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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.”

Perfect breeze for start of 33rd Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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33rd Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concludes in Porto Cervo

Penultimate day at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Third day of perfect conditions at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - A challenging and spectacular second say

Curtain opens on 33rd edition of Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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Registrations officially open for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023

Registrations for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023, an internationally renowned sailing event organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda with the support of title sponsor Rolex and in collaboration with the International Maxi Association (IMA), are now open. The Notice of Race has been published online and is available here.

The 33rd edition of the event is scheduled to take place from 3rd to 9th September 2023, and will be open to boats with a minimum length of 18.29 metres. Multihull yachts will also be able to take part in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup for the first time, in light of the growing interest in this type of yacht.

Racing will get underway on 4th September and conclude on the 9th, for a total of five days of sailing that will see the participants take on courses laid out between the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago. The 2022 edition of the event was particularly successful, not only due the number of yachts taking part, which reached 50, but above all thanks to the elevated standard of the competitors in terms of quality, innovation, history, design and performance. This year’s edition once again promises to gather a high-level fleet in Porto Cervo, uniting the very best in sailing yacht design and construction with professional sailors of international fame.

Registrations for the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023 will remain open until 30th July. For further details please consult the Notice of Race, or to complete or download the registration form  here .

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39 years ago the International Maxi Association was started as a small gathering of maxi yacht owners wishing to bring more co-ordination to their sailing. Since then it has grown both in the size of its membership and its remit, to become an organization with much wider influence and endorsed by World Sailing to organize World Championships and to manage maxi racing globally. The IMA’s overall aim is to encourage greater participation in maxi racing around the world. To this end, the Association has become increasingly involved in all the regattas with significant maxi participation. Another of the IMA’s major responsibilities is to encourage the highest standards of race management, safety and measurement for both inshore and offshore maxi yacht events. For maxi regattas the IMA assists with the standardization of entry and the writing of notice of races and sailing instructions. The Association can also assist with race management and support and endorse events that are held to its high standards. For 2021 as well as all our usual events and our Mediterranean Maxi Inshore and Offshore Championships, we are adding a new regatta run by the Yacht Club Italiano as a season opener in Portofino at the end of April. We are also supporting the famous Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii and the Aegean 600. Our flagship event, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, we trust will be able to proceed this September in Porto Cervo in near normal conditions. Here and at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez we will be joined by the J Class, a class formally affiliated with the IMA, as we await news of their next World Championship. The IMA’s membership remains healthy – a trend we hope will continue. We need maxi owners to support us so that we can support them! We remain extremely grateful for the generous long term and loyal support from our main sponsor Rolex and are pleased to welcome Credit Suisse as a further sponsor. We also thank the marine clothing company Code 0 for kitting out the IMA team in smart new gear. As usual I thank my hard-working and dedicated staff. Throughout the pandemic we have met weekly on Zoom but are greatly looking forward to seeing each other in person, as well as all maxi owner and sailors in the forthcoming season. We wish you an excellent season ahead.

February 2021 Andrew McIrvine IMA Secretary General

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 9th, 2023 | by Editor

PHOTOS: 2023 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Published on September 9th, 2023 by Editor -->

The 33rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup , held in 2023 on September 3-9 in Porto Cervo, Italy. Photos by Max Ranchi .

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Svea sailed fast and smart to lead at every mark to win Race 1, despite Velsheda having the best start and crossing Svea initially. The newest J Class in the fleet – which is racing at a lighter displacement than last year – was able to set up to windward of Velsheda and was visibly quicker and able to slightly lift away.At the top mark they were a boat length and a half clear of Velsheda with Topaz the same distance behind in third. The two chasing boats gybe set or gybed early and downwind they were able to gain back slightly on leader Svea which had their spinnaker sheet under the jib and could not respond immediately.The breeze picked up slightly on the second round and Svea extended away to win by nearly two minutes on the water which corrected to victory by 1 minute and 26 seconds over Topaz which crossed third through the finish line.The second start was won by Topaz, America’s Cup and match racing ace Peter Holmberg showing a deft touch, but whilst Svea and Topaz were drag racing upwind, Velsheda hooked into a nice windshift out to the far left. Coming into the turn on port tack, they were able to round just ahead of Svea and Topaz.Flying a symmetrical spinnaker, Velsheda gained a few metres on the gybes and made a very tidy mark rounding through the leeward gate. In the 15-16kts wind they extended upwind but by the finish still needed another 30 seconds more of an advantage to beat Svea on corrected time.And so, while Svea lead with their two well-earned wins today, Topaz and Velsheda both scored a second and third apiece. On the first race Topaz took second place by only eight seconds ahead of Velsheda.

The sleek, black hulled Tore Holm design may have proven unbeatable today but Tuesday is forecast to see winds well over 20kts which should mean an exciting, demanding coastal race into the La Maddalena gulf – or bomb alley as it is better known.

Svea’s tactician Bouwe Bekking was happy with their day, recalling, “We were going well downwind and we have done quite a bit of work on our spinnakers and that’s made a difference. The second race was full on. Velsheda has the heels on us in that breeze. You can see she is more upright, stiffer.”

Considering this was the first day this year that the three boats have lined up against each other, the standard was generally very high. The starts showed just the right mix of being prudently conservative – as required on these giant, powerful machines – finding the perfect time on distance and some that just missed just mark by a few seconds here and there.

Bekking recalled their second start, “We pulled the trigger just a little too late on the start. We could have gone up on the Topaz guys, we had the opportunity, but you just don’t go there on these boats. We all have to be careful.”

Velsheda’s tactician Tom Dodson was happy to have outperformed Svea on the second race, but was left wondering what more they could have done to win: “I don’t think we could have done much more against them. We got a good shift out on the left, we were happy over there and could see the maxis getting left shifts at the top of the beat and the other two boats overlaid and that brought us more into the game. We got some good help from our guys at the back of the boat to sneak round ahead of Svea. It is never easy to come in on port at the last minute. You get to a point with these boats where you can’t dip but Grant Simmer and Ronald were confident, and we were good. We did not really know what the timings are. At this stage in the regatta we are just trying to go as fast as we can.”

Peter Holmberg, helmsman on Topaz, was very happy with the changes they have made, adding some new sails, new trimmers and bringing in Andy Horton for this regatta as tactician. Of their starting strategy he explained, “We feel a little vulnerable in our turning ability, so we have a particular style that keeps it reasonable. The second start we got out of there OK, our first start was ‘off’. We still achieved OK from ordinary starts. The positives are that the boat is fast enough as this is the first time we have lined up this year since all the changes everyone has made.”

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, J Class results:

Race 1 1 Svea elapsed time 1h05m35s corrected 1h04m09s 2 Topaz 1h07m27s, 1h05m35s 3 Velsheda 1h06m36s, 1h05m47s

Race 2 1 Svea elapsed 1h03m43s corrected 1h04m41s 2 Velsheda 1h02m47s, 1h02m11s 3 Topaz 1h04m28s 1h02m26s

Standings after 3 races:

1 Topaz 3pts 2 Velsheda 6pts 3 Topaz 6pts

• Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

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Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup 2023

One of the most important events on the international yachting calendar, the annual Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is synonymous with excellence.

The regatta and its organizer, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS), have been partnered by Rolex since the mid-1980s. A partnership of such longevity is rare in sport and lies at the heart of the event’s continuing evolution and ability to maintain the highest of ‘standards’

Rolex Testimonee Paul Cayard, the legendary yachtsman from the United States and a past competitor at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, explains how the close partnership between the Swiss watchmaker and the YCCS is fundamental to the continued success of the event: “For four decades, Rolex and the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda have forged a privileged relationship. These two partners stand for the highest quality and excellence in everything they do, and as a result, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup offers the ideal platform for owners and their crews to enjoy elite competition in a striking and demanding location.”

YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck agrees with Cayard that the historic partnership is at the heart of the event’s continued appeal: “The YCCS and Rolex have always worked together to evolve an event created with a very clear vision: to become one of the world’s most important and spectacular sailing events, one which entices the best sailors to compete and inspires maxi yacht owners and designers to continue to drive the sport forward.”

The regatta is renowned for its professional organization, excellent sailing conditions and a first-class schedule of events off the water. In 2023, the 33rd edition commences on Sunday, 3 September and concludes with the final prize-giving on Saturday, 9 September.

The event typically attracts about 50 yachts measuring from 18.29 metres (60 feet) in length to more than 40m (131ft). Divided into classes based on size and performance, and crewed by the world’s leading sailors, the yachts are a sublime combination of power, speed and elegance when racing. Thanks to the YCCS race management team, supported by the International Maxi Association, a recognized leader in its field, the week of competition is impeccably conducted.

Cayard confirms why sailors are perennially drawn to the event: “The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is the very essence of superlative yacht racing – the most impressive yachts, sailed by the best sailors in the most perfect sailing environment. Victory at this regatta is one of the most coveted successes in the sport. The winners have overcome determined and skilful opponents across a demanding week of racing.”

Since its foundation, the event has been a showcase for both the potential and the evolution of yacht design and technology. It is considered the foremost proving ground for new launches and a place where designers, owners and sailors can meet to discuss innovations, developments and future projects. Success at the regatta confirms that passion and commitment have been well directed.

Completing the attractive package is one of the world’s most impressive sailing environments. The emerald waters, rocky outcrops and islets of north-east Sardinia’s Maddalena Archipelago offer an exceptional arena for yacht racing, with varied conditions and testing courses.

Across five days of intense competition off Porto Cervo, crews tackle a programme of windward/leeward and inshore racing through and around the archipelago. Consistency in performance is critical, teamwork essential. For the top performers, recognition comes in the form of class victories and the associated trophies.

Rolex Testimonee and four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie, another past competitor, highlights the event’s distinct spirit: “The setting inspires excellence. From a sporting perspective, precision is critical to successful performance in sailing. This is never more so than at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, which has long showcased the world’s elite sailors using their skill and expertise to get the very best out of powerful, technically complex yachts.”

For close to 40 years, the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup has provided the perfect platform for the world’s most powerful monohull yachts to perform to their full potential. And, thanks to the close and careful partnership of the YCCS and Rolex, it appears set fair to continue delivering for many years to come.

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2023 IMA Maxi Rolex Cup

Doyle-powered teams are making last minute preparations ahead of the pinnacle Grand Prix sailing event of the season, the IMA Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, hosted by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, in the spectacular surroundings of Porto Cervo. 

The fleet of internationally acclaimed maxi yachts are due to race from the 3rd to 9th of September for the 33rd edition of the event across a variation of courses ranging from coastal courses through the islands of the La Maddalena Archipelago to windward-leeward courses.

Once again, Doyle Sails is proud to be the sailmaker of choice for the majority of the high-performance race yachts that will be on the start line this week, with more than 75 Doyle sails delivered specifically ahead of the event. For Doyle Sails, it is always the busiest event of the year with a significant number of Doyle-powered yachts and Doyle Sails people on the ground including Mike Sanderson, CEO of Doyle Sails International. This year Mike returns to sail with long-time Doyle Sails supporter and friend Hap Fauth onboard his Botin 75 Bella Mente. “It’s wonderful to be sitting on the plane after several years of “testing times” for the world. Even though last year was pretty much back to normal I was forced out due to a very disappointing skiing injury and so super excited to be back with our Bella Mente family for another crack at the big prize of the year for boats like Bella, “ said Mike, who is currently enroute to Porto Cervo. “For Doyle Sails this will be our biggest and most competitive line up of boats throughout the divisions and we look forward to working with our owners and teams over the coming two weeks with their local Doyle experts and their new sails to really maximize each team’s potential”, he continued. 

Finishing the 2022 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in third place, Bella Mente are looking to fight back and claim the top spot this season. The team will also be trialing Doyle Sails’ latest technology in the lead up so it will be all eyes on the 75ft racing machine ahead of the event. “This year we have made some pretty bold changes to the boat with twin rudders, water ballast and lots of smaller developments in hydro and aero world, so really exciting to see how those all play out over the next two weeks,” said Mike.

Farr 100 Leopard 3 will be back in action with Chris Sherlock at the helm. Sherlock, of Doyle Sails Palma, and his team have had worked hard in the lead up to the event with a successful Palma Superyacht Cup result before winning the 2023 Aegean 600. After a major refit this year, the yacht is in fighting form with a new rig, rigging and winch package, along with a new Doyle Sails inventory. 

Contention for the title in Maxi Class 1 will be tight as Leopard will be lining up against fellow Doyle-powered maxi’s Deep Blue, Galateia and Bullitt. Luke Molloy, also of Doyle Sails Palma, is sailing onboard long time customer Andrea Recordati’s Wally 93 Bullitt, who, after finishing 3 rd  at the 2022 event will be looking to climb up the podium.

David M. Leuschen’s WallyCento Galateia will once again line up alongside other maxi’s in Maxi Class 1 after a successful start to the season winning the 2023 Palma Vela regatta. Daniel Fong, professional sailor and Grand Prix sail designer for Doyle Sails, will be onboard this year supporting the team as a sailor, but also as the sail designer behind the new high-performance Stratis J1 and full suite of downwind flying sails that has recently been delivered to Galateia. 

With 10 new Doyle Stratis sails onboard for the event, it will be Dario Ferrari’s Botin 72 Cannonball, looking to continue their run of successful results in what is arguably the most intense division of the event, with eight yachts in Maxi Class 2. Doyle Grand Prix Sail Designer and professional sailor Jordi Calafat is onboard as tactician. 

David Duff of Doyle Sails International will sail with Wendy Schimdt and their tight knit crew on the Botin 85 Deep Blue and Doyle Sails Italy will support Manticore, Franz Wilhem Baruffaldi Preis’s Mylius 60 fd, which will line up in the Maxi Class 4, the largest division for the regatta.

Recently launched Cafe Racer Open Season, owned by Thomas Bscher, will be making her long awaited debut in the racing scene after spending the inital part of the summer in Palma. Open Season will showcase her brand new race inventory of Doyle Structured Luff headsails, Cableless Code Zero and staysails this week. Senior project manager and sailmaker Antoine Thullier, is onboard with the race team this week. The project has been led by Luke Molloy who has been an integral player from design phase through to commissioning – recently spending time with the yacht to complete the sea trials last week and a training block with race team ahead of their first racing event. The 68fter has spent the earlier part of the summer cruising, designed to  sail without backstays in cruising mode allowing the owner to sail simply and safely with minimal crew.

George Sakellaris’s maxi yacht Proteus returns for another year and will be looking for redemption, last year they were the winners of the Maxi European Inshore series, and posted a second overall at the Maxi European event. While luck wasn’t on their side at the Aegean 600 in July with a rigging issue pre-start, the yacht is back in mint condition ahead of the event with Richard Bouzaid onboard as primary trimmer. 

The highly anticipated 101 Y3K, the latest launch from Italian yard Wally test yacht out of the Italian Wally yard will also be making her racing debut this week, having recently completed a successful round of sea trials in Italy where a full suite of Doyle Structured Luff sails were fitted alongside Mainsails, Cableless Code sails and downwind flying sails. 

With Doyle Sails now firmly the sailmaker of choice to the world’s most high-performance race yachts, events like the 2023 Maxi Rolex Cup are a true testament to the by sailors, for sailors ethos which sees Doyle Sails home to not only the best sailmakers in the world, but the best sailors. 

For further information visit the  YCCS website , the  section dedicated to the event , or contact the  Press Office .

ABOUT DOYLE SAILS //   Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.

Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.

By sailors, for sailors.