for better pressure on the right hand side and managing to make one less tack, which in light winds offers a significant advantage when it comes to heavy yachts like the J Class. However, the eventual winner after 15 miles of racing was once again Svea.

Grant Simmer , strategist on Velsheda : “It was interesting to have the challenge of light airs today. We made a good start on port which was a good strategy because we did one less tack. We went to the right where we expected the shift and so by the top mark we were comfortably ahead. Svea is quite a bit quicker downwind and we couldn’t keep them behind, while we are fairly equal upwind. I love it. It is such a team exercise to sail these boats with 30 people around the track, and as soon as it is over 15 knots it is all on. I like that.”

The forecast for tomorrow, the final day of racing, is for light northerly winds, the start has been brought forward to 11.00 am. The final prize-giving ceremony is scheduled for 5.30 p.m.

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2023 Preliminary Maxi Sailing Programme

IMA PROGRAMME EVENTS:

Rorc & ima transatlantic race.

• Lanzarote to Grenada
• Event' website

RORC Caribbean 600

• Start and finish in Antigua

St Maarten Heineken Regatta

• Saint Maartin

Les Voiles de Saint-Barth Richard Mille

• Saint Barth

La Larga - The Offshore Race of PalmVela

• Palma de Mallorca

Tre Golfi Offshore race

• Naples, Italy

IMA Maxi European Championship - inshores

• Sorrento, Italy

151 Miglia - Trofeo Cetilar

• Livorno to Punta Ala, Italy

Rolex Giraglia

• Inshores: Saint-Tropez. Offshore: Saint-Tropez – Giraglia – Genova
• Start and finish in Sounio, Greece

41 Copa del Rey MAPFRE

Palermo - montecarlo.

• Palermo, Italy, to Monaco MC

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

• Porto Cervo
• NoR and Event' website

Les Voiles de Saint Tropez

• Saint Tropez

Rolex Middle Sea Race

Ima affiliated events:, antigua sailing week (antigua), 29 april - 5 may, rolex fastnet race (cowes to cherbourg), barcolana (trieste, italy), venice hospitality challenge (venice, italy), rolex sydney hobart yacht race (sydney to hobart, australia), 26 december.

The above 2023 Sailing programme is to be considered as “Preliminary” (27 January 2023)

International Maxi Association Legal Headquarters: c/o BfB Société Fiduciaire Bourquin frères et Béran SA - 26, Rue de la Corraterie - 1204 Genève - Switzerland

Published on September 14th, 2024 | by Editor

PHOTOS: Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2024

Published on September 14th, 2024 by Editor -->

A prolonged Mistral restricted racing at the 2024 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup on September 9-14 in Porto Cervo, Italy. The event also awarded the Maxi 1 World Championship for yachts with a 1.700-2.200 IRC rating and click here . Photos by Max Ranchi .

Tags: Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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PHOTOS: 2023 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup →

2023 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup →

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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup: via alla 34ª edizione. A Porto Cervo sfida per 44

La regata riservata a imbarcazioni superiori ai 60 piedi di lunghezza (18,30 metri) è organizzata dallo yacht club costa smeralda con il supporto di rolex.

La 34ª edizione della Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup è partita ufficialmente oggi con il briefing tra gli skipper. La regata, riservata alle imbarcazioni superiori ai 60 piedi di lunghezza (18,30 metri), è organizzata dallo Yacht Club Costa Smeralda con il supporto di Rolex – con il quale ricorrono quest’anno i 40 anni di partnership - e la collaborazione con l'International Maxi Association (IMA). Sono 44 i maxi yacht ormeggiati a Porto Cervo sulle banchine prospicienti lo YCCS che, a partire da domani lunedì 9 settembre, daranno vita a questa regata unica, sia per qualità delle barche e degli equipaggi che per lo scenario dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena nel quale navigheranno. Si va dai 18 metri del “piccolo” Blue Oyster ai J Class, con i 44 metri fuori tutto di Svea che risulta il più imponente della flotta. La novità di questa edizione è lo svolgimento del primo Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship, riservato ai Maxi più performanti, identificati dal coefficiente di correzione del tempo con il compenso IRC (TCC) pari o superiore a 1.700.

i protagonisti

I contendenti per il primo Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship sono dieci. Ci sono Bullitt del Commodoro YCCS Andrea Recordati, Capricorno, nuovissimo 82 piedi al debutto in regata, Deep Blue della filantropa americana Wendy Schmidt, Django HF, del socio YCCS Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, al rientro dopo importanti aggiornamenti alla barca, Galateia, Leopard 3, Magic Carpet Cubed del socio YCCS Sir Lindsay Owen Jones, My Song del socio YCCS Pier Luigi Loro Piana, SHK Scallywag e infine il WallyCento V. A bordo regatano nomi di indiscusso prestigio, quali il tedesco Jochen Schuemann, 3 ori e un argento olimpici, tattico su Magic Carpet Cubed, il brasiliano Joca Signorini su Bullitt, il neozelandese Murray Jones su Galateia, gli italiani Vasco Vascotto su Django HF, Flavio Favini e Alberto Bolzan su Capricorno, gli americani Ken Read ed Ed Baird rispettivamente su V e su Leopard 3. Per i pretendenti al primo Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship sono previsti quattro giorni di regate costiere e un giorno con 2 prove a bastone. Altrettanto competitive sono le altre classi: nella Maxi 2, dove sono raggruppati i racer già appartenuti alla classe Maxi72, che oggi regatano con rating IRC al di fuori dell’originaria regola di stazza, troviamo Proteus, North Star, Jolt con Hamish Pepper e Francesco De Angelis, Jethou con Ian Walker alla tattica. 

Gazzetta dello Sport

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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup : Versöhnlicher Abschluss vor Porto Cervo

Sören Gehlhaus

 ·  17.09.2024

Endlich perfekte Bedingungen beim Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Maxi-1-weltmeister mit baird und sanderson, zennström setzte sich mit „svea“ durch.

Der Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup vor Porto Cervo bildete einmal mehr den Höhepunkt der Maxi-Saison, da zum ersten Mal die Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship ausgesegelt wurde. Dafür nahmen die Veranstalter des Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) und der International Maxi Association (IMA) Meldungen von Yachten entgegen mit IRC-Ratings zwischen 1.700 und 2.200 entgegen, die länger als 30,51 Meter sind.

Doch es sollte nicht sein, hatte es den Anschein. Ausgerechnet im WM-Jahr setzten sich die Wetterkapriolen fort. Nachdem bereits die ersten zwei Tage dem Mistral zum Opfer gefallen waren, folgten auf den ersten Renntag mit wechselhaften Bedingungen zunächst eine instabile Wetterlage mit Schauerböen und ein erneuter Lay Day aufgrund von 40-Knoten-Böen. Erst der letzte Event-Tag brachte den 43 Crews die gewünschten Bedingungen mit Windspitzen zwischen 20 und 30 Knoten und Ritten durch die natürliche Segelarena Bomb Alley. Jene gut zehn Meilen lange und von Felsen gesäumte Passage zwischen dem Norden Sardiniens und dem La-Maddalena-Archipel liefert regelmäßig spektakuläre Bilder und navigatorische Herausforderungen.

Nach einem Schlag nach Luv machten sich die Starter aus Maxi 1 und 2 in Richtung Süden auf, um die Inseln Mortorio und Soffi auf einem 42,5-Meilen-Kurs zu umrunden. Danach ging es gen Norden, um sich den übrigen Klassen anzuschließen, die eine 34,5-Meilen-Runde im Uhrzeigersinn um La Maddalena segelten. Lag in Maxi 1 nach Tag eins noch Wendy Schmidts 85-Fußer „Deep Blue“ in Führung, war der 85-Fußer von Botin Partners chancenlos. Die Crew hatte eine Malesche an der Lattentasche zu reparieren und kämpfte sich ins Ziel, war aber leider aus dem Rennen. Weitere Favoriten wie „Capricorno“, ein brandneuer 82-Fußer aus Judel/Vrolijk-Rechnern, und „Magic Carpet 3“ mit Jochen Schümann mussten das Küstenrennen abbrechen.

Meistgelesene Artikel

Stattdessen setzte sich „Leopard 3“ des Niederländers Joost Schuijff durch und gewann die Rolex IMA Maxi 1 Weltmeisterschaft mit einem Vorsprung von drei Punkten auf die 82-Fuß-Wally „Django HF“. Auf Platz drei rangierte die Wallycento „V“, die punktgleich mit „Deep Blue“ und „Bullitt“ des neuen YCCS-Kommodores Andrea Recordati lag. „Damit ist ein Traum in Erfüllung gegangen“, freute sich Schuijff. „Wir haben jahrelang hart am Boot, am Team und an der Qualität meiner Steuer-Performance gearbeitet. Wir haben viel trainiert und hatten im Juli eine Trainingswoche, in der wir einige Probleme aus dem Weg räumen konnten. Letztes Jahr kämpften wir noch mit einigen der großen Segel, dieses Jahr ist die Qualität unserer Ausrüstung gut und nichts ist ausgefallen.“

Unter ihrem Vorbesitzer Mike Slade gewann „Leopard 3 vor Porto Cervo 2016 die Maxi Racing-Klasse. Letztes Jahr wurde das Farr-Design aus dem Jahr 2007 stark modifiziert und um etwa zehn Tonnen abgespeckt. In dieser Saison stießen der America's-Cup-Gewinner und mehrfache Weltmeister Ed Baird und der Gewinner des Volvo Ocean Race, Mike Sanderson dazu. „Leopard 3“ wurde auf Küsten- und Hochseeregatten optimiert und kam mit den schwierigen Bedingungen gut zurecht. Schuijffs Resümee: „Up-and-Down ist nicht unsere Stärke. Wir hatten gehofft, dass sich das Wetter heute so entwickelt, wie es sich entwickelt hat, mit höherem Reaching-Anteil.“

In der Gruppe Maxi 2 (die ehemaligen Maxi 72) lag „Proteus“ von George und Christina Sakellaris mit nur 20 Sekunden Rückstand auf die IRC-korrigierte Zeit auf dem ersten Platz, gewann aber durch Rückrechnung von Peter Harrisons „Jolt“. „Es war ein großartiges Rennen bei hervorragenden Bedingungen. Dieses Boot mag Wind und schweres Wetter, solange es nicht mehr als 30 Knoten sind“, sagte Sakellaris, der sich am Steuer mit seiner Tochter abwechselte. Dies ist das erste Mal, dass die Sakellaris‘ diesen Titel gewannen, nachdem sie es viele Jahre lang versucht haben. Der erfolgsverwöhnte US-Maxi 72 „Bella Mente“ war nicht am Start.

Nach dem ersten Rennen am Mittwoch führte Juan Balls Swan 115 „Moat“ die Supermaxi-Klasse an, aber ein Sieg von Niklas Zennströms und Filip Engelberts 43,6 m langer „Svea“ sorgte heute dafür, dass die schwedische J die Super-Maxi-Klasse in der Wertung gewann. Für „Svea“ war es der dritte Triumph in Folge und für Zennström persönlich der siebte (einschließlich seiner vier vorherigen Mini-Maxi-Siege).

„Es war sehr aufregend und hat viel Spaß gemacht“, sagte Bouwe Bekking, Taktiker auf „Svea“. „Heute war es wirklich schön. Wir hatten 18 Knoten in der Bomb Alley und etwa 22 bis 23 Knoten auf dem Reach – es hat nicht gehämmert.“ „Svea“ lieferte sich enge Rennen mit „Moat“, die vor allem auf den Reach-Abschnitten Meilen gutmachte. Die deutsche Wally 101 „Y3k“ ging am Finaltag nicht über die Startlinie und reihte auf Platz vier hinter der zweiten J, „Velsheda“, ein.

Ähnlich wie „Proteus“ musste sich „Oscar 3“ in Maxi 3 allzu oft mit Platz zwei zufriedengeben. Doch dieses Jahr brachen Aldo und Elena Parisotto den Bann mit ihrer Mylius 65FD, wenn auch mit minimalem Vorsprung auf den französischen Vorjahressieger Jean-Pierre Barjon mit „Spirit of Lorina“. Seinen sechsten Maxi-Cup-Erfolg heimste Riccardo de Michele mit seiner „H20“ in der Maxi-4-Wertung ein. Beim zweiten Auftritt der Multihull-Klasse lag der Gunboat 66 „Gaetana“ bei seiner Premiere nach korrigierter ORCmh-Zeit vor Adrian Kellers „Allegra“ und Lord Irvine Laidlaws Gunboat 80 „Highland Fling 18“.

Meistgelesen in der Rubrik Yachten

Vento tra i 16 e i 24 nodi, sole e tanto entusiasmo. La trentaquattresima Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup e il primo Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship , manifestazione organizzata dallo Yacht Club Costa Smeralda con il supporto del Title sponsor Rolex – con il quale ricorrono quest’anno i 40 anni di partnership – si è conclusa con successo nelle acque di Porto Cervo. Il primo Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship è stato vinto da Leopard 3 di Joost Schuijff con Ed Baird – vincitore della trentaduesima America’s Cup come timoniere di Alinghi – nel ruolo di tattico. Gli altri vincitori di categoria della 34ª Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup sono stati: Proteus di George Sakellaris in Maxi 2, il J Class Svea tra i Supermaxi, Oscar 3 di Aldo Parisotto in Maxi 3, H2O di Riccardo de Michele in Maxi 4 e Gaetana di Riccardo Pavoncelli nella classe Multiscafi.

Andrea Recordati, Commodoro dello YCCS , ha dichiarato: “Questa 34ª edizione della Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup è stata sicuramente complessa per via delle condizioni meteo che non ci hanno consentito di regatare quanto avremmo desiderato, ma va riconosciuto al Comitato di Regata e a tutta l’organizzazione dello Yacht Club Costa Smeralda di aver fatto del loro meglio. Però credo che la giornata odierna, in condizioni tipiche della Costa Smeralda con vento sostenuto e costante su un percorso costiero che ci ha visto navigare nello scenario unico dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena, abbia dato grandi soddisfazioni e sia stata per tutti una bella regata. Congratulazioni ai vincitori delle rispettive classi e un ringraziamento a nome dello YCCS a tutti i partecipanti dell’evento che hanno contribuito a renderlo, come sempre, unico. Ancora, ringrazio per il fondamentale supporto e per la sua presenza a Porto Cervo il presidente di World Sailing, Quanhai Li, oltre al nostro partner Rolex, con il quale celebriamo i quarant’anni di partnership”.

Fonte: gazzetta.it